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Troll Bridge
Troll Bridge, a tale from the mind of Sunday Times bestselling writer Neil Gaiman, has been beautifully adapted for the first time by Eisner Award-winning writer/artist Colleen Doran. This striking graphic novel will delight fans of Alan Moore, Dave McKean and beyond.
Young Jack's world is full of ghosts and ghouls, but one monster - a ravenous and hideous troll - haunts him long into manhood. As the beast sups upon a lifetime of Jack's fear and regret, Jack must find the courage within himself to face the fiend once and for all.
63 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
October 18, 2016
When I recently saw a review of this book from my Goodreads friend Spencer, I knew I had to have it. Only recently have I discovered the greatness that is Neil Gaiman,(through his Sandman series), and now I want to read everything he's written. Luckily, Dark Horse Comics approved my request through Edelweiss and last night I sat down to read it.
I'm not one for YA, but I loved this book. The story is sweet, while at the same time, surprisingly dark. The illustrations, especially those of the troll himself, are absolutely gorgeous. Colleen Doran is the cartoonist/illustrator and she's done some work with Gaiman before on the Sandman series. Together, the two make an unstoppable team.
Troll Bridge is a wonderful story and I highly recommend this graphic novel to everyone, both young and old alike! You can find your copy here: Neil Gaiman's Troll Bridge
*Thanks to Dark Horse Comics and Edelweiss for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for my honest review. This is it!
I'm not one for YA, but I loved this book. The story is sweet, while at the same time, surprisingly dark. The illustrations, especially those of the troll himself, are absolutely gorgeous. Colleen Doran is the cartoonist/illustrator and she's done some work with Gaiman before on the Sandman series. Together, the two make an unstoppable team.
Troll Bridge is a wonderful story and I highly recommend this graphic novel to everyone, both young and old alike! You can find your copy here: Neil Gaiman's Troll Bridge
*Thanks to Dark Horse Comics and Edelweiss for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for my honest review. This is it!
November 30, 2021
Un pequeño cómic sobre el inexorable paso del tiempo que me ha dejado un tanto fría la verdad.
Este relato que es una adaptación de la fábula noruega de los tres machos cabríos, en la que tres cabritos deben engañar a un troll que vive bajo un puente, nos encontramos con Jack, un niño con una imaginación desbordante, al que seguiremos en su camino vital desde su infancia hasta la madurez.
Veremos que la fantasía y la realidad se entremezclan de manera un tanto difusa en esta fábula ideal para leer en familia.
La historia está repleta de matices y capas que contienen un gran mensaje que nos hace reflexionar sobre la vida pero que, como ya he dicho, no me ha llegado del todo, pero que igualmente recomiendo.
"Los trolls pueden llegar a oler los arcoiris y también las estrellas. Los trolls pueden oler los sueños que soñaste incluso antes de nacer."
📚 https://www.facebook.com/LaLocadelosL... 📚
Este relato que es una adaptación de la fábula noruega de los tres machos cabríos, en la que tres cabritos deben engañar a un troll que vive bajo un puente, nos encontramos con Jack, un niño con una imaginación desbordante, al que seguiremos en su camino vital desde su infancia hasta la madurez.
Veremos que la fantasía y la realidad se entremezclan de manera un tanto difusa en esta fábula ideal para leer en familia.
La historia está repleta de matices y capas que contienen un gran mensaje que nos hace reflexionar sobre la vida pero que, como ya he dicho, no me ha llegado del todo, pero que igualmente recomiendo.
"Los trolls pueden llegar a oler los arcoiris y también las estrellas. Los trolls pueden oler los sueños que soñaste incluso antes de nacer."
📚 https://www.facebook.com/LaLocadelosL... 📚
April 7, 2019
Fun twist.
The artwork for this is very good. It manages to capture the fairytale quality and simultaneously express the modernity of the story. As you can imagine, it involves a troll. But what happens is the twist. There is an undercurrent of sexuality and menace, so I'd suggest reading before giving it to a pre-teen.
The artwork for this is very good. It manages to capture the fairytale quality and simultaneously express the modernity of the story. As you can imagine, it involves a troll. But what happens is the twist. There is an undercurrent of sexuality and menace, so I'd suggest reading before giving it to a pre-teen.
February 2, 2018
This was an interesting, and dark, short story from Neil Gaiman. Beautifully illustrated it tells the story of Jack, a young boy who runs into a troll. Now, to be honest, I never took to the character of Jack and when he grows up to be the prick of an adult, I was not surprised. It did make me wonder who the true troll was.
Troll Bridge breaks from the usual Gaiman fantasy tale with an underlying darkness that is normally not present in his stories. I shall not spoil this short little story with any more spoilers. The artwork is a treasure. It illustrates, perfectly, the tone of this story. Troll Bridge is a nice short read, but it is a tale that will stay with you long past the number of its pages. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a short fantasy tale. Certainly, any Gaiman fan will love this illustrated adaptation of this dark tale about fate and innocence.
Troll Bridge breaks from the usual Gaiman fantasy tale with an underlying darkness that is normally not present in his stories. I shall not spoil this short little story with any more spoilers. The artwork is a treasure. It illustrates, perfectly, the tone of this story. Troll Bridge is a nice short read, but it is a tale that will stay with you long past the number of its pages. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a short fantasy tale. Certainly, any Gaiman fan will love this illustrated adaptation of this dark tale about fate and innocence.
February 22, 2019
This is a superb graphic novel version of a fantastic Gaiman short story.
Colleen Doran has truly embodied Gaiman's vision here with an ever-present unsettling and haunting atmosphere. Her artwork is astounding and I quickly found myself immersed in her illustrations.
As for the story, it's beautifully poetic and nostalgic, following a character named Jack from childhood to adulthood. Jack is a hard character to like because he comes across as self-absorbed and heartless when it comes to the feelings of other people (second encounter with troll involving Louise and later with his wife).
However, having learned about his failures in later life, Jack does stay true to his word and visits the troll a third (and final) time whereby the troll under the bridge eats Jack's life and takes his identity with it thus leaving Jack as the troll beneath the bridge. It's an ending that always gets me because it conveys so much sadness but is done in such a subtle and delicate way.
A beautiful read that will stay with you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2021
Another fantastic fairytale retelling by Neil Gaimon, with amazing art work. exactly the type of thing I love to read after reading a bunch of heavier stories.
December 17, 2017
The artwork in this book blew me away. I also liked how Neil Gaiman adapted the story and made it is own.
February 7, 2018
3 stars because this was okay short book to read in between books
August 15, 2024
نقاشیاش عجیب بودند. حالا به قدرت و ظرافت طراحی گرافیک ناولایی که اخیرا خوندم نبود ولی بازم همینکه تونسته بود همه داستان رو با حسش انتقال بده خوب بود.
با اینکه موضوع خیلی چیز عجیبی نبود و زیاد نپرداخته بود و اینا، اما غصه آور بود. شاید همراهیش با اودیوبوک با صدای خود گیمن باعث شده بود که احساس رو اینطور انتقال بده؛ شاید زمان و حالی که خوندمش باعث شد اینطور فکر کنم اصلا.
آها یه چیز دیگه. این چه طرز خوردن زندگی بود؟!
با اینکه موضوع خیلی چیز عجیبی نبود و زیاد نپرداخته بود و اینا، اما غصه آور بود. شاید همراهیش با اودیوبوک با صدای خود گیمن باعث شده بود که احساس رو اینطور انتقال بده؛ شاید زمان و حالی که خوندمش باعث شد اینطور فکر کنم اصلا.
It is good for children to find themselves facing the elements of a fairy tale—they are well equipped to deal with these.
آها یه چیز دیگه. این چه طرز خوردن زندگی بود؟!
June 14, 2017
Interesting take on Trolls and bridge. Very sad ending.
October 13, 2016
As usual, Neil Gaiman is a gifted storyteller. Troll Bridge is a fairly short story but it packs a lot of punch. It is definitely not for the children--it follows a boy becoming a man, complete with sex and depression and not having a happily ever after. It's the kind of thing that if you sit down and think about it for a while afterwards, you'll realize it has a lot more to say than you may have initially thought.
I wasn't a huge fan of the illustrations, but that is based entirely on me not particularly liking realistic illustrations when telling a story. When you're giving me instructions on how to put on my breathing mask on an airplane, sure. But not in a graphic novel.
I wasn't a huge fan of the illustrations, but that is based entirely on me not particularly liking realistic illustrations when telling a story. When you're giving me instructions on how to put on my breathing mask on an airplane, sure. But not in a graphic novel.
October 18, 2016
I really liked this! It's an adaptation of a previously published short story. Such a sad, tragic story of a boy's coming of age and the not very nice man he becomes. It is a tale for adults and most should relate. It tells how as children the future is bright, cheerful and exciting and how as an adult the past is seen with bitterness and regrets. A dark, harrowing story with stunning artwork by Colleen Doran.
February 6, 2017
There's a sad and dark tone to this tale.
When he was a boy, young Jack used to wander, one day he met a troll who threatens him "I'm going to eat your life". Jack tells him he's still young and he hasn't seen anything in life yet, he even offered his sister in exchange. The troll lets him go making him promise he will return when he's older.
A while later, Jack meets the troll again, this time, he asks for another chance, "I haven't experienced much in life and there's still so much to do", next time, he suggests the troll to his his best friend's life and again that he'll be back.
The troll is like passing time nad this tale is life, it's about the growing up process with all of its struggles and countless horors.
When he was a boy, young Jack used to wander, one day he met a troll who threatens him "I'm going to eat your life". Jack tells him he's still young and he hasn't seen anything in life yet, he even offered his sister in exchange. The troll lets him go making him promise he will return when he's older.
A while later, Jack meets the troll again, this time, he asks for another chance, "I haven't experienced much in life and there's still so much to do", next time, he suggests the troll to his his best friend's life and again that he'll be back.
The troll is like passing time nad this tale is life, it's about the growing up process with all of its struggles and countless horors.
July 21, 2017
To check out my reviews: https://dancinginth3dark.wordpress.co...
When it comes to Neil Gaiman, I believe the author is fantastic at tapping into the supernatural realm of literature and creating his own universe. One of my all-time favorite novels is The Graveyard Book written by this genius and yet I felt meh about this story. The illustrations were okay, the tone of the story was melancholy with a mix of fatigue and in the end I felt indifferent about the graphic novel when it was all over. I do believe if I am not mistaken that Gaiman adapted a classic typical troll story and gave the Gaiman makeover.
The story deals with a boy named Jack as he wonders through the countryside of England until one day he stumbles into a bridge and meets a troll. The troll tells him that he wants to kill him and Jack makes a compromise that because he is a child, he has not experience the world and all the other stuff that one must experience in their life. The troll agrees to wait and be patient and we see how time progresses and how Jack's life turns out. Overall the whole scenario was a bit too predictable for me except for the ending which I was not expecting.
I believe part of the issue with this story is Jack is not a likable character and even the troll knows that Jack is not completely innocent. As we watch Jack grow up from a child to a middle-age man we see that Jack carries the burden of the world on his shoulders yet at the same time could careless about his wife and kids. The sense of indifference permeates the pages and by the end of it I was praying that the Troll take him away. Its quite possible that Jack's life would have been better off if he had given in to the troll from the beginning.
One theme that Neil Gaiman touched upon in this story that was extremely relatable is how our environment is constantly changing and yet we are stuck between who we were, who we are, and who we want to be. I live in a city where there is no history in our architecture compare to Europe and its because we do not like to see old relics. We tear them down expecting that the replacement will be better and that is not always the case. Living in the countryside for Jack was beautiful and over a period of several decades we see how this beautiful world full of nature gets teared down by humans and soon enough all the land is ripped apart to create this dull suburban life.
The atmosphere of this story is extremely dark and gloomy and in many ways Gaiman wants you to feel sympathetic to Jack and Colleen Doran is creative at using colors to match those undertones through the narrative. Overall this graphic novel leans towards 3.5 but I love Gaiman so I'll give him that extra half point to sum up everything.
When it comes to Neil Gaiman, I believe the author is fantastic at tapping into the supernatural realm of literature and creating his own universe. One of my all-time favorite novels is The Graveyard Book written by this genius and yet I felt meh about this story. The illustrations were okay, the tone of the story was melancholy with a mix of fatigue and in the end I felt indifferent about the graphic novel when it was all over. I do believe if I am not mistaken that Gaiman adapted a classic typical troll story and gave the Gaiman makeover.
The story deals with a boy named Jack as he wonders through the countryside of England until one day he stumbles into a bridge and meets a troll. The troll tells him that he wants to kill him and Jack makes a compromise that because he is a child, he has not experience the world and all the other stuff that one must experience in their life. The troll agrees to wait and be patient and we see how time progresses and how Jack's life turns out. Overall the whole scenario was a bit too predictable for me except for the ending which I was not expecting.
I believe part of the issue with this story is Jack is not a likable character and even the troll knows that Jack is not completely innocent. As we watch Jack grow up from a child to a middle-age man we see that Jack carries the burden of the world on his shoulders yet at the same time could careless about his wife and kids. The sense of indifference permeates the pages and by the end of it I was praying that the Troll take him away. Its quite possible that Jack's life would have been better off if he had given in to the troll from the beginning.
One theme that Neil Gaiman touched upon in this story that was extremely relatable is how our environment is constantly changing and yet we are stuck between who we were, who we are, and who we want to be. I live in a city where there is no history in our architecture compare to Europe and its because we do not like to see old relics. We tear them down expecting that the replacement will be better and that is not always the case. Living in the countryside for Jack was beautiful and over a period of several decades we see how this beautiful world full of nature gets teared down by humans and soon enough all the land is ripped apart to create this dull suburban life.
The atmosphere of this story is extremely dark and gloomy and in many ways Gaiman wants you to feel sympathetic to Jack and Colleen Doran is creative at using colors to match those undertones through the narrative. Overall this graphic novel leans towards 3.5 but I love Gaiman so I'll give him that extra half point to sum up everything.
October 23, 2016
Among Neil Gaiman's many stories, "Troll Bridge" has always been one that lingers. I've read it in prose form, I've listened to Neil read it, and now I've seen it developed - delightfully and cleverly adapted - into graphic novel form.
Colleen Doran was an excellent choice to adapt this story - perhaps the only illustrator I can think of who would do it justice. For "Troll Bridge" she adopts a flowing, naturalistic style of illustration, rich with detail and emphasizing emotions. She's able to take the mundane and make it magical, and she can give a troll a grounding in the real world. The repeated motifs in the story find their way into repeated visual themes too - the path, for example, that again and again leads our main character to his meeting with a troll, is one that changes every time we see it, but is easily recognizable nevertheless. Simply put, Doran's illustrations for "Troll Bridge" serve the story by enhancing it, and even highlighting details that could be overlooked in a prose reading.
What is it about "Troll Bridge" that has resonated through the years and the many different ways of experiencing it? It's the story of a boy, who becomes a young man, who grows into an older man. We see only snapshots of his life along the way, centered around the times when he meets...a troll. This mixture of the mundane and the fanciful is pervasive in Gaiman's work, but rarely with the clarity and eloquence as it appears in "Troll Bridge." It's a coming-of-age story, to be sure - but this in one such story with a real bite.
It would be easy - even expected - to think that this new version of "Troll Bridge" is nothing more than a new way to capitalize on old material. I'm delighted to say that this is not the case, and that the new presentation has given me yet more reasons to appreciate a favourite story, by a master storyteller.
Colleen Doran was an excellent choice to adapt this story - perhaps the only illustrator I can think of who would do it justice. For "Troll Bridge" she adopts a flowing, naturalistic style of illustration, rich with detail and emphasizing emotions. She's able to take the mundane and make it magical, and she can give a troll a grounding in the real world. The repeated motifs in the story find their way into repeated visual themes too - the path, for example, that again and again leads our main character to his meeting with a troll, is one that changes every time we see it, but is easily recognizable nevertheless. Simply put, Doran's illustrations for "Troll Bridge" serve the story by enhancing it, and even highlighting details that could be overlooked in a prose reading.
What is it about "Troll Bridge" that has resonated through the years and the many different ways of experiencing it? It's the story of a boy, who becomes a young man, who grows into an older man. We see only snapshots of his life along the way, centered around the times when he meets...a troll. This mixture of the mundane and the fanciful is pervasive in Gaiman's work, but rarely with the clarity and eloquence as it appears in "Troll Bridge." It's a coming-of-age story, to be sure - but this in one such story with a real bite.
It would be easy - even expected - to think that this new version of "Troll Bridge" is nothing more than a new way to capitalize on old material. I'm delighted to say that this is not the case, and that the new presentation has given me yet more reasons to appreciate a favourite story, by a master storyteller.
October 17, 2016
We all know the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff, walking over the bridge and facing off against the grumpy old troll using brains and a little bit of brawn, right? Well, just file that under "childhood", and step into Neil Gaiman's world, where trolls and bridges bring a different story entirely. His reimagining of the classic tale, now known as Troll Bridge, tells the story of a young boy who comes face to face with a troll, and manages to use the old, "wait until I get bigger and am more to eat" line. You think, once he got away, that would be that, right? NOPE. The troll and boy will cross paths several times throughout his life; each time, you learn a little more about the boy than you may want to.
What else is there to say here? It's Neil. Colleen Doran gave life to this graphic adaptation of Neil's short story from the brilliant Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions (2005). Neil writes in the first person, always leaving me to wonder if there's not just a grain of truth in his storytelling - come on, you know you think it, too. It's spooky, and yet, ultimately very sad and filled with regret. You'll need a moment when you finish this, and that's okay.
Colleen Doran is a great artist to adapt a story like this. Her illustrations look back to the illustrations in spooky novels I read as a kid; mine were in black and white, but here, Doran gives us twisted, gnarled branches and crumbling homes rising out of a mist all in color, perfect settings for such a tale. Treat yourself and pick up Troll Bridge.
What else is there to say here? It's Neil. Colleen Doran gave life to this graphic adaptation of Neil's short story from the brilliant Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions (2005). Neil writes in the first person, always leaving me to wonder if there's not just a grain of truth in his storytelling - come on, you know you think it, too. It's spooky, and yet, ultimately very sad and filled with regret. You'll need a moment when you finish this, and that's okay.
Colleen Doran is a great artist to adapt a story like this. Her illustrations look back to the illustrations in spooky novels I read as a kid; mine were in black and white, but here, Doran gives us twisted, gnarled branches and crumbling homes rising out of a mist all in color, perfect settings for such a tale. Treat yourself and pick up Troll Bridge.
March 24, 2017
Disturbing AF and I LOVED it!!
November 30, 2019
This is a wonderful graphic novel adaptation of a Neil Gaiman story that is beautifully drawn - and both funny (as the monster - the troll - is both terrifying and as silly as a troll doll) - and hauntingly sad. It's a tale of loss - loss of innocence, and the effects of time as the protagonist starts out as an innocent youth but ages into a rather cynical adult. The progress of the protagonist perhaps mirrors the destruction of the small rural community he came from, as it is preyed upon by developers and loses whatever charm it once had. The protagonist is worse than an anti-hero by the end of the story. His soul has indeed been devoured by whatever the troll represents - viciousness, greed, cynicism. It only takes about an hour or less to read this graphic novel - but it is definitely worth it. It will make you think once you've read it. What has happened to the adventurous little boy who once regarded the countryside as a magical place? What has happened to the countryside? Haven't both lost their soul in the span of a lifetime?
December 1, 2021
Me puse a buscar historias cortas para poder leer entre los descansos del estudio y no me arrepiento de nada.
Una historia preciosa, con excelentes ilustraciones y una hermosa paleta de colores.
Una historia preciosa, con excelentes ilustraciones y una hermosa paleta de colores.
November 15, 2022
El cómic abarca la historia de Jack desde que es un niño aventurero dueño de una gran imaginación, pasando por su etapa de maduración, hasta que ya es un adulto que ha caído en la decadencia.
Es un cómic muy breve, ya que es la adaptación de un cuento de Gaiman.
Visualmente el libro es hermoso, las ilustraciones están muy bien logradas, los tonos de estas últimas van cambiando según la etapa en la que se encuentre Jack, acompañando muy bien la transición de su historia. Esto se puede notar en que las primeras viñetas son coloridas, en cambio las últimas son totalmente oscuras, generando la atmósfera lúgubre que se desarrolla hacia el final.
La historia es una pequeña fábula que toca temas como la inocencia, el despertar sexual, el paso hacia la madurez, la toma de malas decisiones y el enfrentar los miedos.
Esta fantasía oscura te hace reflexionar principalmente sobre cómo afrontamos los problemas.
"Pero hay quienes se quedan en un punto intermedio, en la negación, la no auto aceptación, y entonces viven atrapados bajo un puente húmedo, sucio y oculto, enfrentados a su demonio mientras escuchan las vidas del resto pasar por encima de sus cabezas"
Es un cómic muy breve, ya que es la adaptación de un cuento de Gaiman.
Visualmente el libro es hermoso, las ilustraciones están muy bien logradas, los tonos de estas últimas van cambiando según la etapa en la que se encuentre Jack, acompañando muy bien la transición de su historia. Esto se puede notar en que las primeras viñetas son coloridas, en cambio las últimas son totalmente oscuras, generando la atmósfera lúgubre que se desarrolla hacia el final.
La historia es una pequeña fábula que toca temas como la inocencia, el despertar sexual, el paso hacia la madurez, la toma de malas decisiones y el enfrentar los miedos.
Esta fantasía oscura te hace reflexionar principalmente sobre cómo afrontamos los problemas.
"Pero hay quienes se quedan en un punto intermedio, en la negación, la no auto aceptación, y entonces viven atrapados bajo un puente húmedo, sucio y oculto, enfrentados a su demonio mientras escuchan las vidas del resto pasar por encima de sus cabezas"
October 17, 2016
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
Troll Bridge is a short story taken from an earlier collection of Gaiman's work. As expected, the plot is nuanced and character driven. Artist Doran's work is particularly beautiful in soft pastel watercolors well suited to a tale looking back on a life lived bittersweet.story: Young Jack believes in the supernatural and so isn't surprised when he stumbles across a troll under a bridge. Through a bargain, he promises to come back after he has lived more of his life and become tastier -and then the troll can eat him. As Jack lives his life and returns to the troll now and then, melancholy and regret set in about the life he has lived. Will he finally allow the troll his food?
Perhaps a metaphor for time and how it eats our lives, Troll Bridge is about memories and regrets - of the things done and not done. And the troll always represents the childhood full of potential that somehow wasn't realized despite the promises made. One expects a deceptively simple story from Gaiman perfect for thoughtful evenings and this book does not disappointed.
Doran's artwork is exquisite - perfectly realized full size drawings beautifully melding the fantasy with the reality. The use of frames within frames and carefully placed elements is especially superb - this was clearly a labor of love for her and this quality hasn't been realized in her work since her very early A Distant Soil days (pre-Warp breakup). The soft pastel hues evoke a 1980s setting without actually needing it stated in the text and each page looks effortless in its simple complexity.
I haven't always felt Gaiman's had a good match of art to story in past graphic novel adaptations. But this really works here - story and art working together to create a modern day adult fairy tale. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
October 21, 2016
4.5/5.
This is an interesting story for me. A part of me dislikes it because of how it veers away from the fairy-tale setting it seems to set-up, as all I want to do is read -that- story about a little boy who meets a troll.
But in the end, I just can't fault Gaiman for the powerful story he made instead. It really is just about coming of age, and how to be a good person in life (which, was another thing that in a way made me dislike the story, as I hated the main character as the story went on--but that's the point).
I guess what I'm getting at from all that is . . . the ending retroactively changes my feelings toward it. This may not be the story I wanted or was expecting, but the way it ended not only "excuses" the book for being different, but in fact enhances it. Yeah, a fairy-tale story would've been great, and a part of me may have liked it more. But the way it is was certainly much more powerful.
And Colleen Doran's art was fantastic, as usual for her. I think the more realistic nature of it also helped to sort of show that . . . this story is more "real"--or at least, grounded in reality--than you might think, at least for me.
Another win for the Neil Gaiman Library by Dark Horse. Here's hoping they never stop adding to it . . .
This is an interesting story for me. A part of me dislikes it because of how it veers away from the fairy-tale setting it seems to set-up, as all I want to do is read -that- story about a little boy who meets a troll.
But in the end, I just can't fault Gaiman for the powerful story he made instead. It really is just about coming of age, and how to be a good person in life (which, was another thing that in a way made me dislike the story, as I hated the main character as the story went on--but that's the point).
I guess what I'm getting at from all that is . . . the ending retroactively changes my feelings toward it. This may not be the story I wanted or was expecting, but the way it ended not only "excuses" the book for being different, but in fact enhances it. Yeah, a fairy-tale story would've been great, and a part of me may have liked it more. But the way it is was certainly much more powerful.
And Colleen Doran's art was fantastic, as usual for her. I think the more realistic nature of it also helped to sort of show that . . . this story is more "real"--or at least, grounded in reality--than you might think, at least for me.
Another win for the Neil Gaiman Library by Dark Horse. Here's hoping they never stop adding to it . . .
January 5, 2017
I am incredibly frustrated that I chose this to be the first new book to read in 2017, because as much as I wanted to like it I wound up very disappointed by the time I reached the final page. Obviously I had way too high expectations for an artist who had never worked with my beloved Gaiman before, but I seriously wanted to love this adaptation since “Troll Bridge” has always been one of the most memorable Gaiman short stories. What bothered me the most was that the art style didn’t seem to pair well with the story - it wasn’t realistic enough for my tastes, and seemed oddly childish (without actually being for children, since the story has very adult themes) without settling into a distinctive style. Even though the story is rather simplistic (and the adaptation reflects that just fine), I feel like the graphic adaptation could have benefited from a style that revels in visual simplicity while hiding the true darkness of the story - think Maurice Sendak circa Where the Wild Things Are or Dave McKean’s non-photographic work. Hopefully this book does not set the tone for future Neil Gaiman adaptations or for 2017 as a reading year...
November 5, 2016
Gorgeous illustrations with atmosphere of their own, even without Neil Gaiman's wonderful writing to go along with it. I might enjoy all of his short stories this much if they came in graphic novel format... Brr, creepy. And sad.
Pre-read...
Wow, has it really been that long since Smoke and Mirrors came out?
Pre-read...
Wow, has it really been that long since Smoke and Mirrors came out?
Read
April 15, 2026
I actually didn't expect so much out of it. I thought it'd be some kind of creepy little story, but it has to give so much more than that. The twist at the end had me thinking about it for quite some time.
May 24, 2018
Loved this short story of Neil Gaiman.
July 14, 2023
3.5 out of 5 stars
I mean, I didn't know what to expect but that ending was very much unexpected. A great coming of age tale indeed.
I mean, I didn't know what to expect but that ending was very much unexpected. A great coming of age tale indeed.
September 27, 2022
Great graphic adaptation of Gaiman's early short story. Great because Gaiman wrote the text himself here, and Colleen Doran (The Sandman) did the excellent artwork for this. Lovely and heavy at the same time.
November 9, 2023
Great adaptation by Doran of Neil's story!
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