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apageinthestacks's review
4.0
Full review: https://midnightvoltage.wordpress.com/2017/03/16/american-gods-1-comic-review/
4.5/5.
I had seen a lot of negative reviews about this online, and I don't really understand why. Yes, it's a very literal adaptation, but Gaiman's prose is so good and works so well I didn't mind. I guess in that sense this is less of a comic and more of an illustrated novel, because the art doesn't really add anything new to the story, but just sort of enhances the words--which I'm fine with.
The only negative thing for me was actually the art itself...which at the beginning made me rate this 3 stars, then slowly 4, but at the end I decided to go with 4.5. No, I wasn't a huge fan of the art, but despite all that, once I got into it I loved it. Sure, this is one of my all-time favorite books, and I really, really wish it could've had amazing art by Chris Riddell or Dave McKean or Greg Capullo (oh man that would be so utterly amazing) or any number of other artists.
I'm not a huge fan of Russell in general (though he's good at adapting things text-wise), and that's definitely the biggest hurt to this book. The backgrounds were fairly bland, and I'm not a fan of the style used for the faces. There were some really innovative things done in the last scene (which, warning, it is incredibly graphic, as is the novel itself), though, and I'm hoping the future issues are more like that.
Maybe I'm blinded in my love for the book and for Gaiman. But I don't care, because at the end of the day I loved it, despite the disappointing art.
4.5/5.
I had seen a lot of negative reviews about this online, and I don't really understand why. Yes, it's a very literal adaptation, but Gaiman's prose is so good and works so well I didn't mind. I guess in that sense this is less of a comic and more of an illustrated novel, because the art doesn't really add anything new to the story, but just sort of enhances the words--which I'm fine with.
The only negative thing for me was actually the art itself...which at the beginning made me rate this 3 stars, then slowly 4, but at the end I decided to go with 4.5. No, I wasn't a huge fan of the art, but despite all that, once I got into it I loved it. Sure, this is one of my all-time favorite books, and I really, really wish it could've had amazing art by Chris Riddell or Dave McKean or Greg Capullo (oh man that would be so utterly amazing) or any number of other artists.
I'm not a huge fan of Russell in general (though he's good at adapting things text-wise), and that's definitely the biggest hurt to this book. The backgrounds were fairly bland, and I'm not a fan of the style used for the faces. There were some really innovative things done in the last scene (which, warning, it is incredibly graphic, as is the novel itself), though, and I'm hoping the future issues are more like that.
Maybe I'm blinded in my love for the book and for Gaiman. But I don't care, because at the end of the day I loved it, despite the disappointing art.
narflet's review
3.0
Story good, naturally. Art not so good. I'm not feeling Scott Hampton's work on this. A shame.
verityw's review
3.0
I picked this up on a whim* at the comic book store having not read the book (although I keep meaning to - I think iI may even have a copy on the kindle) and quite enjoyed it. The art is good, but there's not enough story in this to really get into it and work out if I'm going to like it. Equally there wasn't enough there to make me immediately search out a copy of the book. I'm still on the fence for now.
*Ok, because the comic book guy suggested it because I read Rivers of London
*Ok, because the comic book guy suggested it because I read Rivers of London
rcsreads's review
4.0
I didn't like how Mr Wednesday looked and the art, especially people's faces, wasn't polished enough. The side story worked better in the format than the main Shadow/Wednesday story.
We'll see how it goes
We'll see how it goes
sleepingjess's review
3.0
I really liked the narrative style of the comic. Plus, it seems like quite a story to be unfolded in the upcoming numbers.
embee007's review
5.0
I've already read the book, so I thought the Graphic Novels would be fun. The art is absolutely beautiful (or horrible, depending on the moment)
gossamerchild's review
3.0
I probably would have rated this higher...but then I watched the television show. This comic doesn't do justice to either the original novel or the TV show (which is a little surprising). However, I will buy them, I will read them, and I will like them.
sylvia_reads's review
3.0
Actually 2.5 stars
So... I didn’t really like this book, and it took me so long to finish, that I couldn’t even renew it at the library, and had to retake it out.
I think my main problem was the chapter length, which was idiotic long on an average of 30+ pages. I just normally try to motivate myself when I’m not immediately into a book, by saying I’ll read one chapter. However reading a chapter in this book takes an hour.
Moreover, I didn’t care very much about any character. (I liked Sam a little, but she didn’t have a big role.) But Shadow? Meh. Also, especially in the first half, there were very little female characters, and the ones that did exist only had sex. (That’s at least how it felt.)
Also, I’m not completely sure what the plot was? But anyway, that can be a choice of the writer, to keep things vague for the main character. However, Shadow wasn’t nearly curious enough for me.
This book just didn’t really do it for me, and I’m very glad I’ve finished it.
(There were certainly some good parts, but the whole book was just so boring for me. I just didn’t feel anything at any point in the book.)
So... I didn’t really like this book, and it took me so long to finish, that I couldn’t even renew it at the library, and had to retake it out.
I think my main problem was the chapter length, which was idiotic long on an average of 30+ pages. I just normally try to motivate myself when I’m not immediately into a book, by saying I’ll read one chapter. However reading a chapter in this book takes an hour.
Moreover, I didn’t care very much about any character. (I liked Sam a little, but she didn’t have a big role.) But Shadow? Meh. Also, especially in the first half, there were very little female characters, and the ones that did exist only had sex. (That’s at least how it felt.)
Also, I’m not completely sure what the plot was? But anyway, that can be a choice of the writer, to keep things vague for the main character. However, Shadow wasn’t nearly curious enough for me.
This book just didn’t really do it for me, and I’m very glad I’ve finished it.
(There were certainly some good parts, but the whole book was just so boring for me. I just didn’t feel anything at any point in the book.)
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