Movies Based on Graphic Novels (It's not just Capes and Masks)

We all know that movies such as Spider-Man, Batman, X-Men, and pretty much anything with "Man" in it are based on Comic Books (or Graphic Novels, in library terms.) But did you know that there are a number of other movies that are based on graphic novels?

Graphic novel-based movies range from the obvious (when you think about it) such as V for Vendetta, based on the graphic novel of the same name by Watchmen creator Alan Moore, to the completely unexpected, such as Road to Perdition, a Chicagoland gangster epic starring Tom Hanks. Other movies of this type include 300, Sin City, and The Spirit, all the brain-children of Frank Miller, acclaimed creator of a number of Batman storylines. Fans of somewhat grittier material may want to check out From Hell, a story about Jack the Ripper, or 30 Days of Night, a grisly survival horror movie set in the Alaskan wilderness. Wanted, the recent film starring Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy, is based on a graphic novel of the same name, though the film differs radically from the graphic novel, so brace yourself. Even the recent and popular film I Am Legend, starring Will Smith is based on a graphic novel of the same name.

But wait! There's more, graphic novel-based movies aren't a 21st century phenomenon, they go back to films such as Swamp Thing (also based primarily on work by Alan Moore) and even the perrenial children's favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (based on a book by New Hampshire residents Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.) For more realistic fare, try Persepolis or American Splendor (based on the classic graphic novel by Harvey Pekar.)

All of the titles mentioned in this post are available at the library in either book or movie form, and the part of the duo we don't have can be ordered using the Minuteman Library Network's shared catalog, which encompasses more than 40 libraries, each having a large and diverse collection! AC

The Dork in All of Us – Dork Tower

Dork Covenant comically introduces us to the world of the maligned and misunderstood gamer as exemplified by resident dorks Matt, Igor, Carson, and Ken.

Kovalic's simplified black and white artwork places the emphasis where it belongs, on the characters and the plot. Some graphic novels draw the reader with great inking or smooth layering. Dork Tower offers something much more substantial.

The star of this volume is a gem for Lord of the Rings fans and can be found on pages 67-73. That strip captures the essence of this web-comic turned graphic novel.

Every volume sees growth in the plot and the characters. Kovalic touches on relevant issues from the time whether the invasion of collectible minis, the latest video game system, or being a Mac or PC person.

Not everything is an inside joke that only uber geeks can understand, which is a trap other comics fall for. Kovalic broadens the scope for a general audience while maintaining multiple levels of comprehension.

At the heart of Dork Tower are the characters. We feel their pain and their joy as they suffer unemployment, enter relationships, and support one another as friends should. Dork Tower has a little of everything and it starts with Volume 1: Dork Covenant. Grab it today from the Graphic Novel kiosk on the 2^nd floor behind the stairwell. You won't regret it.

JR

Rick Geary Graphic Novelist

I have been a fan of Rick Geary's ever since I picked up his The Borden Tragedy, which retells the historical murders of Lizzie Borden's parents in Fall River. Geary has a treasure trove of mysteries for the history buff and graphic novel fan.

His black and white style places the emphasis on the facts, or should I say perceived facts, of each case while also framing each tale. One of his trademarks is to create a cross section of the building(s) where the murder happens.

Recently I read his The Lindbergh Child. It is an incredible telling of the "biggest story since the Resurrection" as H.L. Mencken once said. Geary manages to effortlessly compile the different personal accounts, historical documents to evoke the setting and feeling of that time and place.

Geary has created ten graphic novels covering mysteries and murders ranging from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln to the serial killer Jack the Ripper. He has also eight other graphic novels such as Gumby and a graphic biography of J. Edgar Hoover. Most, if not all, of these are owned by the Minuteman Library Network. Our friendly reference libraries can help you place a request on any of these titles. If there is a title not in Minuteman then you can ask us in Interlibrary Loan (ask the Reference Desk to send ILL the request) to get it for you from anywhere in the country.

I hope you'll give Geary's works a chance and that you'll enjoy them as much as I do.

JR