Series: Mercy Thompson Graphic Novels
Source: Jax - NetGalley; Bea - purchased
Release Date: July 2, 2015
Challenges: What An Animal
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | iTunes* | Barnes & Noble
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Blurb from goodreads:
Mercy is a shapeshifting coyote and honorary member of the Tri-Cities werewolf pack. When the pack stumbles upon the buried bones of numerous dead children, she shapeshifts into a mystery of the legendary fae - a mystery that draws Mercy's stepdaughter Jesse into the fray! The supernatural romance series Mercy Thompson continues in this all-new, original story by New York Times bestselling author, Patricia Briggs, exclusively created for the comic book medium!
This 168 page hardcover collects the six-issue Mercy Thompson comic book series by PATRICIA BRIGGS, RIK HOSKIN, and TOM GARCIA and features the original script and line art to issue #1, along with character designs and sketches by Tom Garcia.
I've always loved a good graphic novel, though it's a bit strange to read one based on one of your favorite novel series. It's a milder version of having it made as a movie or tv show. The images, though wonderful, never quite match the ones in your head. That being said, I love the imagery. There is something about graphic novels that portrays how vivid the shadows can be. It adds depth to things, and can enliven a story that may otherwise seem to falter.
It is a solid story, and beautiful art work, and I encourage fans to enjoy this extra glimpse into Mercy's world. That being said, I prefer the novels, much in the same way I prefer novels to their movie counterparts. Pictures may be worth a thousand words, but a thousand words from Briggs add priceless, and precise, dimension to a tale.
Bea's Thoughts:
I love the Mercy Thompson but I didn't love this particular story. I enjoyed it, I just didn't love it. It seemed predictable to me. But Briggs' depiction of Mercy and Jesse's relationship was a delight and Mercy and Adam's interactions with the police rang true. My heart broke for Jesse and her relationship with her peers; having your father be publicly outed as a werewolf is not a cause for celebration. We also are reminded once again that the fae are not nice, but tricky and violent and as a race, they are not humankind's friends. I liked that actually; I like that Briggs' fae are not sparkly and wonderful or fuzzy and friendly. Watch your step with these fae or you may lose your life!
The mystery was obvious and predictable. The only anticipation was how long before someone figured it out and how many people would die first. The artwork was too dark for my taste but it conveyed the atmosphere of the story nicely.
Overall, a good but not great addition to the Mercy Thompson canon.
Turning popular novel series into graphic novels seems to be 'a thing' lately. I still need to read the Mercy Thompson novels, though.
ReplyDeleteTrue, although this is not the first Mercy GN by any means. And yes, I think you'd like the Mercy books.
DeleteI'm inclined to agree about the predictability, [i]until[/i] I remember that we've got 3rd person omniscient on our side, and none of the characters do. Then there's the usual "not everything gets communicated to everyone else" factor, even with the best will in the world.
ReplyDelete*Spoiler alert!* Don't read further on this comment if you haven't read it yet.
Did Jesse tell Mercy or Adam that her new friend's name was Jill Cross? Did they tell HER that they were looking for a fae named Hopcross Jilly?
So. Yeah.
My main problem, honestly, is the art. The faces are too similar in general, and this Adam doesn't come anywhere near *my* interpretation of masculine beauty. Lumpy GI Joe, more like.
You may be right about the omniscient POV affecting my perspective or maybe I've read too many mysteries but it was just too obvious to me.
DeleteThe art, yeah, was just okay. Neither Mercy nor Adam fit my interpretation but they did fit Patty's description of them from the books.
I enjoyed your joint review! I don't read many graphic novels--partly because I like books of words better lol and partly because they're so expensive. I do love Mercy Thompson though. . .
ReplyDeleteSo do I! <3
DeleteI don't read graphic novels, but my eldest daughter and eldest granddaughter do sometimes, so if you had raved about it, I would've passed on the rec.
ReplyDeleteI do, on the other hand, enjoy Patricia Briggs and have read all the Mercy books except the last two, and also the first in the other series..name escapes me without googling it, was a while ago. I drifted away from Mercy Thompson in past couple of years, but you reminded me to maybe take another shot at it.
Alpha & Omega is the Mercy spin-off; I love both of them.
DeleteI like graphic novels but this one was just meh for me. It may be, as Patti pointed out above, that I didn't take into account the omniscient factor, but the story just felt too obvious and predictable to me. Pick up the Mercy books again, definitely, but I think you could skip this story.
I've still not gotten into graphic novels. Sophia loves these though and has been tempting me for a while with them. Maybe one day :D
ReplyDeleteGive them a try, some are very good.
DeleteI am not sure if I am into Graphic novels...lol. I got the Harry Dresden one and I'm confused...I had to look up online how to read one...lol. :)
ReplyDeleteHuh. They can be confusing but I like them.
DeleteI'm working my way through the Mercy Thompson series via audiobook now. Getting ready to start book #6. I'm not a fan of graphic novels, but I'm looking forward to reading Hopcross Jilly - that's just a novella right?
ReplyDeleteObsessive Book Nerd - http://www.obsessivebooknerd.com/the-sunday-post-obn-11/
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