Amulet Of Samarkand Graphic Novel
Nu Alessio
Jonathan Stroud, the author of the entire series, adapted The Amulet of Samarkand to graphic novel form with Andrew Donkin, a well known author in his own right, having worked on Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight and helping adapt the Artemis Fowl series to graphic novel form. Lee Sullivan, an accomplished comic artist, made the graphic novel's art, Nicolas Chapius was the colourist and Chris Dickey did the lettering.
Honestly if you know the book than I can only imagine this graphic novel being a dissapointment. While it tells the basis of the story it leaves behind any of the emotional connection to make with the characters. Any of the depth is gone.
While ending on a closed note for this one storyline, it is also an open ending as you know that while the villains of book one are most likely gone, you also know they were not working alone. However, I have been unable to locate other graphic novels, so if anyone does locate them, please send them my way!
The first volume in the brilliant, bestselling Bartimaeus sequence, now adapted into a stunning graphic novel format - this is Bartimaeus as you've never seen him before!
Nathaniel, a young magician's apprentice, has revenge on his mind. Desperate to defy his master and take on more challenging spells, he secretly summons the 5000-year-old djinni, Bartimaeus. But Bartimaeus's task is not an easy one - he must steal the powerful Amulet of Samarkand from Simon Lovelace, a master magician of unrivalled ruthlessness and ambition. Before long, Bartimaeus and Nathaniel are caught up in a terrifying flood of intrigue, rebellion and murder.
Set in modern-day London controlled by magicians, this brilliant adaptation of Jonathan Stroud's bestselling novel will enthral readers of all ages.
Jonathan Stroud was born in Bedford in 1970. After studying English Literature at York University, he moved to London, where he worked as an editor in a publishing firm. He is also the author of the best-selling BARTIMAEUS sequence, which is published in 35 languages and has sold 6 million copies worldwide, and also of four other novels: HEROES OF THE VALLEY, THE LAST SIEGE, THE LEAP and BURIED FIRE. He lives in Hertfordshire with his family. He has yet to see a ghost, but is keeping his eyes open.
...illustrated superbly in this graphic novel. The colours are delicious - rich yet real, bright yet not busy, with realistic shading and other changes of tone. The whole artwork is superlative, with characters - human, magical or otherwise - simply and well defined.That and a whole lot more suggest this book is a faithful adaptation, cherishing the original and only making it more vivid.With the look of this tome the standout, this is the best preteen-read-to-graphic-novel book I've yet seen, making it better than the Alex Rider, Charlie Higson young Bond, and even our co-adaptor's Artemis Fowl tie-ins. It's a lengthy book, for it doesn't appear wordy yet contains a satisfying amount of bulk. It reads fine, and looks splendid, and I have no problem recommending it.
The art work that is done by Lee Sullivan and Colour by Nicholas Chapuis is just wonderful. Its bright and colourful and really is easy on the eyes... Overall, a great fun read that will make you want to go out and buy the orginal books. And a huge thumbs up for a very happy four year boy who is totally in love with this graphic novel. 4/5
...Bartimaeus' most famous adventure has been brought to stunning graphic life in this beautiful adaptation... This book is 144 pages of pure fantasy gold... It is great to see the story come to life through the wonderful illustrations and colourful layout.
[Illustrations are] stunning, detailed and spookily close to my own imaginings of the characters and locations......a graphic novel that is beautiful to look upon......excellency marks all aspects of this graphic novel, from the story to the art, colour and lettering ...Highly recommended.
The graphic novel format is a great way to engage reluctant readers, present difficult subject matter in an accesible way, as well as to just enjoy a great read. There is something on this list for every teen.
The Bartimaeus Sequence[1] is a series of young adult novels of alternate history, fantasy and magic. It was written by British writer Jonathan Stroud and consists of a trilogy published from 2003 to 2005 and a prequel novel published in 2010. The story follows the career of a teenage magician Nathaniel (aka John Mandrake) and a five-thousand-year-old djinni Bartimaeus, whom he has summoned and nominally controls, through the alternative history of the peak of London's domination as a magical oligarchy.
The series is set in London during the late 1900s or possibly the early 2000s in a parallel universe where trained people can summon demons to do their bidding. Throughout history, various individuals and empires have harnessed these magical forces to obtain great power in the world. The most recent nation to do this is the British Empire (of which London is the capital) that has dominated Europe since the mid-19th century and continues to do so at the time of the story. The UK is a magical oligarchy where a ruling elite of magicians hold almost all the political, economic and cultural power.
The novels are set in an alternate history, with the effects of magic, magicians, and demons having resulted in many changes, but with many countries, cities, events, and people from actual history. In particular these changes are reflected in the contrast between modern aspects (such as electricity, laptops, and cars) and older ones (colonial-era weapons, including muskets). The books incorporate references to various world mythologies and folklore, such as the Arabian Nights and Homer.
The first book in the trilogy, published 2003, introduces Nathaniel as the gifted 12-year-old apprentice of a middle-aged mid-level magician, Arthur Underwood. He assumes his magician name, John Mandrake, to protect him from rivals who would wish to harm him. When the magician Simon Lovelace cruelly humiliates Nathaniel in public, Nathaniel decides to take revenge by stealing Lovelace's most powerful possession, the Amulet of Samarkand, which makes the wearer invulnerable to magic. Unknown to his tutor, he begins the study of advanced magic in order to summon the djinni Bartimaeus and enslave him. Bartimaeus soon overhears Nathaniel's birth-name, which greatly reduces Nathaniel's control over him, because demons can then cast counterspells. Things soon get out of hand and Bartimaeus and Nathaniel find themselves caught in the middle of magical espionage, murder, blackmail, and revolt. Together, the two of them defeat Lovelace and his most powerful demon, Ramuthra, who was last seen destroying an entire nation. These actions end in an uneasy truce between the young magician and Bartimaeus, resulting in the demon returning to whence he came.
Published in 2004, the second book picks up two years and eight months later and features Nathaniel as a junior magician working his way up the government ranks. In this book Kitty Jones is introduced as an important character. She is a part of the Resistance movement which seeks to end the oppressive rule of the magicians. Nathaniel is tasked by his superiors with crushing the Resistance and capturing its members. His task is complicated by the unexpected appearance of a seemingly invulnerable clay golem that attacks London. Much to the displeasure of Bartimaeus, Nathaniel recalls the djinni to aid him in uncovering the origins of the golem and to save his own skin. In the end, the golem is revealed to have been created by Kavka, a Czech magician, and animated by Henry Duvall, the London Chief of Police.
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