A Game of Thrones #1

A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel

by Daniel Abraham (Adapter), George R.R. Martin

George R.R. Martin has been called 'the American Tolkien' by Time Magazine, and now his landmark fantasy series is being adapted to a graphic format, starting with the first book of the series: A Game of Thrones.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Comics, Graphic Novels, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Graphic Novels Comics

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

Daniel James Abraham, pen names M.L.N. Hanover and James S.A. Corey, is an American novelist, comic book writer, screenwriter, and television producer. He is best known as the author of The Long Price Quartet and The Dagger and the Coin fantasy series, and with Ty Franck, as the co-author of The Expanse series of science fiction novels, written under the joint pseudonym James S.A. Corey.

Reviews

[S Pearlyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who am I kidding? It's Game of Thrones, with colors. Of course I like it.
As far as book vs graphic novel goes, It does a really good job in keeping up with the book. However, I did feel that it jumped from Starks to Targaryens rather abruptly. I would have liked to see some sort of indication that it's another line of story or another chapter.
But it's GAME OF THRONES with SHINY IMAGES and PRETTY COLORS. So I will read it all.

[Nicay · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Can a man still be brave when he's afraid?"

To be honest, I haven't read it YET the Game of thrones or watch it's TV series. Out of my curiosity, I tried to read it's graphic novel without reading the book itself. Obviously, I am not familiar with the characters in the book or the story itself. But as I read the graphic novel of the Game of Thrones vol. 1, I'm easily indulged in the premise of the series. It's not because I want to be one of the majority of the readers or fans who really liked this, but because I am really captivated from start until the end. If you will read this, I warn you that it will leave you hanging because of its few pages in each volume. It's a good decision that I read first the graphic novel because, yeah I am beginning to fantasize to have my own copy of thick books of A song of Ice and fire. And before I end this, Jon Snow was now added to my fictional crushes. :))

[Vikas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished the book series, waiting with bated breath for next episode of the final season as they arrive. So let's go with the Graphic novelization and I liked it and revisiting the story again of the first book. The art was good and I am just enjoying the feeling of visiting the first book again and I am planning on re-reading the series but after I finish Fire and Blood.

My dream of being a writer is realized and I am now a Goodreads Author. I have always loved comics, and I hope that I will always love them. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics or Diamond Comics or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on the international and classic comics and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics as I can. I Love comics too bit, may comics never leave my side. Doga is one of my most favorite characters and I love him to bits and don't leave any chance to devour any of his stories. So here goes again my mission to read as many Raj comics from the beginning. My childhood re-run. I love reading this and more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This comic book was slightly disappointing. I think it's partly due to having seen and read this particular part of the series so often, but also because the storytelling felt a bit rigid to me. If I wasn't already acquainted with the story, it would've been impossible for me to grasp what the hell was going on and who was who exactly. This came as a surprise because I've read some of Daniel Abraham's other work and loved it.

Then there's the artwork. I was disappointed in that as well. Maybe it's because the characters' faces don't resemble the actors from the series, but that's something which shouldn't be too much of a bother once you just focus on the story. I think it has more to do with the fact that all characters of  the same sex look so much alike. And then there is the depiction of their ages; some of them look either a lot older or younger than they actually should be. Take Viserys Targaryen. He should be 22 years old, if I'm correct, yet looks like he's in his 40's or even older.

That being said, I still enjoyed reading it because, hey, it's Game of Thrones and I love the books to bits. 3 stars for this one.

[Audrey Dry · Rating 5 out of 5]

La verdad que tenía ganas de leer esta novela gráfica, y que casualidad que estaba de oferta. A pesar de que no es un dibujo que me guste, debo reconocer que esta edición está muy bien adaptada, y quizá es lo que más me gusta de todo. Los diálogos son muy parecidos a los del libros, al igual que las escenas. Está muy acorde al libro original.
PD: Creo que el dibujo que más se parece a la serie de HBO es el de Khal Drogo. Se parece a Momoa 😂

[Beary Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe I started listening to this book in March and barely finished a couple weeks ago. It was utterly fantastic! The author has such a way with writing multiple POVs and crafting a story that is easy to follow. Even though there are billions of characters I was never confused and knew who I was listening to and what was going on. The writing was never dull or dry and while I might not have been on the edge of my seat the whole time I was always deeply invested. I’d highly recommend this one if you're a fan of the show or if you are a fantasy fan. I have already started book 2!

[Eddie B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reading this for one reason only: I really loved the fancy description of George R.R. Martin (The Baratheon helmets & the Targaryen eyes for example) and I really hated that the TV series chose not to embrace them.
This comic series brings back the colors of the books.

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wth!
How comes I never knew this existed until today????

So this issue covers the first part of episode one of season one (yes I will be using the series as a reference bc I haven't read the books yet) and although the artwork is quite underwhelming to say the least, I can tell this will get more fun in the following issues!

[Sanjana · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm reading the original novel right now and though it would be interesting to give the graphic novel a shot at the same time to see how well it blends in. Unfortunately, I was rather disappointed. The graphic novel would make sense only you're familiar with the story. Despite being based on the novel (not the show), it only manages to provide little snippets of information and relies heavily on the readers knowledge of this fantasy realm.

[Joost · Rating 4 out of 5]

We kennen allemaal de serie vol geweld, incest en tieten, wat vond ik van de graphic novel? Hier mijn recensie over het eerste deel van A Game of Thrones: http://nerdygeekyfanboy.com/recensie/...

[D. Campbell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Currently several hundred pages in (listening to it as an audiobook), and I am SO NOT impressed. Ugh. So much drole background descriptions of things. It feels like I'm reading Charles Dickens (who I hate reading). It took a hundred pages before I even felt I could explain a plot point beyond "they found a wolf and people talk". That's ALL THAT HAPPENS for the first hundred plus pages.

Trying to push through due to others saying it is decent, but I am wondering if their opinion is tainted from watching the show (which I haven't seen). Maybe that would make it more interesting?

I got a third of the way through before finally abandoning the book. I would love to tell you what was happening in the plot when I gave up, but I had honestly tuned out and it was blending together. There was so much talking, talking and more talking and little action...and all between characters that I had no connection to...that I'm not really sure what happened. I think I read several hundred pages and I could aptly sum it up in a single paragraph. Ugh.

If I wasn't enjoying it by the one third mark, then it wasn't going to drastically change anytime soon. No point wasting my reading hours on something not working for me. I REALLY wanted to like this book, too. I guess I'll just try and Netflix the show and do that instead. It's gotta be like the book, but edited...and concise...and to the point. :)

[Keenan Longan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many know that the popular HBO series "Game of Thrones" is based upon the books, but many have not had the opportunity to enjoy these books. George R.R. Martin depicts a land where seasons last for several years, a place where magic, knights, and coats of arms reign; Westeros. This story takes place after a huge revolutionary war among the seven kingdoms that comprise of Westeros. The main plot of the story follows the struggle for power of the coveted "Iron Throne" that now sits empty to due to the reining king's recent death. The son of the King, Jofferey immediately claims the throne with the support of his wealthy family, the Lannisters. The king's hand (the king's chief adviser, Eddard Stark, discovers the truth that Joffery and the other offspring of the deceased king are not actually of his making, but are the children of his wife, Cersei Lannister, and her brother, Jaime Lannister; the children are all bred through incest. With this information in hand, Eddard is a threat to the Lannister's claim to the throne. Seeing this, Joffery and his family have Eddard publically executed for treason. This radical action arouses much emotion throughout the rest of the seven kingdoms, thus setting up for another war. This novel is full of everything any modern fantasy fan would enjoy; magic, knights, love, and chaos.

[Crisalicious · Rating 4 out of 5]

This may actually be the first book of this genre I've ever read. Knights, dragons, fantasy names & animals and some words that I still don't understand....not so much my thing. But, the characters in this story are fabulous, After reading book 1, I went and bought books 2-5. I will suggest that new readers review the Appendix before, and while, reading the book. It's a great reference for the many characters, families, and their relationships.

[Pearl Angeli · Rating 1 out of 5]

It just didn't work out for me. :( Maybe the writing style has something to do. It's too heavy. :-/

[Clara Jane Isch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breaking all my expectations about story norms (I.e. good guys winning) before I had a chance to form them

[ik.ben.henri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like the artwork. All the women look as if they had plastic surgery... For the rest: ok.

[TJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Can a man still be brave if he's afraid?"
"That is the only time a man can be brave"

[Rocio Meneses Buleje · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grandioso

[Carol Flatten · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a tad hesitant to read this book as it is considered both as fantasy and graphic. However, it was recommended by my very particular son, who generally only reads "literature," but he read not only A Game of Thrones, but also the whole series.
There are so many characters, so many places and such a large place, that I was very happy to have the maps and the lists of all the families with their attendants and servants for reference. I enjoyed the intrigue. It was a grand mystery, the main characters are well described and the plot moves, although somewhat slowly. I will follow up with the series.

[Lucía Belén · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5*

[Kddrug · Rating 5 out of 5]

ferertryy55y

[Nicolás Pinto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volver a Winterfell de la mano de un comic se siente muy bien. La adaptación estuvo muy bien hecha.

[carola · Rating 4 out of 5]

[4,5/5 stars]

loved this and the illustrations!!! I've always been most interested in Daenery's storyline though... so that are the parts of the book/graphic novel I'm most excited about.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous artwork

[Jason Schneeberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this years ago, but never posted it on here and didn’t notice until I started the second book, which I’m currently reading now

[Dominick Porreca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is based on the time of the medieval ages. It is about a bunch of different families in seven kingdoms. There is one king that rules the seven kingdoms known as Robert Baratheon. There is the Stark family who rules under the king and they are in charge of the city of Winterfell. Then there are much more families that rule different cities. There are four main families in this book. There are the Lannisters, Baratheons, Starks, and the Targereyons.

The Starks and the Lannisters hate eachother very much. The king comes and visits Eddard stark aka Ned and asks him to be his right hand. The king is also married to Cersei Lannister witch puts ned in a tough choice because he does not want to deal with her family. The Starks have a baster child by the name of Jon. He wants to join a very elite force of people who protect the kingdoms, known as the Nights Watch.
He ends up going with his uncle Benjen Stark. There is a little boy who is named Brandon but they call him bran. He is also a Stark and he is a very gifted climber and has climbed the tallest towers in all of winterfell and he is only seven! The Starks also have four other children two girls and two more boys. The oldest girl is name Sansa and she is twelve then there is Arya who is nine. The two other boys are Robb who is the oldest of all the other children then there is Rodick who is the youngest of all the children.

Sansa is chosen to be married to prince Jofrey, he is fourteen years of age. After Robert and Ned talk over the marriage arrangement they head to kings landing with Sansa and Arya. Kings Landing is in the south so it is warm most of the time. It also use to be home of the Targereyons, who ruled most of the years with their dragons they had. But all of the dragon have gone extinct so Robert decided to fight the Targereyons for the throne which ruled all the seven kingdoms. (It was called the iron throne)

There are only two targereyons left in the world and they are hidden and kept protected by the people who want them to come back into rule. There is a boy who calls himself the dragon but his actual name is Aerys. Then there is his younger sister Danerys, but she goes by Danny. Then one day she finds out that her brother has sold her to be married to the Dothraki. The Dothraki are a savage tribe of people. Aerys sold Danny sold her to them to marry so their king would give him an army to command and help him win the crown.

I would recommend this book to almost anyone, but not the people who do not enjoy the types of book that are set in this time period. There is one thing that might confuse people in the book. The book does not have chapters so to say, the chapters are set on certain people and what they do. And they jump from people to people. So it might be easy to get lost in the reading but it helps the whole story come together. It is a really well written book and i can not wait to read the rest of the series.

[Anne Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many years ago, when this book first came out I tried to read it and was unable to get very far. Far too many characters, far too many viewpoints, far too many plotlines…I just got lost.

Just recently, desperate for something new to read in the speculative realm, I decided to give Mr. Martin another shot. Same problem, too many characters. But this time I was willing to work at it. I kept a notebook with a one-line notation about each character who seemed to be slated for significance in one of the many plot threads. By the end of the book I had two pages of them, but it was working, by gosh. Each time the author swapped me out of one head and into another, I could go back and refer to my notes and figure out whose head I was in, what they were up to, and who all these other people were.

Once I managed to keep the characters all straight, I realized that George was a bloody brilliant writer. His characters are fascinating and well constructed, both male and female. His plots are fast and evenly paced. His conflicts keep you on the edge of your seat. His descriptions are vivid and bold, and he’s not afraid to let the bad happen with the good.

One of the things I particularly appreciate about his writing is the way he doesn’t dwell for too long on a conflict or a villain. I’ve read stories where the villain goes on and on and on until you are so sick of his sneering face that when he is actually killed it’s a relief, not a triumph, and it leaves you feeling rather peeved with the whole story. Not the case with Martin. He brings introduces you to a deliciously irritating character, and then (usually) kills them off before the end of the book. Same with his conflicts; he drags his characters into terrible peril, and then cleverly whisks them out after a few chapters, dragging them into another conflict in the process.

Reading Martin’s books is a lot like riding a storm in a fleet of ships. Every time one of them goes down you are rescued by another. It’s a bit awkward to get used to; you feel as if you are straddling several decks at the same time, but you always know that there’s no shortage of new boats to replace the old.

[Thong May Han · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fantasy novel about political intrigues is fascinating. Written from the point-of-view of multiple characters, this book is engaging, suspenseful, and best of all, easy to relate to, for most, if not all, of the characters are flawed but likable. The story is told mainly from the perspective of the Starks, who commanded the northern territories of the kingdom, and the trials and struggles they went through in a brutal game of thrones. To add to the complications of human politics, something sinister is also lurking beyond the northern border...

There are plenty of reasons for me to like this book. As I've mentioned, the characters are easy to relate to. Even the villains seem human, and it is not too difficult to understand their actions. In addition to that, the plot is gripping and full of suspense. With so many characters, so many houses with different aims and agendas, you'll just have to keep on turning those pages. The amount of details in the story is also captivating, although some might find it a little too much. However, I love those details; they make a compelling world, rich in history and tradition.

The only complaint that I have is the long lulls before you can get back to the same character again. Most of the time, you race along with one character for one chapter, waiting in suspense to see what happens, and when the chapter ends, it might take quite a while to get back to that same character. I suppose it cannot be helped, for this is also the same trait that made this book such a delightful read, but yes, it did bother me at times.

Definitely recommended; I am now anxious to read the next book!

[Killian · Rating 3 out of 5]

ETA: Jez, people... I'm going to say that just by glancing at the reviews for this GRAPHIC NOVEL, the reviews I see on GR are 85% for the BOOK itself. It says "Comic Book" in the title, people, come on...

I've read the book twice and seen the first season of the show (which follows the book pretty precisely). Since I have a pretty good handle on the material, I figured it would be interesting to read the comic version and see if they made similar editing decisions to the show which has had trouble condensing or entirely cutting out storylines in the interest of time and attention span.



So far, it's following pretty well, but this first issue is just the introduction to the Starks and Dany. I did like how they handled the history of Dany and her family in panel form. It's a lot of information that doesn't make a ton of sense before you know the whole story, but the images were evocative enough to make the reading of it more pleasurable than in the book.



Not a big fan of the art style... And I can already see a problem brewing because I can't tell the difference between the characters (especially in the Stark chapter) just by looking at them. I need them to use names when addressing each other because it looks like copypasta faces with slightly different hair.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed George R. R. Martin's style of writing. This book was fantastically written, and the amount of detail included about the world and the history of the world was incredible, and it really helped in immersing yourself in the book. His detail around characters is also great, there's so much depth to the characters, and many of them have really interesting backgrounds. I also liked the style the book was written in - each character having different chapters. A great book, and the storyline is really strong, you get so caught up in the Stark vs Lannister politics, and the mystery around the white walkers. Obviously the ending where Ned Stark is beheaded is tragically sad, but I still think it worked well - you didn't expect it, and then there are just the Stark children left behind to avenge his death and take over the Iron Throne. Absolutely loved it. The only issue for me is that the book is written in such detail that it took a while to read, and a lot of concentration was involved when reading the book. I read the book after watching the TV show, and I will probably just continue to watch the TV show because that too is fantastic. If you want more of Game of Thrones than the TV show, then the book is absolutely brilliant, and I'd recommend it to anyone.