Ray Bradbury (1920-2012) was one of science fiction's greatest luminaries. The author of such classic, important works as Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles, and Something Wicked This Way Comes (all of which have been adapted into fully authorized graphic novels), Bradbury was honored in 2007 with a Pulitzer citation "for his distinguished, prolific and deeply influential career as an unmatched author of science fiction and fantasy."
Dennis Calero received an honorable mention from the Society of Illustrators West in 2009 for his work on X-Men Noir. He was also nominated for a Harvey Award in 2007 for his work on X-Factor.
One of the most poignant sf stories of all time, Bradbury's classic anthology of loosely connected vignettes paints a picture of humanity that may take to the skies but remains mired in terrestrial flaws. Earth invaders of the red planet and the (also flawed) Martians kill and deceive one another-and themselves-until cataclysms on both planets set the stage for a hoped-for new beginning. This skillful adaptation includes 15 of the vignettes, about half the originals, that together preserve the texture and momentum of the original. The text also maintains much of Bradbury's poetic diction. Calero's mostly realistic colors integrate smoothly with the story and are well designed. However, the more stylish, beautiful approach occasionally in evidence, as in the city depicted in "Night Meeting," would have better suited additional parts of the text to convey Bradbury's aura of doomed romanticism. -VERDICT A harbinger of modern environmental and anti-war concerns, The Martian Chronicles deserves this attractive graphic novel to sell its message to an even wider audience. Recommended for teen and adult sf fans, both young and nostalgically older.-M.C. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
|
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
