Re Davide

by Kyle Baker

Dalle pianure arse dal sole dell’antica Giudea giunse il piccolo Davide, figlio di un semplice pastore, con il dono della musica e il talento di somministrare botte da orbi ai suoi nemici! Mirate e sbigottitevi a veder questo scricciolo venuto dal nulla affrontare Golia, il Gargantua di Gat, in una mortale lotta senza esclusione di colpi! VIOLENZA! INTRIGO! POLIGAMIA! CIRCONCISIONI DI MASSA! Questo e altro ancora nell’irriverente e biblicamente accurata graphic novel di Kyle Baker, già vincitore del Premio Eisner: RE DAVIDE! Testi e illustrazioni di Kyle Baker.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book, Biography

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2002

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Kyle John Baker is an American cartoonist, comic book writer-artist, and animator known for his graphic novels and for a 2000s revival of the series Plastic Man.
Baker has won numerous Eisner Awards and Harvey Awards for his work in the comics field.

Reviews

[Cathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Vibrant colors and compelling stretches of wordless panels create an electrifying narrative.

The animation-ready illustration style isn't one to which I am usually drawn, but Baker's signature cartoon-infused depictions are played to great effect. Two important episodes that bookend this version of David's story, Goliath and Bathsheba, are particularly well-conceived, staying faithful to history while allowing the art choices to make the encounters (and consequences) newly unforgettable.

Other sections are overly text-heavy, but I appreciate the author's commitment to biblical accuracy. Critics have taken issue with the injecting of modern snark and colloquialisms into the dialogue, but it works, successfully playing into the caricatured style with a different flavor of playfulness. There is a disjointedness, especially in later scenes, but if one looks at this as a "David, this is your life!" pastiche, it more than lives up to the promise.

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great storytelling: Kyle Baker retells David's life in cartoon and text.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept was intriguing - and for me at least, a way to learn about Old Testament stories about David, Saul etc. But I wasn't thrilled with much else.. the drawing style reminded me somehow of Hanna-Barbera style cartoons of the last century (Flintstones etc).. complete with the dropped-in background. Certainly, the color saturation was interesting.. I suppose trying to suggest the colors of the desert. But the drawing style was not to my taste. As far as the text, I didn't mind that it wasn't part of the drawings, but the font used was nothing special. The story itself was the classic tale of David vs. Goliath then vs. Saul etc. It was just about perfect for me, since it simplified the Biblical text to an easy-to-follow and understand story line, with a humorous slant, at that. The book is not really suitable for kids although it seems like a children's graphic novel, since there is quite a bit of violence, David collecting wives, etc. I gave it three stars anyway since at least it conveyed the basic story of King David, his battles, exploits, intelligence, and so forth.. from that perspective, it was worth it.

[Anna Frohling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Kyle Baker's art and I love reading biblical epics.
Last year Hoopla had a bonus borrow book that was also the story of David, but adapted for little kids. You can guess what they cut out (most of it)
This story is better because you can see all of David's human flaws as well as his strengths.

It's amazing that he killed the strongest Philistine soldier, and then he had no where to go, and the Philistines let him in and gave him a free town, as long as they raided Israel. And instead, he went and slaughtered Philistines. Good thing they didn't have cell phone back then, huh?

[Reyel2107 · Rating 4 out of 5]

better then the holy bible !!!!

[StrictlySequential · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art just seems lazy to me but the precision of the retelling makes it worth reading.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slightly irreverent and Biblically accurate feeling of David's story.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A graphic novel that provides a different perspective into King David's story. Kyle Baker explores the more controversial side of the biblical story through fun, almost childlike art and text but the themes and interpretations are anything but childlike. The story deals with the motivation behind the wars, the dethroning of King Saul as David rises into power and David and his wives including his mistresses (Bathsheba).

This book is not for everyone and I even found it to be a little too sacrilegious at times. But I definitely liked the different perspective of the story and the main theme, Can God be the true motivator behind awful things? I think that's a good question for everyone to ask themselves.

[Fugo Feedback · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nunca vi a Baker dibujando tan bien (y Baker dibuja MUY bien) y nunca lo vi siendo tan gracioso (y Baker es MUY gracioso). No sé nada sobre el personaje bíblico de David más allá de lo que es vox populi, pero algo me dice que este relato es peligrosamente fiel a los textos originales. Y es esa misma fidelidad la que hace que quede en evidencia -casi diría en ridículo- la crueldad y el despotismo con el que se manejaban muchos personajes de la antigüedad, incluso los que eran -y son- reconocidos como grandes héroes. Al igual que el Génesis de Crumb (que prometo terminar antes de... el otoño, metele), la visión actual riduculiza al pasado sin necesidad de hacerse parodia. La verdad que me pregunto por qué no le pongo 5 estrellitas y ya.

[Paul Dinger · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a true disappointment for me. Kyle Baker talked about the joy of doing this book at comic con, and I couldn't wait to buy it. I got it home and was very diappointed. First the dialouge. Putting modern words and phrases into ancient mouths is just wrong. Second, to try to use modern comic touches with ancient stuff just doesn't play and looks obvious. I can't help but think that this was supposed to be something else and he had to change it. I just can't believe he would do something this terrible. With You Are Here and Why I Hate Saturn and I Die at Midnight, Baker was at the top of his game. Did he think he could do anything? That would explain it.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic telling of much of David's life. Kyle Baker's art is among the best in comics (the only other comic book artist i collect is P Craig Russell). King Saul is huge, menacing, regal, David as a boy is just a little kid (w/a missing tooth that moves around from panel to panel, the only complaint i have w/the book) and as an adult is more than movie star handsome.
the palace is so freaking beautiful.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully drawn and well told story of King David's ascent to power. Kyle Baker's dialogue is crisp, contemporary adn at times irreverent, but doesn't stop the flow of the story in any way. Graphically accurate at times and bold & brass at others, it's strong enough to stand as an animated film.

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun cartoon of the Bible story of David. It is actually really consistent with the Bible. I guess he realized that the story is crazy enough without exageration.

[Darrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

got this for a cousin of mine and had to buy another copy