New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman teams up with Eisner-nominated writer Marc Bernardin and artist Shawn Martinbrough to adapt Gaiman’s Locus and British Fantasy Award-winning novel, Anansi Boys, into comic book form and what we get is a fantastic way to experience Anansi Boys all over again.
“Fat” Charlie Nancy leads a boring life as a boring Londoner, until he discovers two things: That his recently deceased father was, in fact, Anansi the Spider, the trickster god of African folklore, and that he has a twin brother he’s never met. Which kicks off a reality-spanning odyssey of sibling rivalry, jealous deities, and one poor soul who’ll realize what it means to be a god.
This adaptation is both well-scripted and extremely beautiful. Shawn Martinbrough captures the essence of Gaimain’s storytelling while also adding touches that are unique and enhance our reading experience. Each panel is meaningfully crafted by Martinbrough, colorist Chris Sotomayor and letterer Jim Campbell to bring the characters and settings originally told in novel format to life in a way that is that stays true to the source material.
Marc Bernardin is a wonderful comic writer in his own right, but bringing him onto this project to script Gaiman’s original material was an extremely amazing decision. Bernardin crafts a script that allows longtime fans of Anansi Boys to enjoy the moments they love from the original novel while also giving us a fresh take on the story. The dialogue is engaging and the pace is spot on throughout the debut issue, giving us just the right amount of time to immerse ourselves in the comic. While Anansi Boys is not a humorous story, the wit and humor tucked into the story at just the right moments gives levity and authenticity to the story.
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman, Marc Bernardin and Shawn Martinbrough is a wonderful adaptation. The new format gives longtime fans a new format to enjoy their beloved story while also allowing new fans to experience for the first time. The script and artwork, not to mention the beautiful cover by David Mack, are captivating bringing Gaiman’s award-winning novel to life. Anansi Boys should not be missed.
Anansi Boys #1 hits local comic shops on June 26, 2024 from Dark Horse.
Anansi Boys #1 Preview
