“Experience Jamie’s Side of the Story!” The cover cries and who am I to turn down the loan of any Outlander material, in particular that provided by our Fearless Leader, Mswas? In fact, once finished reading it, I sealed the book in a plastic bag, not out of an ill-advised and biology-misunderstanding need for revenge, but to make sure I didn’t accidentally get butter on it. Scoff if you will, but you would be amazed how many of my personal papers have grease marks.
I suppose that The Exile graphic novel might be a good starting place for people curious about the book series who also like this format; moreover, Outlander is entirely from the heroine’s perspective and The Exile mostly from the hero’s which is something lacking until much later in novels and a welcome change.
If you haven’t read Outlander , and you really should, it’s AWESOME, here is a bastardized summary from my review: In 1946, Claire Randall is on a second honeymoon in the Scottish Highlands. She visits a local henge and through the magic of fiction is able to walk between the two halves of a broken stone slab and end up in the same place, but in 1743. As an outsider, Claire is regarded with suspicion and is thus pulled into a protective relationship with the chief’s nephew, Jamie Fraser… and thus an epic historical adventure and love story begins, spanning decades, leaping centuries, and continents, with eight novels and still going.
The Exile shares the beginning of the story from Jamie’s perspective both before and after becoming involved with Claire. It also includes some back story on other significant characters and adds one that is either new or I have forgotten. Even with pictures (and like the book and TV series) I had trouble keeping all the craggy men straight. Overall, it was a quick read that left me flat.
I’m no judge of the artwork, but it seemed competent in a simplified, shorthand way, i.e. the dress is long and she’s wearing a corset tied over it, so it must be historical. Really, this means that, in keeping with my perception of female depictions of women in graphic novels, all the ladies are running around in their underclothes or that which simulates same. There are a lot of boobs on display, such many boobs. Magically, heaving two-dimensional boobs in that distracting “my clothing can barely withstand the pressure” way of boobs in fiction. Squished and/or overflowing boobs, not only for Claire (apologies for the picture quality),
but supporting characters as well,
Clearly, The Exile is not made for what is considered the usual Outlander audience: women. If Claire had been given a frequently savoured comely backside, I could have understood it more as her arse is frequently appreciated in the books.
Graphic novels have simply never been part of my reading. I read some religious Archie comics that one time I spent 10 days at bible camp (never to return), but the whole world of comic books was not a part of my formative years and as such they leave me cold. The most interesting part of the book for me was the brief Afterward in which Gabaldon shares her correspondence with the illustrator about what Jamie and Claire look like. You can check out the book to see, but to get the idea just look up some combination of “Gabriel Aubry Jamie Fraser” and apparently you will be quite close. (Self-congratulatory aside: That’s pretty much what my Jamie looks like, too. My Claire is entirely different though.)
My reviews of the books in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series can be found here.
Links to my other reviews can be found on my complete reading list of books sorted by author or Author Commentary & The Tallies Shameful.
Mrs Julien: I think I only read this once – shocking! While not perfect, I believe that we have this graphic novel – and her reception at NY Comic-con and more – to thank for easing the way for the TV show.
This is what made me decide graphic novels aren’t for me. Well, this and Kirkman’s Walking Dead.
You might like something that isn’t close to source material you already know well. Maus, by Art Spiegelman, is the only graphic novel to have received a Pulitzer Prize. The horror of the Holocaust depicted by cats and mice sounds trivializing, but it’s brilliant and gripping.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maus
Oh, man. Don’t let those stinkers turn you off the genre. You just named two of my personal least favorite graphic novels. There are just as many graphic novels out there to enjoy as there are readers. It’s not like if you like graphic novels, you will like every graphic novels. They’re not so much a genre as a medium. They are just as diversified by genre as novels are. And I second MsWas’s rec of Maus. It’s excellent.
I just finished 2 volumes of Ms. Marvel, in which a 16 yr old Pakistani American girl, Kamala becomes a superhero. She has a vision in which the blond, older Ms. Marvel appears to her and passes the mantel – Kamala is excited, but announces she’s going to use the old, body baring, high heel boot costume. And then she discovers it’s hard to kick ass when you have no pants. It’s really nice to see a woman in comics who isn’t all boob. Even in the pantsless costume she isn’t all boob.
I love Ms. Marvel! You should try Captain Marvel next. It’s also refreshing in the same way re: boobs and such.
Oh, Captain Marvel is ON MY LIST. The good list, not the bad list.
DEFINITELY get Captain Marvel. Especially the current Kelly Sue DeConnick run.
Also, kind of a weird recommendation considering it has ALL OF THE boobs, but I love the way Gail Simone is writing Red Sonya.
I really, really did not like this. I thought the art was atrocious and the story nowhere near as interesting as when told from Claire’s perspective. Some of the individual panels are lovely, but they don’t create the illusion of movement like good art in a comic is supposed to. And none of the characters looked like themselves to me. In fact, all the characters looked alike. Blech.
I found the lack of words disturbing.
They talk with their boobs, Mrs. Julien. It’s called *body language*. :D
This comment wins.
I have never had any desire to check out the Outlander graphic novel. This review just confirms that I’ve made the right choice on that.
This just went on my FB page. It will brighten my entire day.
Ha! Glad to be of service.
Narfna’s brilliant comment aside, Mrs. J’s remark about the lack of words pretty much summed up my issues with the graphic novels I’ve tried so far. I guess I just need to keep trying to find one I enjoy – it makes me feel a tad defective to know do many people whose opinion I respect enjoy then and I just don’t get it. Also, frankly, I haven’t been a huge fan of the art involved, either.
Which graphic novels have you read? Maybe I can point you in some different directions.