****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I was simply stunned by how engaging, thought provoking, and fun this graphic novel was.I have always been a huge fan of the "Blade Runner" movie(in all its incarnations). I knew it was somewhat based on a novel called, "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Phillip K. Dick. I never read that novel though. When I recently discovered that it had been turned into a 6 volume graphic novel series, being a huge fan of graphic novels, I was extremely excited and wondered how it would be adapted from the original novel. Never having read that novel, I wouldn't know what changes were made, but figured I would at least get an idea of what the PKD's book was like. Then I found out that the people at BOOM! Studios were doing something that I'd never seen done before; instead of an abridged or adapted version of the novel, they were using the novel WORD FOR WORD! Every single word from the novel was going to be in the graphic novel. Not only did this pique my curiosity, but it also had me a little concerned as to how they would pull it off. A graphic novel is, by nature, a visual medium where stories are told as much through artwork as through the written word. In many instances, the artwork carries the story MORE than the writing. So how well would this new method work? In short, brilliantly.One of my worries was that much of the panels would be obscured by all the words that would have to fit on the page. This, I'm happy to say, was not the case. I don't know how they did it, but they managed to allow for the images(which are fantastic by the way) to be viewed with no problem. I thought, before reading it, that maybe they would use tiny lettering. Nope. The lettering is just fine in terms of size; I also liked the font used by Richard Starkings(one of the greats). The way this book is designed and crafted is nothing short of genius. The placement of the panels, word balloons, etc. is done as well as any graphic novel I have ever read.PKD's writing is top-notch. I was really missing out by not reading his novel. And I am now a big fan of his. His style is right up my alley. He both tells a great story in terms of wonderfully realized and interesting characters and enthralling plots and subplots, as well as giving the reader several themes that forces one to examine such age-old questions as, "What makes us human?" and, "How does one determine what reality truly is?". Prejudice and conformity are also themes at play here. The way that the writing captivates you and pulls you in to this bleak futuristic world is second to none. PKD really knows how to entertain and encourage philosophical thinking. He's now one of my favorite new writers. He's a true visionary.The artwork of Tony Parker is phenomenal. His style is kind of similar to that of Frank Quitely(whom I have a love/hate relationship with, as described in my review of "All-Star Superman") and Pete Woods. It really works fantastically here. It brings the world to life in a superbly detailed and visually dynamic and fresh way that slightly echoes that of Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner", but without copying it. So although there is a familiarity to some degree for those who have seen "Blade Runner", it really is its own unique universe. And having a little "Blade Runner"-esque feel to it isn't such a bad thing in my opinion. I'd also like to point out how tough a job it must have been for Parker to express the scenes visually when the writing is already doing much of the work itself. Yet he pulls it off by chosing the perfect moments to articulate artistically through his gorgeous linework and stunning angles. And the coloring of Blond is beautifully done as well. The nuances of color scheme and lighting is pure eye-candy. Overall, the artwork compliments the writing perfectly.This graphic novel is a real treasure and immediate classic. BOOM! Studios chose the perfect team to bring this revolutionary way of graphic novel stroytelling to life. I'd also like to say how insightful and entertaining the essays at the back of the book are. And I want to express how excellently this hardcover is made and put together. Love the binding and the thick glossy pages, as well as the ribbon bookmark. I anxiously await getting the next 5 volumes. If you are a fan of "Blade Runner" or PKD's original novel, you really need to check this out. This could start a new trend in the way graphic novel adaptations of novels are done. I still love the standard way of graphic novel storytelling, but this new way(at least in this instance) is also amazing. Very cool!
