mschlat's review against another edition
5.0
Just amazing work --- from the lettering to the coloring to the panel placement and pacing, it's all gorgeous. It almost makes me want to see the actual operas (but not quite!)
gilroi's review against another edition
5.0
I think P Craig Russell is an art god, basically, but this is definitely some of the finest work I've seen from him. A wonderful, glorious introduction to comics on an epic scale, Russell's capabilities as an artist, and the Ring Cycle itself. Highly reccomended to all ages.
eliashelfer's review against another edition
4.0
Adaptation is quite an art. You must take something painstakingly created to fit precisely in one particular medium, and rework it to fit precisely into another medium that tells its story in a radically different way. And you should do it so that the work is still recognisably the same, and still conveys the same profound understanding as any work made for your medium.
In this book, P. Craig Russell adapts Richard Wagner's epic opera cycle, The Ring of the Nibelung. It's a giant in Western culture, and an inspiration for so much. Reading this book, I was struck by how much of this work has clear paralleles in Tolkien's work - obviously in Lord of the Rings, but more especially in the Silmarillion.
Now, I admit that I have not seen Wagner's works, and so I don't know how the two compare. But throughout the comic, the musicality comes through vividly. In colourings, in visual embellishments, in lettering and speech bubbles, you feel how Russell reframes the special modes of the opera using the special modes of comics.
The result is splendid. A vivid, colourful book, well worth reading, not just out of interest in the opera, but as a comic in its own right. I get the sense that Russell allows himself to use certain techniques by using the opera as a pretext, and more often than not, it works splendidly.
Of course, the comic also carries over some of the ridiculousness of the opera. That most often comes out in the visual appearance of the characters. Voton and the Valkyries wear hats with ridiculous feather ornaments while Donner Froh look a bit like camp He-Man.
I found that easy to overlook, though, and thoroughly enjoyed the book. I went into it as a way to get the story of The Ring of the Nibelung without having to sit through 15 hours of opera. I came out of it actually considering whether I wouldn't be able to withstand at least a bit of opera.
In this book, P. Craig Russell adapts Richard Wagner's epic opera cycle, The Ring of the Nibelung. It's a giant in Western culture, and an inspiration for so much. Reading this book, I was struck by how much of this work has clear paralleles in Tolkien's work - obviously in Lord of the Rings, but more especially in the Silmarillion.
Now, I admit that I have not seen Wagner's works, and so I don't know how the two compare. But throughout the comic, the musicality comes through vividly. In colourings, in visual embellishments, in lettering and speech bubbles, you feel how Russell reframes the special modes of the opera using the special modes of comics.
The result is splendid. A vivid, colourful book, well worth reading, not just out of interest in the opera, but as a comic in its own right. I get the sense that Russell allows himself to use certain techniques by using the opera as a pretext, and more often than not, it works splendidly.
Of course, the comic also carries over some of the ridiculousness of the opera. That most often comes out in the visual appearance of the characters. Voton and the Valkyries wear hats with ridiculous feather ornaments while Donner Froh look a bit like camp He-Man.
I found that easy to overlook, though, and thoroughly enjoyed the book. I went into it as a way to get the story of The Ring of the Nibelung without having to sit through 15 hours of opera. I came out of it actually considering whether I wouldn't be able to withstand at least a bit of opera.
nora_dlc's review against another edition
5.0
Sin duda captura bien el espíritu de la historia y de la música de Wagner. Lo disfruté muchísimo aunque no leo muchas novelas gráficas.
jeffdecker's review against another edition
4.0
A powerful story that kept me interested through the whole thing. Normally I'm not the greatest fan of this type of art style but it felt right for this book.
jsjammersmith's review against another edition
5.0
Simply incredible. This book was stunning and radiantly beautiful. Every page was a careful study in line, color, form, and the arrangements of panels while managing to convey the spirit and emotion of the original opera.
This is one of the most beautiful graphic novels I've ever read.
This is one of the most beautiful graphic novels I've ever read.
molliekami's review against another edition
5.0
This translation of musical drama to comic book is so beautifully brought to life by P. Craig Russell. I recommend reading it while listening to Wagner's operas.
velocitygirl14's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't know the story completely, since there are so many different versions, so I thought I'd try reading Wagner's own. Russell did a fantastic job in adapting it. I could have gone without the hey hos and the over-dramatic repetition, but then, this was an opera adaptation, so I can't complain too much about it. Great job, the drawing was well done and captured the mood well.
I will definitely look up more of his adaptations, that's for certain.
I will definitely look up more of his adaptations, that's for certain.
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