American goDs
Sticking to the Shadows
released OUT NOW! Publisher dark Horse Comics
Writers Neil Gaiman, P Craig russell Artists P Craig russell, scott Hampton, Walter simonson, Colleen doran
It’s been many years since Neil Gaiman made the switch from jobbing comics writer to bestselling novelist, but in that time there’s been no shortage of Gaiman-related comics. Many of these have come from Dark Horse, which has adapted a number of Gaiman’s short stories over the years. Their latest project is something more ambitious – a full adaptation of his 2001 novel American Gods.
This is the second adaptation of the book that we’ve seen this year, and it offers a different experience to the acclaimed Starz TV series. Similar in approach to Marvel’s epic comic version of Stephen King’s The Stand, this is an ultra-faithful interpretation of Gaiman’s novel that will be divided into three separate volumes across 27 issues. Volume One, “Shadows”, introduces us to the books’ unique mythology, as ex-con Shadow Moon agrees to work for a mysterious con-man named Mr Wednesday. This decision catapults Shadow into an oncoming war of mythic proportions that’s happening all across America, pitching old gods like Odin and Anansi against new gods who want to take them down.
Gaiman’s story is atmospheric, intricate and slow-burning, but while the TV series has made some bold and adventurous changes, the comic sticks to the book at every turn in a way that’s both admirable and a little frustrating. It’s especially a problem when this accidentally highlights some of the flaws and weaknesses in the original novel. However, when it works, it’s very powerful, helped by a strong focus on Gaiman’s prose.
Each of the first four issues is packed with dialogue and text, but the pacing is largely handled well by artist P Craig Russell’s adaptation. He’s also done the layouts for the art, giving each page an intricate visual style – although the finished art is by Scott Hampton, whose painterly approach and muted colour
The comic conjures up a moody and evocative tone
palette is sometimes very expressive, and at other times a little stiff. Occasional guest spots from artists like Colleen Doran and Walter Simonson do add variety though, and their handling of the novel’s digressions and flashbacks give those sequences a distinctive identity.
At its best, this adaptation conjures up a moody, evocative tone that’s strongly reminiscent of Gaiman’s late-’80s and early-’90s work for Vertigo. However, in the wake of the TV version, this series can’t help but feel a little too faithful. It’s an ambitious undertaking, but it’s also in danger of feeling more like a project for Gaiman completists than a truly essential read. Saxon Bullock
Artist P Craig Russell has also previously produced comic adaptations of Gaiman novels Coraline and The Graveyard Book.