Title: American Gods.
Volume: 1.
Story-Arc: Shadows.
Writer(s): Neil Gaiman & P. Craig Russell.
Artist(s): Scott Hampton.
Letterer(s): Clayton Cowles.
Publisher: Dark Horse Books.
Format: Hardcover.
Release Date: May 13th 2018.
Pages: 208.
Genre(s): Comics, Fantasy.
ISBN13: 9781506703862.
My Overall Rating: ★★★★☆.
When thinking about literary Gods, Neil Gaiman comes to mind. His accomplishments so far have successfully garnered an incredible fan base that will hands-down praise his work forever. If you have ever read any of his work, you will notice that his fascination for dreams and mythologies is unprecedented, as his portrayal of his ideas reaches deep into the realm of creativity. American Gods is one of those work of fiction that successfully conveys his love for mythology and explores a whole cultural dilemma lived by many who often travel to lands where they discover a colossal clash of cultures. While it was a long ride when I first read it, it was still a very thought-provoking read that only offered its readers any form of gratification upon reaching the ending. With a comic book adaptation of his work, it was only a matter of time before his imagination was put to even better use.
What is American Gods: Shadows about? Upon his release from prison, Shadow Moon is lost in a world that he has yet to acclimate to as he discovers tragic news regarding his wife. While he dreaded this opportunity at a second chance, never would he have imagined it to kick off as it did. In denial, he continues with his plans until he crosses paths with the mysterious Mr. Wednesday who wishes to employ him. His demeanor and knowledge of the world, as well as Shadow’s personal life, astonishes him and leads him to ponder Mr. Wednesday’s proposition. What could possibly go wrong if he were to serve him as his bodyguard? Unfortunately for him, a storm is brewing and it is far bigger than he could have ever imaged it. Based entirely on Neil Gaiman’s novel American Gods, this first volume collects issues #1-9 and covers part of the original story and more.
When I first read the novel, I felt like I was being dragged around to different pit stops that would commence a whole new adventure with mysterious people who hide their real intentions until it’s too late to realize. Sooner or later you realize where the story is headed, you start to connect the dots and you understand that this isn’t a story focused solely on Shadow. This is a story that looks beyond his environment and into the world of Gods. While his decisions are the driving force of this novel, it is a game of ideologies that is ultimately explored in the background. To understand it all, you, unfortunately, need to stick around till the last pit stop and you need to take a moment to reflect on the whole trip. While Neil Gaiman’s writing style is what saves his novel from being dropped by many halfway through the adventure, the comic book format does an even better job in not only being loyal to the novel’s content but to give it the perfect pacing that allows the reader to quickly consume all the information and grasp the scope envisioned by Neil Gaiman for this story.
The artwork in American Gods: Shadows is appreciable. It is nothing that would maintain your jaw glued to the ground but it grows on you as the story progresses. At first glance, it leaves a poor impression with a style that remains rough and blurry with very little attention to details, whether it’s the character designs or the environment. Most of the appeal comes from symbolism and imagery amplified by Scott Hampton’s style. Some of the side-stories featuring Gods are also drawn by other artists who each embrace their styles and allow the story to proliferate and elevate Neil Gaiman’s ideas to new heights. With artwork by Walter Simonson, Colleen Doran, and Glenn Fabry, the creative team behind this volume is solid and each of their roles within the narrative is justified without ever giving the reader the impression that they are reading the work of multiple artists. As you reach the ending, you also come to realize that the art style perfectly fits with Neil Gaiman’s imagination and conveys his exotic and eccentric ideas focused on dreams and mythos.
American Gods: Shadows is an outstanding comic book adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s award-winning novel and triumphantly translates visually the war between Gods in our time.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for sending me a copy for review!
Based on the novel of the same name, this TV series is developed by Bryan Fuller and Michael Green and is praised for its visual style and actor performances! Have you seen it? Do you plan to?
Roars and Echoes 
Ooh, American Gods comic book! That is something I’d really like to lay my hands on… I started watching the series and indeed the performances of the cast are impressive. I’m not entirely sold on the visual side yet, but maybe it’s something that grows on you 😉
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So glad to hear you’re on board with this one! The book tired me like there was no tomorrow by the time I reached the ending but I find that the comic book does a better job in getting right into the juicy elements of the story, while keeping it all mysterious. I’m glad the show does such a good job in adapting this though. Never would thought it was possible to be honest hahah
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To me Gaiman can spin a tale like a pro and creates great concepts, but he has a serious problem with endings – I don’t think I read one book of his that had a decent ending! American Gods is a classic example of this (and it did drag on at times, lots of tangential stuff in this one ;))
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I will run this by Miss Plumtartt for possible viewing.
Years ago I read ‘Good Omens’, by Neal Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. I liked it okay, but I prefer the Pratchett ‘Dyscworld’ world. I think ‘Good Omens’ is being made into a movie, but I fear that it will be dreadful.
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Sweet! Would be curious to hear your thoughts on it.
I actually plan on reading Good Omens at some point (probably 2020…). The TV series that they made based on it is already out though. With good ol’ David Tennant as a lead. It looked funny when I first saw the trailers and I’ve only heard good things about it so far.
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American Gods is one of my favorite books, so I’m definitely going to have to get my hands on this! I have watched the series and I loved the first season, but thought the second kind of “meh”. Hopefully the third will regain its mojo.
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For real?! That’s so cool! I had a nice time with it but I can’t say it’s my favourite Neil Gaiman however. I still need to read Anansi Boys. Have you tried that one yet? 😮 I hear it’s actually better than American Gods! 😮
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This is tough Lashaan because he’s one of my literary idols. Here’s my top 10 of his (in no particular order):
American Gods
Anansi Boys
Coraline
Neverwhere
Norse Mythology
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Trigger Warning
Stardust
The Graveyard Book
Good Omens (written with Terry Pratchett)
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Clearly, someone loves her Gaiman stories a lot 😂 I still have a couple of those that I still need to read but The Ocean at the End of the Lane was such a wonderful reading experience! 😍
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Just a wee bit Lashaan.😂 I love The Sandman graphic novels as well.😁
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Yes! An instant classic! 😁 I even had the chance to read the rare Batman stories he’s written too! 😂
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Added it to my wishlist 🙂
I love “American Gods”, and it’s not often that comic book adaptation manages to be more than “complete’s idiot” version of the novel. To think of it, one such case always was, for me, Gaiman’s Neverwhere….
This one looks good and, with your recommendation, I’m sold on the idea to read it 🙂
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Sweet! I personally find the comic book version more compelling than the book. It just gets straight to the point and the visuals further help picture things. And, personally, I find Gaiman’s comic book vision quite fantastic (see Sandman, for example).
Hope you enjoy it if you ever pick up a copy! 😀
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I don’t know how involved Gaiman is in making the adaptations of his novels, but it looks he either is, heavily, or at least knows whom to choose 🙂
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Unfortunately, I found the book rather trite and shallow and so have never been tempted to try out other mediums of the story. I’l leave it for those who enjoy it 🙂
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I got to admit that the book was quite heavy (literally and figuratively). By the end of it, I was exhausted. I find the comic book version does the pacing much better than the book.
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I need to read/watch American Gods, but you are so right when about Neil Gaiman. I found that it took a couple of books to adjust to his writing, but now I can understand why people hold him to such high regards. I especially love how he’s able to adapt his stories to suit multiple formats, it’s a credit to his immense talent. I had no idea that they had done a graphic novel for American Gods and I like how the artistic design and detail are a reflection of Gaiman’s imagination.
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You should totally give it a try someday. It’s unique in so many ways, then again, you could probably say that about anything Neil Gaiman does hahah And yes! I too love how his imagination allows him to be so efficient with so many mediums. I do hope you’ll enjoy whichever version you decide to try! 😀
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Sounds like the comic book acts like “cliff notes” for a “hard reading” book.
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Well said. And I think people will appreciate both mediums nonetheless for their pros and cons! 😁
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Interesting, I haven’t seen the American Gods series but certainly know of it and might possibly check it out one day but have to say it’s not on my priority list. A comic book adaptation of the book(s?) seems a great way to draw people into the world of this story who might be daunted or disinterested in committing themselves to the novel.
Awesome review as always my friend, you just continue to get better and better and always draw me in with your style as you paint a clear picture of the subject matter and your thoughts on the same. I’ve not really dived into any of Gaiman’s work (save Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader, which I liked)…shame on me as he’s one of Britain’s own…where would you recommend starting, whether it’s comics or novels?
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I’m not sure if the comics will cover the second book (Anansi Boys) but for now the trilogy (graphic novels) seem to be focused on American Gods. Remains to be seen what they plan on doing. But I totally understand if you are skeptical about this series but it’s definitely one of those work that you’d have to try at some point without dishing out all your money on it.
Oh man, you and Britain artists have had a very odd relationship 😂 I don’t know how you miss out on them when they’re internationally loved! 😁 I personally focused more on his comic books, including the stuff he did on Batman as well as Sandman! I also like his darker YA stories in their animated movie format (Coraline, etc) and so far the best Neil Gaiman book I read was The Ocean at the End of the Land but I heard great things about Neverwhere! It’s what I want to check out next at some point!
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Haha, well in my defense I’ve read a lot of Alan Moore and his work with Brit artists like Brian Bolland and David Gibbons – plus I read 2000ad every week…so it’s just Gaiman I’m a bit behind with, think I definitely need to take the plunge with Sandman eventually!
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I’d love to read the book! Did you prefer the book or the comic book, then? 😊 Great review, Lashaan ! 😁
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I think the comic book was a better medium for the author’s story but the book is still worth checking out cause Neil Gaiman has a writing style that will always leave you speechless! 😍
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Yeah I’m definitely going to try it one day! 😍
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