Let’s Talk bookish – Graphic Novel Adaptations

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November 3: Graphic Novel Adaptations

Prompts: Have you ever read a graphic novel adaptation of a book that was originally a novel? What books would you like to read as graphic novels? Are there certain genres or types of books that you think translate better to the graphic novel format?

Welcome to November and a new week of LTB here at DTRH, everyone! Today’s topic is about graphic novels, which I’ll admit I don’t read too many of. Even more specifically it’s about graphic novel adaptations which I think I read even more rarely. Do you all have favourite graphic novel adaptations?

The only adaptation I may have read was perhaps a Star Wars graphic novel? But again, it wasn’t something I specifically looked out for, just something I think I remember reading a bit of once upon a time. I think books are usually written as books and are not easily adapted into graphic novels without at least changing a large portion of the book (rather, excluding a large portion).

Books with lots of descriptions, or lend itself to graphic representation can be a good type of book to adapt. I think books with less dialogue, perhaps more expression-based communication could also be a good type to adapt to a graphic novel format. I know there’s quite a few popular graphic novels at the moment, though I don’t believe any of them were originally books.

I wonder if something like Six of Crows could potentially be adapted into a graphic novel. It would have to be pared down significantly, as I mentioned, but I think an action-heavy story like a heist could really be fitting for a graphic novel. Superhero comics in general come to mind as being a typical type of graphic novel, and an adventurous story with lots of action could likely be a great way to employ this media.

Now that I ponder it more, I think that many stories could potentially be adapted into graphic novels, to give a visual representation to a reader’s beloved characters (almost like a movie adaptation). While movies have their own strengths and weaknesses, I think so too do graphic novels. The latter really allows quick reading (as there often isn’t much text to “read” at all) and allows an appreciation of expressions and actions in a very easy-to-absorb manner. And it isn’t as easy to miss things that are directly on the page since you can take in the graphic novel at your own pace, unlike a movie.

For me, I do enjoy reading the occasional graphic novel (not an adaptation) because of the way I can almost mindlessly absorb it and yet have it still make an emotional impression on me. Similar to a movie, something about the way characters can be physically depicted really helps your imagination take the story to a new level, and though I feel like more has to be left unsaid, a lot can be imagined with the help of a little illustration.

Have you all read any good graphic novel adaptations? Do you read them in general, or not at all? I tend to like using my own imagination from the get-go in novels, but there’s a time and place for everything, I think. Let me know in the comments below!