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christiana's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't read the novel version, so I have nothing to compare and contrast it with, but I thought it was really cool and a great story!
5c_sami's review against another edition
3.0
This graphic novel narrates the first adventure of criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl. He discovers the fairy race, kidnaps LEP Captain Holly Short, and holds her for ransom seeking gold to save his father. The fairy race, however, plans to avoid giving in to the ransom and seeks first to save Holly and find themselves constantly bested by Artemis.
While I absolutely adore Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl, I was less than enthused with the graphic novel. Mostly because I don't like graphic novels, but also because in putting this story into a graphic novel, Eoin's masterful way of creating characters that are not only physically vivid, but emotionally and mentally vivid, is lost to the need to shorten and remove much of the inner dialogue. Also, I feel that many of the portrayals of the characters took creative liberties that were a bit much. For example, Foaly the centaur probably should have been a fairly traditional centaur, but he ended up being a creature with hooves at the tips of his fingers and a severely strange face. Another aspect of the illustrations that vexed me a bit was that Artemis was portrayed with brown eyes, and not deep blue. This may seem like a small detail, but his blue eyes are one of the things that gives him a chilling appearance and that was lost with the brown eyes.
While I absolutely adore Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl, I was less than enthused with the graphic novel. Mostly because I don't like graphic novels, but also because in putting this story into a graphic novel, Eoin's masterful way of creating characters that are not only physically vivid, but emotionally and mentally vivid, is lost to the need to shorten and remove much of the inner dialogue. Also, I feel that many of the portrayals of the characters took creative liberties that were a bit much. For example, Foaly the centaur probably should have been a fairly traditional centaur, but he ended up being a creature with hooves at the tips of his fingers and a severely strange face. Another aspect of the illustrations that vexed me a bit was that Artemis was portrayed with brown eyes, and not deep blue. This may seem like a small detail, but his blue eyes are one of the things that gives him a chilling appearance and that was lost with the brown eyes.
wrentheblurry's review against another edition
4.0
Reading a graphic novel that is based on a non-graphic novel is a bit like seeing a movie based on a book you've read, I've decided. I judge whether the characters look like I expected them to (mostly yes, they are very good renditions), how closely or far the story deviates from the original (it is so minor I could not discern any noticeable gaps) and how satisfying the overall experience is compared to the original (as good...in a different way).
I would recommend this to both readers of Artemis Fowl and newbies. The illustrations easily replace some of the text of the original, without losing any meaning. The narration is handled quite well, with Artemis' thoughts appearing in a box with one color, and Holly's thoughts in a different colored box.
If you want to know about the story, check out my review of the original, here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/209152140
I would recommend this to both readers of Artemis Fowl and newbies. The illustrations easily replace some of the text of the original, without losing any meaning. The narration is handled quite well, with Artemis' thoughts appearing in a box with one color, and Holly's thoughts in a different colored box.
If you want to know about the story, check out my review of the original, here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/209152140
jaij7's review against another edition
4.0
Have to read the book before we can see the movie. Three out of five in my family are done. I enjoyed it and as always am impressed with Eoin Colfer’s imagination.
cactusjuicer's review against another edition
5.0
As many times as I've read the source material, I've never actually gotten around to reading the graphic novels. Needless to say, this didn't disappoint! It was every bit as amusing as the book.
emilyelisee's review against another edition
4.0
(There are two illustrated versions of this gn apparently, I read the one illustrated by Stephen Gilpin in 2019)
One of my favorite series as a child, so I just had to read this GN when I saw it on the shelf! It’s been so long since I read the originals I couldn’t tell you how well the storyline was adapted but I did enjoy it and I was pleasantly surprised to have a recovered memory of Mulch Diggums (his scenes with Butler, solid gold, I’m not above bathroom humor lol). Overall I enjoyed this one!
One of my favorite series as a child, so I just had to read this GN when I saw it on the shelf! It’s been so long since I read the originals I couldn’t tell you how well the storyline was adapted but I did enjoy it and I was pleasantly surprised to have a recovered memory of Mulch Diggums (his scenes with Butler, solid gold, I’m not above bathroom humor lol). Overall I enjoyed this one!
perilous1's review against another edition
4.0
Originally Review for YA Books Central: https://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/24396-artemis-fowl-the-graphic-novel
As Middle Grade graphic novel adaptations go, this urban fantasy is above par.
The artwork has a bit of darkness and grit, but still conveys characterization and emotion to a close approximation of what I’d envisioned while reading the actual book. (The scene with Artemis trying to talk to his mentally ill mother was particularly affecting.) The plot is certainly condensed, but nothing critical stood out as absent. And the satirical aspects are conveyed effectively—which makes the more derivative Fae worldbuilding forgivable, and even fun.
It’s a pretty quick read compared to the original. And I’m a little afraid that some elements about Artemis are lost in the more visual translation of his character. (Given he starts out the series as an anti-hero who seems on the precipice of going either way with his dubious moral compass, he’s a touch difficult to like and/or relate to—especially in the first book. This effect may be worsened for those who HAVEN’T read the original.)
Note: Having read four books into the original series, I’d like to reassure parents/teachers that the point of these books isn’t to glorify misdeeds or hold Artemis up as an evil genius worthy of imitation. Artemis is simply a flawed character with PLENTY of room for personal growth. And he does grow…albeit more so in later books.
All in all, a solid option for more reluctant readers! And perhaps (hopefully!) a gateway medium for the actual book series.
As Middle Grade graphic novel adaptations go, this urban fantasy is above par.
The artwork has a bit of darkness and grit, but still conveys characterization and emotion to a close approximation of what I’d envisioned while reading the actual book. (The scene with Artemis trying to talk to his mentally ill mother was particularly affecting.) The plot is certainly condensed, but nothing critical stood out as absent. And the satirical aspects are conveyed effectively—which makes the more derivative Fae worldbuilding forgivable, and even fun.
It’s a pretty quick read compared to the original. And I’m a little afraid that some elements about Artemis are lost in the more visual translation of his character. (Given he starts out the series as an anti-hero who seems on the precipice of going either way with his dubious moral compass, he’s a touch difficult to like and/or relate to—especially in the first book. This effect may be worsened for those who HAVEN’T read the original.)
Note: Having read four books into the original series, I’d like to reassure parents/teachers that the point of these books isn’t to glorify misdeeds or hold Artemis up as an evil genius worthy of imitation. Artemis is simply a flawed character with PLENTY of room for personal growth. And he does grow…albeit more so in later books.
All in all, a solid option for more reluctant readers! And perhaps (hopefully!) a gateway medium for the actual book series.