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Discworld Graphic Novels #1
Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic: The Graphic Novel
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...
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...
130 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
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2659 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 17, 2022
The Illustrator did an amazing job to picture this world! I loved it!!!
December 17, 2019
Ei olisi toiminut yksinään, eikä tämä taide kyllä tuonut oikein mitään lisää kirjaan. Samalla tavalla hyppii paikasta toiseen kuin alkuteoskin, mutta vielä enemmän.
January 10, 2021
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.
Great introduction to Pratchett and a classic work.
February 7, 2019
Good book, need to get use the writing style; However when you got use to that.. really good book to read.
June 8, 2021
I don't think that this is better than the original. It would expand its reader base, definitely.
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May 3, 2015The Great Pratchett Rereadathon.
December 27, 2020
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.
February 22, 2019
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.
August 31, 2019
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!
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!
February 26, 2024
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.
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.
December 11, 2024
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.
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.
March 8, 2025
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
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
March 31, 2025
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).
October 20, 2025
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).
February 13, 2020
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!
April 6, 2023
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.
June 17, 2023
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.
March 7, 2024
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.
May 5, 2024
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 :)
February 9, 2018
This one is for those who believe that all peoples are equal and love a good laugh.
May 5, 2018
Sigh. I never did warm up to Rincewind. This did nothing to change my mind, unfortunately.
May 16, 2018
Loved reading it, reminded me of reading Siruvarmalar as a kid. I am going to try the next books in the series.
June 8, 2018
Comic adaptation of book
July 27, 2018
The colour of magic with colour
March 24, 2019
This and other Scott Rockwell books reviewed here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com...
July 17, 2020
Rincewind drew his sword and with a smooth overarm throw, completely failed to hit the troll.
June 17, 2021
Very fun and worthwhile
October 29, 2021
Terry Pratchett was the funnies smartest writer I ever read - miss him terribly
September 29, 2022
A fun adaptation of the source material, which is not one of my favorites of the Discworld books, but is perfectly pleasant.
October 16, 2022
I love Discworld, but Pratchett definitely gets better as time goes on. I wasn't a huge fan of the artwork in this graphic novel version - it's just not my preferred style.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews