Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser

Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser (comics)

by Howard Chaykin (Writer), Mike Mignola (Illustrator), Al Williamson (Illustrator)

Since their first appearance in 1939, Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser have ranked among the most beloved characters in fantasy. Their rollicking adventures in the fantastic land of Nehwon have influenced the work of some of the best in modern fantasy, including Michael Moorcock, Terry Pratchett and countless others.

Genres: Fantasy, Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Sword and Sorcery, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics

200 pages, Paperback

First published March 27, 2007

About the author

Howard Victor Chaykin is an American comic book artist and writer. Chaykin's influences include his one-time employer and mentor, Gil Kane, and the mid-20th century illustrators Robert Fawcett and Al Parker.

Reviews

[J.G. Keely · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of fun, much like the stories that inspired them. Though Chaykin's pacing is sometimes choppy, his use of the language is delightfully in-character. It's unfortunate that the series didn't catch on, it could have been a more humorous compliment to the many successful Conan comics.

As usual, Mignola is a delight, though it's amusing to see him at a much earlier stage, where his lines are more sketchy and his angular shading has that definitively early nineties 'edgy' look so favored in comics and Vampire roleplaying books. I love his draughtsmanship, particularly the buildings and statuary, which manage to be intricate and mysterious without relying on the obsessive miscellany of a Bachalo or Darrow.

It's always interesting to see how artists characterize Fafhrd and the Mouser, since they are not as narrowly-defined as Conan or John Carter. The Mouser, in particular, has always been a shifting, undefined figure in my mind, with the sort of average, forgettable face that lets a thief lose himself in any crowd.

Mignola's Mouser is a little more beefy and heroic, with sharp, Eastern-European features, which I found an interesting vision, and fitting for the character. I also appreciated Mignola's range of expression and the pure personality of his characters, something all too rare in comics, where wooden faces scream with an unsettlingly even mixture of joy, hatred, pain, and sorrow.

In the end, there's no replacement for an inspired artist.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't a graphic novel, but rather adaptations of seven stories from Fritz Leiber's series about Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser. The classic series is arguably the second most influential in the sword-and-sorcery fantasy genre (after Conan of course), and are richly told, subtle tales. Sheelba of the Eyeless Face and Ningauble of the Seven Eyes have got to be the best-named patron wizards ever! Adapting the original classics to this form is a daunting undertaking, but Chaykin does pretty well for the most part. I thought Mignola's art was far superior to the text; these stories are from an earlier stage in his career, and seem far more detailed and nuanced than much of his really recent work, with much less of a rushed feeling. (There's an unfortunate introduction by Chaykin in which he forgets Harry Otto Fisher's name and seems to confuse him with Stanley G. Weinbaum and then calls Weinbaum an editor, but that obviously doesn't impact the work itself.) All in all it's a very pleasing volume, and a pretty good representation of Leiber's Nehwon.

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mignola and Leiber were a match made in Leng. It's a shame we didn't get to see more of this, and a shame too that Chaykin's writing can't quite keep up.

[DeAnna Knippling · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to LOVE this book.

No.

Here's Fritz Lieber:

"Sundered from us by the gulfs of time and stranger dimensions dreams the ancient world of Nehwon with its towers and skulls and jewels, its swords and sorceries."

Here's Howard Chaykin:

[No setup whatsoever.]

It's like that Lieber delights; Chaykin strips everything down to bare bones. It misseth the point, and not even the Mignola illustrations can do anything with it.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/4 stars

[Nashelito · Rating 5 out of 5]

Коміксова адаптація пригод фентезійних персонажів, яких створив Фріц Лайбер вражає дотепністю та стилем. "Фафгрд та Сірий Мишолов", перетворений у графічний роман Говардом Чайкіним (сценарій) та Майком Міньйолою (малюнки), захоплює з перших кадрів і не відпускає до останнього. І після прочитання я ностальгійно згадую цих харизматичних паршивців, так ніби й сам подорожував з ними неозорими просторами загадкового світу Невон і встрягав у халепи на брудних, темних вуличках Ланкмару – найбільшого, найгіршого і найкращого у Невоні міста.

Фафгрд – типовий "танк", гора м'язів з величезним мечем, класичний варвар з Мерзлої Пустки, такі народжуються і виростають в засніжених і непривітних горах на півночі, а Сірий Мишолов – смаглявий спритник і штукар, такі начебто приходять у світ десь в південних степах. Кажуть, що він навіть був учнем чаклуна, але це – не точно.

Їхні діалоги можна перечитувати багато разів, а стежити за наслідками вчинків – страшенно цікаво.

Цей комікс – прекрасне графічне втілення ідеального фентезі – химерного, розумного, переповненого пригодами та емоціями і безмежно іронічного.

[J.M. (Joe) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The artwork by Mike Mignola was very good, but Howard Chaykin's adaptation of Leiber is just way too choppy. Art: good. Writing: Nonsensical. Not good.

I can only give this two stars.

[Lost Planet Airman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seven stories adapted for comics by Howard Chaykin and Mike Mignola.
-- "Ill Met in Lankhmar"
-- "The Circle Curse"
-- "The Howling Tower"
-- "The Price of Pain Ease"
-- "Bazaar of the Bizarre"
-- "Lean Time in Lankhmar" (nice touches of humor here)
-- "When the Sea King's Away…"

Seasonal Reading Challenge Fall 2018 Task 5.9 - Boggle:
It’s a cheesy victory, but AND (from Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser) is in the upper right corner of the given boggle board.

[Pavlo · Rating 4 out of 5]

«Фафгрд та Сірий Мишолов» — збірка веселих та іронічних історій, яку точно зацінять олдскульні пошановувачі величезного всесвіту Might and Magic. Пізнаючи по ходу оповіді характери велетня Фафгрда та спритного Мишолова, раз-у-раз ловиш себе на спробах порівняти персонажів зображених Чайкіним і Міньйолою то з легендарним кімерійцем, то з Гераклом та Іолаєм, а там глядь і цар Ітаки посміхається з обіймів сирен, а прочитавши до кінця сім історій про двох крутіїв, б’юся об заклад, ви з посмішкою згадаєте кмітливого Сіндбада-мореплавця.

Саме характерні фентезійні персонажі, стародавній всесвіт Невон, вигаданий Фріцом Лайбером, наповнений вежами, коштовностями, мечами, черепами й чаклунствами, де значення має тільки чия кров у тебе на долонях та кількість золота в мошні, не дають відкласти комікс убік та хоча б сьогодні вчасно влягтися спати.

Дуже цікаво було споглядати раннього Майка Міньйолу. У «Фафгрд та Сірий Мишолов» Майк ще не намацав свій унікальний “гострий” експресіоністський стиль, але його знаменита фішка з густими тінями, грою на контрасті та пристрасною любов’ю до готичної архітектури чітко прослідковується в збірці, створеній в далекому 1991 році.
І я вважаю, що, більшою мірою, саме завдячуючи майстерності Майка, мальопис набуває цієї неповторної фентезійной і магічної атмосферності та таємничості.

Я не читав оригінальний твір Фріца Лайбера, тому не можу порівнювати його з комікс-адаптацією Говарда Чайкіна, але більшість претензій читачів стосуються саме його роботи з сюжетом. Особисто зазначу, що мені не сподобався дещо сіпаний темп розповіді та подекуди не зовсім логічний сторітелінг, що потребував додаткових пояснень і змушував повертатися до попередніх панелей, в місцях де малюнок гнав нас уперед.

На останок скажу так: якщо вам до вподоби фентезійні світи, вас надихають персонажі по типу Джона Картера, Гана Соло чи Індіани Джонса, то ласкаво прошу до Невону – світу Меча та Магії.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Characters created by Fritz Lieber, story by Howard Chaykin and art by Mike Mignola... how could I possibly NOT like this graphic novel?

I had actually read, oh so many years ago, Chaykin's original take on the characters in DC Comics' Sword of Sorcery and had liked it even then. So yeah, this book was a giddy little school girl feeling kinda book for me.

It desperately needs a sequel though.

[Ramón Nogueras Pérez · Rating 5 out of 5]

La única pega que tiene este cómic es que Chaykin y Mignola sólo llegaron a adaptar siete de los muchos relatos de Leiber. Porque los que adaptan constituyen un ejemplo de cómo pasar una historia de un medio a otro de la mejor manera posible. No sorprende que dos maestros del cómic hagan una soberbia adaptación de un Gran Maestro de la Fantasía, pero supera toda expectativa.

Si no conoces la obra de Leiber, no hay mejor introducción. Si, como yo , la adoras, te vas a volver loco de gusto con ello. Es un clásico.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really fun. I'd never heard of Fafhrd or the Gray Mouser, but I had heard of Lanhkmar (a fantasy version of New York where most of their adventures take place) somewhere distantly in the past. I can see how having a duo to act as foils for each other can really work. Although the differences between the two were more in their backgrounds. They both arrived at the same place in life in very different ways and found kindred spirits in each other.

The art I actually like more that some of Mike Mignola's later work, since he isn't really distorting the figures here too much, but still has the great stark shadow work.

I'm curious how the original stories compare to this version. There's a little bit of a sample at the end giving an origin story for Fafhrd. The Gray Mouser's past of course is mostly uknown.

All in all, though there was as serious Conan vibe, the feel was much different just by putting this pair together instead of a lone warrior. Still small enough that they could feel alone, especially when separated, but never completely alone.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't realize this was a reappearance of two characters from previous works by Fritz Leiber. With that said, one can completely read and enjoy this book without previous knowledge about these two guys. The trouble they get into is page-turning and Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser are a couple of characters that work really well together in kind of a love-hate-partner-competition comedic relationship. I picked it up because of Mike Mignola's art, the guy behind Hellboy, I admire and enjoy his work and I was not disappointed by this book.

You do have to stay on your toes with this book, it is a collection of short stories that are basically unrelated to each other, except that they all involve these two main characters. So they stories sometimes feel a little jam-packed and cramped in here, but with a little focus it is easy enough to understand what is going on.

[Matthew DeCostanza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chaykin's stilted dialogue is mind-numbing (although I can't entirely say that this quality is far-removed from the source material), but this anthology still stands as an apt abbreviation/introduction to the Leiber series. Obvious highlight: Mignola's and Williamson's fantastic artwork. It makes one regret the aesthetic shift Mignola underwent for the Hellboy series; the watercolor-like designs blend his standard engraving style with an art nouveau influence with a richness that makes Seed of Destruction look like a pack of cheap Tarot cards.

[Carl Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artwork and dialog really brings Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser to life. It's very well-written and a fun adaptation of the series. It lacks the depth of the stories (of course, as any comic adaptation must) but the fun, adventure, and urbane wit carries through. (I wasn't a huge fan of the "Lean Times in Lankhmar" arc, but that's a tough story to adapt.)

It really makes me want to go read the Leiber stories again, they are some of my favorite "sword & sorcery" adventures, and the graphic novelization whets my appetite for more.

[Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed the art, the stories didn't make any sense. I think the issue is that Leiber's works are too complicated to be translated easily into graphic novel format. Too much had to be left out and the result was a kind of hack and slash approach to the stories.

[Matt Sabonis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun stuff. Chaykin's view of the original material as fantasy-set noir really shines through, and is great stuff. Plus, BIG SECRET, I kinda like Mike Mignola's older stuff better than his current. In some ways. Weird, huh?

[Michael Doane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for a swashbuckling adventure, and this collection delivered. This is like some of my favorite media all wrapped up together: a dash of Princess Bride humor, a sprinkling of the cosmically gothic alleyways that haunt Yharnam, the whole dark sword and sorcery tone from the world of The Witcher, mixed with the fast-paced wit of Indiana Jones. Fafhrd and Grey Mouser transported me to watching those old Sinbad stunt shows at Universal Studios. What a fun read.

[Matty Dub · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was incredible, the very definition of a hidden gem. You like swashbuckling rogues? Buddy action flicks? Inspired banter? The ink work of probably the best inker ever Al Williamson? Best artist alive Mike Mignola? I’d never even heard of Fitz Lieber before but this makes me want to read more. This was at least as good as the sum of its parts, it might even have been a little better.

[Octavi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pura maravilla.

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of the best, weirdest comics I've read. A great adaptation of a great world.

[Asher Klassen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It had been far to long since I'd read any good Sword & Sorcery when I picked this volume up at Hemingway's Books in Abbotsford, BC. Mignola's art caught my eye, as it always does. I bought it on a whim, took it home, and eventually sat down with a glass of mulled wine and Thanksgiving leftovers to read it.

I loved it.

It doesn't read like a modern comic; I think that's part of what endeared it to me. This is old-school Sword & Sorcery to the core, the kind of fantasy that has been replaced by schlock like that Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunter movie we had to deal with. Entertaining, but schlock. This book is gritty, street-level fantasy full of beer and blood, mud and monsters. It's myth born out of the age of Noir and Conan where barbarians and swashbucklers reigned supreme. It was an age that I can wax poetic about, like I am right now. Mike Mignola did these stories their due justice, muted colours and high contrast, a stark blend of angles and flowing motion. This is Mignola pre-Hellboy, before he reinvented the gritty modern fantasy genre and blew us all away with the BPRD.

Read this book.

That is all.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ultimately, I'm glad I borrowed, rather than bought, this book. It looks great, some of Mignola's best work ever, I thought. Chaykin does a very good job capturing the give-and-take bantering between the two leads. There are some really nice storytelling techniques, split panels, overlapping dialogue, etc., that I appreciated, but there's just not enough here to get over my complete and absolute lack of interest in Swords and Sorcery as a genre. All of the stories were an absolute drag to get through, with nothing distinguishing (to me, anyway) this set of nebulous magical god beings from another set of similar archetypes, and I'm not sure if it was Chaykin or Leiber's shortcoming, but I found the heroes' true loves to be so bland that I only managed to be annoyed by the heroes' proclamations of love after the ladies were killed.

Actually, no, the second story wasn't a slog. I enjoyed the brief snippets of quests, little peeks into their lives, events taken without much context beyond providing some glimpse into the burgeoning bond between the two adventurers. Fun stuff, but none of the other tales work for me at all.

[Matt Sadorf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fritz Leiber's stories, Howard Chaykin's adaptations, and Mike Midnola's art, that's a winning combination right there.

These are fun and interesting tales that are accompanied by great art, and I really enjoyed reading them. I wasn't sure what to expect as I don't know that much about the source material, but when Mignola is involved, I always want to check it out. At the same time, Chaykin is a revered name in the comic world, so I knew there was a good chance I would enjoy all of this, and I was right.

If you like swords and sorcery type stories with some humor involved, then you should go ahead and check this collection out.

[Bill Coffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Howard Chaykin, Mike Mignola and Al Williamson's collaboration on this graphic adaptation of Fritz Leiber's various Lanhkmar stories is a feast. Chaykin's writing, while sometimes criticized here for being choppy, suits the quick pace of the original tales and loses none of their critical turns. Meanwhile, Mignola's art is at its pre-Hellboy best, making a meal out of the wondrous and semy details of Newhon and Lankhmar and its favorite anti-heroes. Chaykin and Mignola would collaborate again around the same time on Ironwolf: Fires of the Revolution, and while that's a gem, too, this thing they did with Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser is something special.

[Macha · Rating 4 out of 5]

great job, as befits the best sword & sorcery series ever. the original stories by Fritz Leiber are artfully rendered - and there's a lot going on in Leiber to capture. the best bromance ever conveys the joy they both take in their unlikely association. and the early Mike Mignola art is very nice - bit of an oriental fantasy feel to it, like maybe Groo drawn with sharper edges, not quite what you might expect from the author of the sometimes very stark Hellboy series. a labour of love, this one.

[Fugo Feedback · Rating 3 out of 5]

Menos mal que este tomo trae uno de los relatos originales al final y me lo leí primero, así no siento esa culpa tonta que me da siempre que leo adaptaciones antes que el material original. Ni el cuento original ni las adaptaciones me volaron la cabeza, por cierto, pero tienen momentos muy altos, que alguien con más poder de observación que yo se dedicará a resaltar en algún momento.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy ★★★★★ from me.

[Ryan McArthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I raelly like the art style, quite old school, and the story is great! I'm going to hunt this chap out.

[Darnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very conventional episodic sword and sorcery, hence I'm not a fair reviewer.