Dogma Dracula.
A rollicking, riveting read!
Ostensibly based upon the long running stage play by Wellington P. Dashwood, this is in fact a very solid and faithful comic strip adaption of Bram Stoker’s famous novel. The narrative is very similar to that of the book and is told from the point of view of all the main characters and protagonists. It is very well paced and moves along very quickly, making for a very entertaining read.
Illustrated in Ri Largo’s inimitable ‘Dogma’ method, the artwork is stylized, quirky and expressionistic and suits the subject matter perfectly. Some of the establishing shots, such as those depicting the Borgo Pass, Castle Dracula and Whitby Abbey are wonderfully atmospheric and really do set the tone for the story.
Each character is drawn with their own individual personality, their style and attire very faithful to the Victorian period.
The Count Dracula depicted here is a very sinister looking creature and bears a striking resemblance to the blood sucking vampire portrayed by Max Shreck in Nosferatu, all bulging eyes and rat like teeth. He is all the more effective for it too.
On the whole this is a very vivid and colourful piece of work and would make a worthy addition to any comic collector’s bookshelf, or indeed any lover of gothic fiction. A very worthy and original take on a true classic!
The Layer of the White Worm
Another outstanding graphic novel by Ri Largo!
Based on the original story by Bram Stoker, this is a very concise and stylish comic strip adaption of the great man’s sadly neglected gothic novella.
I was immensely impressed by Ri Largo’s earlier adaption of Dracula but I found the illustration work here to be even superior to that. The artwork is very clean, colourful and stylized, and some of the panels are simply beautiful to behold. Every detail of the story is very well told and the pace of the narrative never lets up for a moment. The reader is drawn along with the action as the mystery slowly unfolds in an exceptionally entertaining manner.
It is obvious that Mr Largo has a great affection for Bram Stoker’s work and he is painstakingly careful to make the story as faithful to the source material as possible.
On the whole a very sterling piece of work and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone.
The Jewel of Seven Stars
A great read!
I have been an avid fan of Ri Largo's work for quite some time and his latest graphic novel ‘The Jewel of the Seven Stars’ does not fail to live up to his usual high standards and is a fine addition to his burgeoning roster of comic strip stories.
This particular tale is a painstakingly faithful adaption of Bram Stokers’ famous mystery novella and Mr Largo does the original author proud. It has everything one would want from a good comic strip: a gripping well told
story, illustrated in a uniquely stylized and entertaining manner. There is action, drama, thrills and humour to be had in equal measure.
The page count of this volume ( 72 in total ) is even greater than his previous works and offers really good value for money.
In conclusion, this is an excellent graphic novel that I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone.
Bram stoker Adaptation Reviews