An Inspector Calls: The Graphic Novel

by Jason Cobley (Adaptor), J.B. Priestley, Will Volley (Illustrations)

A respectable household is shocked when a strange police inspector visits them shortly after dinner... and proceeds to unravel their prejudices and lies. Through this almost surreal murder-mystery, Priestley interweaves social comment with a gripping story that twists and turns every few pages.
True to the original vision of the author and featuring beautiful engaging artwork, the book features the entire play, unabridged (in the original British English), as well as an illustrated Character List (Dramatis Personae), 132 pages of story artwork, and support material that details the life and work of J.B. Priestley - all beautifully presented in colour.An alternative text edition with simplified US dialogue is available in paperback enabling differentiation in the classroom.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fiction, Plays, Mystery, Comics, Classics, Detective

144 pages, Library Binding

First published July 1, 2011

Reviews

[Jim Dooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t read many graphic novels. Oh, I’ve read and enjoyed WATCHMEN and THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. For the most part, though, the graphic novel seemed like a “collector’s edition” of a comic book series with better binding. That held only limited appeal for me.

AN INSPECTOR CALLS: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL changed that.

I have long been a fan of the two movie versions I’d seen of J.B. Priestley’s “An Inspector Calls,” both the one starring the incomparable Alistair Sim and BBC version starring a more disconcerting David Thewlis. (I’ve seen them both multiple times.) Priestley is one of my favorite writers, and AN INSPECTOR CALLS is one of the best explorations of social justice that I’ve encountered. I’ve long wanted to read the novel.

Except that there wasn’t one.

AN INSPECTOR CALLS is a stage play which I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing. I’ve read many, many plays through the years, and it is fun to picture what transpires in my mind. There are two unfortunate drawbacks, though. Having had a background in theater, I find myself constantly dealing with the technical aspects while I’m reading, such as blocking the action. Also, there is nothing like a flat stage direction to pull me right out of the experience.

So, imagine my surprise and delight in discovering a perfect solution: a play transferred in its entirety into a graphic novel format! There are no disruptive stage directions, and I am not tempted to “block the scene” because I am given beautiful imagery instead. Much like seeing a stage play production, the Reader is witnessing the “interpretive vision” of another which may allow for seeing the mental thoughts of a character among other devices. But, when I think of how many interpretations I’ve seen of HAMLET or SLEUTH … all of them distinctly different … that isn’t a problem at all.

I absolutely loved experiencing the graphic novel version of AN INSPECTOR CALLS. My emotions were in high gear, and there were at least two occasions when I found myself with goosebumps … similar to being in a theater and watching the production.

Was this a “one off” or are there other graphic novels that bring the entire text of a play to life? If there are more, I have certainly discovered a new format to explore!

[Tan Markovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this graphic novel! Always enjoyed the story, interesting reading it in a new format

[Alyson Walton · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 It's a really great interpretation of a classic play that i read YEARS ago as a high school student. The illustrations are very high quality, I thoroughly enjoyed this.

[Harriet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always liked the play since I read it at school and the graphic novel was an easy way to re-read it in a different way.

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow wow! I had no idea what this book was about I checked it out on a whim and it has been sitting on my bed side table for months. I read it in one sitting today! I am still thinking it over.... A great fun masterpiece. Highly recommended

[Anna Reads Mysteries · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the graphic novel adaptation of JB Priestley's 'An Inspector Calls'..

Two things to consider here -
1. The graphics
2. The actual story

1. Not the biggest fan of this artstyle because all the old men looked the same and all the young men looked the same.... and yes, most of the the women looked the same as well. Other than that, there were a few very badly made frames, where people just looked hideous. On a graphic novel level, this is a 2 star.

2. The story itself is good, but sadly, all of the twists are easy to guess.
It is obvious from the start that everyone of them is responsible in some way, so no surprise that the son left her pregnant.
And I did not understand if they got married - or why else did she present herself as Mrs Birling at the place she went for help.
It ends with the notion that this hasn't happened yet and the Inspector is actually due to arrive, but then... what was this?
A vision? A time loop? Something super natural? Are they dead and this is hell?
The story itself needed a bit more, the dialogue was choppy. It's 3.5 stars.

We follow a wealthy family who are celebrating their daughters engagement to another wealthy family's son.
After the engagement dinner an Inspector turns up, saying that a young woman killed herself and he is there to ask some questions, because initially, she worked in the factory of the rich man and was let go, which started off a whole avalanche of issues for her, resulting in her ending her life. So the father has a partial blame.

Next, she worked in a shop, where the dauther complained about her, so she got sacked again. Now the daughter has a partial part in her suicide as well.

Then we find out that last summer the fiance had a fling with her, kept her as a mistress in an apartment, but got bored and let her go - another thing factoring in the suicide meter....

The mother, who owns a charity turned her away, because she introduced herself with the rich ladies name - said she is pregnant and the father of the child steals money and she is no longer comfortable accepting it. Ans when sh got turned away, having nowhere else to go, she killed herself. The mother is to blame (but personally, if they did not get married with the son, I am not so sure why she introduced herself with a rich lady name in the first place) and then the last on the agenda is the son, who was the father of the child. He is a drunk and was not taking the situation seriously.

The siblings atone for their sins and feel dreadful about the whole situation, whereas the fiance and the parents do not.
It turns out that the Inspector wasn't an Inspector at all - and even so, the young ones learned something and defend the situation as a strong lesson to be learned, but the parents don't.

And we end the story with the police station calling them to let them know an Inspector is on the way, someone died.

You know what, now that I have laid it out in this way, I can see the secret genius behind it. The Death is not the mystery....
From a psychological view, it makes better sense.

I think I will up this to a 4 star rating for the story itself.

All in all, this was OK. Sadly, the writing is choppy at times, de design is not the best - so while the original play is probably better, I'm rating this adaptation a 3.

[Hannah Edmonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

I last read An Inspector Calls for GCSE English (quite a while ago), and I loved it then. I've thought about it, possibly more than any other book over the years since and was really excited to read it again.

I'm relieved to say, it still holds up as a fantastic story with some creepy elements and it'll make you think as well.

When Inspector Goole arrives in the middle of the Birling family's celebratory dinner, they're all left reeling when he shows them how each of them are partially responsible for the suicide of a young, lower class woman.

The ending is where this story is really elevated to a new level; it's slightly ambiguous, a little bit confusing and is left to the reader to decide what it means.

I'd never read An Inspector Calls in graphic novel form before, but I really loved the experience; the font was easy to read, the story flowed brilliantly and the illustrations are excellent.

I just wish I still had my GCSE essay!

[Mordred Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A grim and disturbing but thought provoking play. Not only does it contain valuable and eye opening commentary on society but it also has several twists and turns which keep you engaged.

The comic medium is a great way of introducing the play text without entirely losing the storytelling element that the visual medium of plays are designed for. It is easy to read yet still impactful. I would definitely recommend it to those who are new to the text and/or who need to be eased into reading a script gradually.

Trigger warnings: multiple descriptions of suicide, infidelity, mentions of drunken intercourse (dubious consent).

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have watched this play at the theatre. Was excellent to read the graphic novel and be reminded of the characters and plot.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family dinner quickly turns wrong when an inspector comes to "inspect" their lives. The truth hidden under these pleasant facades is dug up, and the ugliness of each character is brought to light. A dramatis personae with busts is right at the beginning as all the characters are quickly introduced in succession. All the characters expressions and manners are very reserved, as befits the time period, for this is the era of industrialization; business grows for the upper class, social unrest breaks out in the lower, and war looms. This is the setting for their mindset, and is important to understand for a graphic novel full of dialogue. Little action occurs and what dramatic effect there is comes from the lighting rather than movement or expression. Dialogue happens to be the inspectors strength, as he manipulates each persons feelings of guilt. He reveals his information at his own discretion, never letting onto what else he knows, letting his target fill in the blanks. Slowly he draws out the facts, using this pressure tactic. Finally at the end all propriety is lost, blame is tossed around, and this reserved family breaks down into its true self.
After the inspector leaves, the family discovers he was not a real inspector, immediately the mother and father try and pretend nothing happened, while the daughter and son learned a lesson about caring for others in the changing world, and responsibility they have for their own actions. The fiance of the daughter deduces that they were duped, they can't be sure that the supposed dead girl they all knew was one and the same, and even calls the morgue to confirm there is no dead girl. The end takes a rather odd turn, a supernatural twist that shakes everyone up, and leaves the audience questioning things. Did these people in a drunken state of guilt confess (they did drink port at the beginning), was the inspector a metaphor for social change, or was it a divine being, Justice herself, that decided to give them a chance to repent.

[The Book Lender · Rating 4 out of 5]

In pre-WW1 Britain, a well-to-do family is celebrating the engagement of their daughter to a young industrialist. Their revelries are cut short when an inspector calls about the death of a young woman.

I could tell early on that there was more going on than was immediately apparent. I had fun guessing where the twists and turns would take the story, and was never more than half right in my predictions. It is hard to talk about the plot without spoilers, but things are never as they seem.

I quite enjoyed the graphical rendition of the story, although at times it was difficult to tell some of the characters apart - especially early on.

[Elaine White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this play when I was in school and it was recommended reading. One of the only books the school got us to read that I actually fell in love with.
It works perfectly in graphic novel format. The story still shines, the colours do a great job of indicating mood, atmosphere and singling out the flashbacks. Really well executed gritty and realistic artwork that captures the mood of the story and its setting. I'll be buying more Classic Comics in the future.

[Bindu · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story and perspective!
and its a graphic novel!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking. I watched the movie first. Came across the play script as an original text graphic novel. Enjoyable read.

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt4271918/

[Agnes M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eva x Sheila when??? Such a missed opportunity tbh...

[Skjam! · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is spring, 1912 in the English town of Brumley. Wealthy manufacturer Arthur Birling and his wife Sybil are having a small dinner party to celebrate the engagement of their daughter Sheila to Gerald Croft, son of one of Arthur’s business rivals and a touch higher in social status. Sheila’s brother Eric is also there, though he may have had a bit much to drink. All seems happy enough until an inspector calls. Inspector Goole informs them that a young woman has committed suicide, and he just needs to ask a few questions. A few uncomfortable questions.

It’s important for youngsters to learn about their literary heritage in the form of books and plays their elders call “classics.” One of the running problems with this is that often kids just aren’t ready for the advanced or archaic language and deeper themes of such classics, and they bounce off them hard. One way of mitigating this is to present these works in an illustrated form, such as a comic book. When I was a lad, “Classics Illustrated” was the major line of such adaptations. This version is put out by “Classical Comics.”

The play this is adapted from was written around 1945 by J.B. Priestley. While much of its structure is familiar from the mystery genre, it’s also allegorical in nature. Each member of the Birling family (plus Mr. Croft) is shown to have had a hand in causing the suicide of Eva Smith. Or have they? Is Inspector Goole really from the police? Was there even a death to begin with?

Mr. Priestley was a Socialist, and a strong contrast is made between capitalist Arthur Birling, who believes that “a man has to look after himself”, and Inspector Goole, who, well, let’s have a quote, shall we?

We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.

The setting of 1912 is very deliberate here, allowing Arthur to make a series of wrong but believable predictions about the near future. An end to labor troubles as employers band together to protect their interests, an end to European wars due to good business sense…and the unsinkability of the Titanic.

The family react in different ways to the knowledge that they contributed to Eva Smith’s suicide, from shock and regret to self-righteous denial. Towards the end, most of them seem eager to discard the lessons they have learned, until the play’s final twist.

Mr. Priestley is also careful to skewer the conservatives’ favorite response to social ills, “private charity”, as it too much relies on the goodwill of the private people who dispense the charity. Eva Smith was not a “worthy cause.”

It’s a suspenseful play, though some audiences may find it overly preachy. I’m fairly certain Rod Serling saw it at some point, because it does come across as a precursor to The Twilight Zone.

This adaptation allows the reader to see events merely described in the play, which breaks up the more monotonous scenes in the house. It took a bit before I worked out the casting, as three of the men wear much the same outfit. The art is servicable.

There is apparently also a “Quick Text” version which simplifies the script to clear modern English but honestly the difference from 1945 to 2021 isn’t that great and you’re probably better off going with the “Original Script” version.

Content note: Suicide, of course, and what most modern readers would consider to be rape. Mild classism.

Overall: If you’ve never seen the play, this is a good adaptation of it, suitable for high school students on up. Parents and guardians might want to discuss some of the deeper themes with their young readers.

[Evol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kuigi ma eriti ei armasta raamatute-filmide naljapildiadapteeringuid, siis see JB Priestley näidend on koomiksivormi pandud väga pädevalt ja ka tekst on jäetud alles sõna-sõnalt. Sünge, poolkriminaalse maiguga lugu, pahelistest kapitalistidest ja nende tegevuse(tuse) tagajärjel hukka saavast lihtrahvast ühe noore naisterahva näitel. Kirjutatud enne II MS, toimumas vahetult enne I MS, on Priestly pahaendeline (muidugi takkajärgi tarkusest kantud) sõnum, et kui inimlikkust juurde ei tule, järgnevad sõjad ja revolutsioonid, nagu täpselt ka juhtus.

Pildipool on täpne, ajastutruu ja sünge, kuigi ilmunud juba 15 a tagasi, sobitub nagu valatult tänapäeval populaarsesse crime/noir skeene koomiksiraamatute sekka. Stsenaarium ja kaaderdus on täpne, põnev ja toimekas, nagu päris etendusestki ootaks. Pole piirdutud ka vaid näidendi ülesjoonistamisega, vaid vajadusel kandub visuaal ka kaugemale, kuni inspektori vaimusilmas ette manatud apokalüptiliste sõjastseenideni välja.

Muudest detailidest võib veel mainida, et näidendi esietendus oli 1946. a Moskvas, JBB oli minu mäletamist mööda bolshevike poolt aktsepteeritud kirjanik ja JBB jõudis ka George Orwelli (vana antistalinisti) musta märkmikusse pro-kommunistide nimekirja, mille ta edastas Briti salateenistustele 1949 a.

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew this was going be a 5 star read just for the nostalgia, and of course the social commentary, but then the drama!

We studied this in school for GCSE and aside from the premise/format, I remembered surpringly little. Also, this is the first time I've reread a school gcse classic (Of Mice and Men, and Jane Eyre to go). I loved this story in school and then totally forgot about it, and was really excited a few years ago when I remembered the name of the story and I've been intending to reread it ever since, and I definetly love it more now than I did then.

Also, this graphic novel format was absolutely perfect! Adding much more to the story, and the interpretation. The war imagery and those for the social commentary really added a lot of effect to the intention, made me understand it in a more vivd way than I otherwise would have.

Brilliant writing, wonderful artistry, great commentary and, the second time I've ever gotten chills when finishing a book!

[Sonja Charters · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite texts and in such an unusual format!

I had a challenge to read a graphic novel and kept looking through what was on offer and not really gelling with anything I came across ....and then I spotted this classics series.

Well, I somehow also managed to grab the 'original text' option....which I'm so pleased about as that's my preferred option....but there are also a set of quick text options for anyone wanting an easy, fun way to skip through the classics.

This version stuck exactly to the original text and having read it lots and knowing it so well, I loved to study the strips at the same time. The expressions and mood of the play being conveyed really well.

There's also a little biography at the back with some useful info about JB Priestley and context of the play.

Would definitely recommend this and feel it would be great to help those studying it at school - but struggling a bit with the usual formats.

[Kevin Bessey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though the version represented here is the "Original Text" version, I read the "Quick Text" version, which I guess is better adapted for US audiences.

This book was recommended to me by my father-in-law who enjoys mystery and who dunnit tales. I somewhat enjoy mystery and can say this was a good read.

I started reading this tale thinking it was a murder mystery done in the fashion of Clue. I will say it was laid out in an interesting way and having the graphic novel version to read instead of reading the novel probably made it more enjoyable. It also helped to keep track of characters.

Pros: interesting story and presentation.
Cons: even in graphic form, the illustration and dialogue seemed overly dramatic
Bottom line: very quick read and good for "something different"

[cristiane jaeger · Rating 5 out of 5]

SEN GCSE

An inspector calls is a great play. My 14 years old daughter had to read for her GCSE. She struggles reading books due her combined learning disabilities. The graphic novel in Kindle format was great to support her understanding and pleasure through her work. We have both versions, paperback and Kindle. The paperback is a beautiful and sturdy edition. Text is a little small, but is full original text. Graphic are amazing. Kindle supported with the possibility to zoom in text and read each scene separately. Really recommend.

[Ioan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic read, specially if you like old school, classic detective stuff like Paul Temple.
The drawings were super atmospheric and I can't wait to read others in the series. I think it will help me access some classics which I would have read otherwise.

Really recommend it. Not 5 star because it's not like "WOAH! This is a life changing read!" but really interesting, of it's time, a bit of spookyness and a message about caring for your fellow man (or woman)

[MRS D J NOBLE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story, not a great presrntation,sadly

I've watched the tv adaptation on several occasions. It's an amazing watch and I recommend it to everyone, the story is worth 5* easily, however the book, I personally didn't like the format and on my kindle it jumped about the pictures so you could read the words from each character.
I just wanted to read this riveting story that I know so well and with this version, I just wanted to get to the end.

[Rod · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little trifle, reminiscent of the popular film Knives Out!, but with an uncanny edge. Very didactic in its social commentary, so I imagine Priestley was sort of the Aaron Sorkin of his day. Not really my cup of tea as far as reading material, but the graphic novel format helped capture the feel of seeing a play performance.

[Jim Stout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still timely

Excellent plot with potential for dynamic character interaction, set design, audience response. Will take a talented cast and crew, but could be set in this year and a locale outside the UK, with a few variations of dialogue and means of communication (ex. Cell phone service and internet down).

[Heli · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Inspector Calls

A very poignant play about how our. Human society treats our fellow humans which sadly reflects our biter treatment of refugees and those who desperately need our help but appeal to only deaf ears.

[Anne-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MUST READ. I CAN'T EMPHASISE HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS GRAPHIC NOVEL.

Astoundingly good. The illustrations were beautiful, the glossy finish and the gripping narrative that made me "ooo and ahh". This got me into graphic novels and classic lit (although I haven't ventured too far yet).

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This took me a little bit to get into but once I got more into the story it was really interesting.
I got hooked on each characters side of the story and wanted to know more.
Very interesting.

Can't wait to read some more classical graphic novels

[Camille R. Polney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than I had expected

We all face realities in life maybe not on our own but through talking to someone. We either face it or sweep it under the rug and hope it goes away. Everyone has their own way of dealing with reality.

[Lauren Byde · Rating 5 out of 5]

great pace