Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic: The Graphic Novel

Discworld Graphic Novels #1

by Scott Rockwell (Adaptator), Steven Ross (Illustrator), Terry Pratchett

Welcome to the Discrworld, where the gods are not so much worshipped as blamed!
Terry Pratchett is the world's bestselling writer of comic fantasy. This is the first ever fully-illustrated version of the original Discworld novel.
Rincewind the "Wizzard" lives in the city of fair Ankh-Morpork, a metropolis placed atop the Discworld, a flat earth being carried through space on the backs of four giant elephants, who in turn rest on the back of an even more gigantic celestial turtle, the Great A'Tuin. A failed mage, Rincewind only wants to have a peaceful and unexciting life. So it is extremely unfortunate for him when he runs into the Discworld's first tourist, Twoflower, come sightseeing to Ankh-Morpork from the fabled, and often believed to be mythical, Agatean Empire, accompanied by his homicidally sentient Luggage. As one of the few people able to communicate with Twoflower in a language the tourist understands, the extremely reluctant Rincewind finds himself forced to become Twoflower's guide by Ankh-Morpork's ruler, the Patrician, who fears the Agatean Emperor's wrath should something untoward befall a citizen of that empire within the bounds of crime-ridden Ankh-Morpork. Unfortunately for the city, Twoflower works in "inn sewers ants", and once he explains the concept of people agreeing to pay out if you make a bet with them that your business won't burn down, he inspires the first attempt at insurance fraud on the Disc.

As a result, the unlikely companions are forced to flee the burning city, and venture into the wilds beyond. Out of the frying pan, and into the fire...

Genres: Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comics, Fiction, Humor, Graphic Novels Comics, Magic

130 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Patricija · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Illustrator did an amazing job to picture this world! I loved it!!!

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

“As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods;
They kill us for their sport.”
— ‘King Lear’, Act IV Scene 1.

Where to start with an assessment of this adaptation of the first of Pratchett’s Discworld novels? With the good or the bad? With the ambition or the deficiencies? With the wonder or the weaknesses?

Because, for all the well-documented inconsistencies and chaotic storytelling of Pratchett’s original novel there is much to admire there in terms of worldbuilding, satire and humour, even if the final resolution is delayed until its sequel, The Light Fantastic.

Above all, Pratchett deals with words, ideas, reactions and abstractions, leaving the reader to exercise their imagination to fill in extraneous details; so can a visual representation – whether (as here) static or even staged – really be a substitute, however competent, for verbal magic? And has this particular adaptation even succeeded on its own terms?

This is the tale of an incompetent wizard, a tourist and a travelling luggage chest on the Discworld, this last the epitome of a flat earth, one that swims through space on the backs of four elephants standing on a giant turtle. In the centre of the disc is the Hub, a conical mountain at the summit of which the gods of this world play boardgames to determine the fates of individuals. The particular individuals the gods are wantonly sporting with are Rincewind the failed wizard (and now de facto guide) and Twoflower the overseas tourist from the Agatean Empire.

In keeping with the novel the action is both farcical and episodic: fleeing from the burning metropolis of Ankh-Morpork the pair land up inside living trees, within an upsidedown mountain filled with dragons, and lost in a monster’s labyrinth, as well as finding themselves at the oceanic rim of the world; they also encounter sundry thieves, guards and vagabonds, scantily-clad temptresses and muscle-bound heroes of the sword-and-sorcery type; there’s a blade that speaks and a small demon housed in a box which produces images, while the luggage trunk really does travel — on its own legs.

This, though, is not the place to critique the novel but to assess the graphic version, and my initial response – as someone who’d yet to read the original text – was confusion. Confusion born from, first, Scott Rockwell’s adaptation of what was clearly a witty narrative inherently ill-suited to a simple cartoon-strip retelling; and secondly from what seems to me the unevenly executed artwork from Steven Ross. The layouts of panels aren’t always logical, there are continuity cuts that baffle, and figure execution is often somewhat amateurish – for example, the horses would fall over if their legs moved in the manner depicted.

In fact by omitting all Pratchett’s trademark digressions and footnotes all subtlety is jettisoned for the crash-bag-wallop of continuous action without rhyme or reason; to me the tone is all wrong and certainly contrary to other early Discworld novels I’ve read (such as Equal Rites and Mort). As an exercise in transferring text to another medium it feels misguided, or at least mishandled; but what actually lies in this graphic version’s favour is the fact that I’m now encouraged to go directly to the source and read the original – no bad thing!

Still, given that the Discworld deities are predisposed to play with the fates of this world’s inhabitants, I’m put in mind of Edmund’s heartfelt cry in Act I Scene 2 of King Lear: “Now, gods, stand up for bastards!” It’s possible that this is how our put-upon wizard Rincewind feels.

[Tapani Aulu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ei olisi toiminut yksinään, eikä tämä taide kyllä tuonut oikein mitään lisää kirjaan. Samalla tavalla hyppii paikasta toiseen kuin alkuteoskin, mutta vielä enemmän.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think anyone who has played fantasy rpg's could give this less than 5 stars. So many recognisable moments and scenarios. Does the comic fantasy take at the highest level and avoids the twee and deliberately 'zany' form that most other comic writers fall into. (Just because it is comic fantasy do not assume all your readers will be juvenile).
Great introduction to Pratchett and a classic work.

[Melle Baas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, need to get use the writing style; However when you got use to that.. really good book to read.

[itchy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think that this is better than the original. It would expand its reader base, definitely.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

It inherits a lot of the same problems that are extant to the novel. The plot is fairly episodic and exists in service of the humor and world-building instead of the other way around. Neither Twoflower nor Rincewind have very strong motivations, etc. Also had some issues with the art. Granted, the art itself is beautiful at times, but it never has the dynamic imitation of life and motion that narrative sequential art needs. And for a world as vivid as the Discworld, I don't think the grainy, washed out quality of the coloring complements it. In fact, I think it contributes to why it felt stilted.

[Cat Hellisen]

The Great Pratchett Rereadathon.

[Sean Sukonniks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look, did I click it first instead of writing about the actual book? Yes. Did my friends gift this to me and I absolutely ignored it for years because I read the real thing? Yes.

With that in mind, this is an absolutely fantastic view of the original interpretation by Sir Terry, and I absolutely loved it. The design is fantastic, it looks lively and very much fits the headcanon of how I expected the world to look, while leaving enough room for interpretation of my favorite characters and how they look, which for me is a big part of graphic novels. Utterly loved it as a Pratchett fan, would recommend to everybody

[Dawn Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait until enough time has passed that I have forgotten some of what Terry Pratchett has written, so I can read every word all over again. I am seriously disappointed that he refuses to publish posthumously. If anyone could do it, it would be him. He strikes straight to the heart of the human condition with characters who often aren't human. Funny is not a big enough word to describe what this man has written.

[Benno Krojer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know why but it just couldn't reach the level of the original book. The story built up too quickly and therefore much or the humour was lost.
I feel like the Discworld is not meant to be translated into a graphic novel.
It was interesting to see how other people imagined Pratchett's world visually though!

[Bekka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read as a bind up of Colour Of Magic/Light Fantastic.
This was great fun, but I do wish that it had spent more time fleshing things out/not missing scenes, because it felt like things were missing. Still, a good time, but not as good as the original.
TW for violence, blood, death, stabbing, nudity, mentions of sex.

[Mioree · Rating 2 out of 5]

2⭐️

While i had fun, this is still a very poorly made adaptation and comic as a whole. Weak character design choices, bad panel design, bad pacing… it is just badly made. I only had fun cos I read the books first.

It’d be a great disservice to yourself and Pratchett to read this before you read the book.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

The one that started it all...
I first got my hands on The Colour of Magic as a birthday gift when I was 11 or 12, and that was it—I was hooked
World building was an entirely new concept to me at the time and to have a visual representation of a flat disc was both bizarre and hilarious (and still is) even though he somehow managed to make it work
Highly recommend to anyone and everyone

[Ada · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Pratchett a lot as a kid and seeing that first book brought to life like this was a constant source of joy and entertainment as a child. A loving adaptation of the start to one of my favorite book series and worlds (even if I might give Colour of Magic, on its own, only a 4/5 stars - compared to his tone and later quality/humor, it's just not on the same level as Small Gods or Snuff).

[Eve Waterhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happened upon this in a bookstore in southern England while on vacation. Never heard of the author, but what a serendipitous moment! I ended up reading every book Terry Prachett wrote, such a wonderful, clever, creative, entertaining mind. Don't miss the chance to enter his fantasy worlds (there are more than one).

[Lisa Kizer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful rendition of an excellent book. I started listening to the Discworld books in 2018 in chronological order so some of the book I forgot. What a wonderful way to refresh my memory of a great story!

[Michał F · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illustrations are good but the story is not as gripping nor interesting as in the books. It's a nice extra thing for the collection, but I'm not sure how it will do with audience that haven't read the books.

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the stories. I love graphic novels. Combined though, it didn't quite work. It felt as if the original stories were too eccentric to capture into the graphic novel format. The combination didn't add anything for me sadly.

[Ana Ionescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prima carte din seria "Discworld". Sir Terry Practhett are si el o reteta, sau poate ar trebui sa spun "avea", de vreme ce nu se mai afla printre noi din 2015, din pacate: parodie, satira, jocuri de cuvinte aluzii, toate imbinate cu un umor sclipitor.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a book which would have gotten me to read the rest of the Discworld books; I'm glad I didn't read it first. It's useful to go back and read for character and writer development once you're hooked :)

[Margaret Hrezo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is for those who believe that all peoples are equal and love a good laugh.

[Carra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sigh. I never did warm up to Rincewind. This did nothing to change my mind, unfortunately.

[Kasthuri BV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading it, reminded me of reading Siruvarmalar as a kid. I am going to try the next books in the series.

[Adam Cleaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comic adaptation of book

[Kike Cuan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The colour of magic with colour

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This and other Scott Rockwell books reviewed here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com...

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rincewind drew his sword and with a smooth overarm throw, completely failed to hit the troll.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fun and worthwhile

[Heidi Vedder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terry Pratchett was the funnies smartest writer I ever read - miss him terribly