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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read the Evil Edition of the Color Edition.
After rewatching the movie and falling back in love with it a few weeks ago, it seems I've started to go through a bit of a Scott Pilgrim renaissance and I decided to order the hardcovers from ONI Press to actually have the physical copies in my library, finally.
Graphic novels are a different beast to review, and reviewing this particular graphic novel that was the inspiration for a movie I adore and have thought on and critiqued heavily is even more of a challenge because I cannot, no matter what I do, engage with this book as if I have never seen the movie. Part of the challenge is because the filmmakers basically recreated the graphic novel shot for shot in many parts of the movie, so it's hyperauthentic and incredibly faithful to the source material.
Another part of the challenge is that I have never known Scott Pilgrim's character to be something other than Michael Cera and his awkwardness or Ramona Flower's character to be something other than Mary Elizabeth Winstead's charming but serious portrayal. But Scott Pilgrim in the graphic novel is a different person. He's not as "charmingly awkward" as Cera is in all his roles. Ramona is more "cheery?" than Winstead's portrayal of her. This is a mental adjustment, along with tweaks to certain story aspects and the rest of the characters, that will be necessary as I go through the rest of the graphic novels, I'm sure.
What I do appreciate, and I remember appreciating this from the first time I read this way back in the first year of college when a friend lent me a copy, was a better explanation of the subspace highways that exist in this universe, which were just mentioned in an offhand comment in the movie.
The actual meat and potatoes of this graphic novel though are the characters and the art. The characters are numerous, well rounded, and relatable. They are nearly copied to perfection in the movie, which makes visualizing this book in your head quite easy as you can just replay the movie in many points. But it is also interesting to explore the ways the graphic novel originally intended the characters to act.
For example most jarring update for me was Scott Pilgrim himself. It's a little different for me seeing Scott as a non-Michael-Cera figure. Cera provided this endearing awkwardness that provided some sympathy for his portrayal of Scott, even when movie Scott was being a douchebag. This graphic novel has no such inherent characterization, so I am actually less sympathetic to Scott's antics with Knives Chau and empathize with him less. Ramona's initial agreement to date Scott however makes more sense than the movie, as she acknowledges it was her fault that Scott is obsessed with her, what with all the roller blading through subspace highways in his dreams and everything. Thus she feels bad and goes on a pity date with him. Winstead's portrayal of Ramona had less reason to say yes at all when Scott opened the door.
I'm not super qualified to discuss the merits of the art style of Scott Pilgrim, but it was an easily enjoyable aesthetic that was, according to the epilogue at the end of this particular edition, drawn quite authentically to match real life locations around Toronto. As such, those exact locations are also where the movie was filmed. It all just fits perfectly, and it is very satisfying. The more fantastical bits like Scott's dreams, going through subspace highways, and the final fight against Matthew Patel are where Bryan Lee O'Malley's art talents can really be portrayed. They are fun set pieces indeed.
A high recommend from me to any Scott Pilgrim fans. Reading this graphic novel will truly give you a good idea of how faithfully the filmmakers stuck to O'Malley's vision. Can't wait to continue through the rest of the series!
After rewatching the movie and falling back in love with it a few weeks ago, it seems I've started to go through a bit of a Scott Pilgrim renaissance and I decided to order the hardcovers from ONI Press to actually have the physical copies in my library, finally.
Graphic novels are a different beast to review, and reviewing this particular graphic novel that was the inspiration for a movie I adore and have thought on and critiqued heavily is even more of a challenge because I cannot, no matter what I do, engage with this book as if I have never seen the movie. Part of the challenge is because the filmmakers basically recreated the graphic novel shot for shot in many parts of the movie, so it's hyperauthentic and incredibly faithful to the source material.
Another part of the challenge is that I have never known Scott Pilgrim's character to be something other than Michael Cera and his awkwardness or Ramona Flower's character to be something other than Mary Elizabeth Winstead's charming but serious portrayal. But Scott Pilgrim in the graphic novel is a different person. He's not as "charmingly awkward" as Cera is in all his roles. Ramona is more "cheery?" than Winstead's portrayal of her. This is a mental adjustment, along with tweaks to certain story aspects and the rest of the characters, that will be necessary as I go through the rest of the graphic novels, I'm sure.
What I do appreciate, and I remember appreciating this from the first time I read this way back in the first year of college when a friend lent me a copy, was a better explanation of the subspace highways that exist in this universe, which were just mentioned in an offhand comment in the movie.
The actual meat and potatoes of this graphic novel though are the characters and the art. The characters are numerous, well rounded, and relatable. They are nearly copied to perfection in the movie, which makes visualizing this book in your head quite easy as you can just replay the movie in many points. But it is also interesting to explore the ways the graphic novel originally intended the characters to act.
For example most jarring update for me was Scott Pilgrim himself. It's a little different for me seeing Scott as a non-Michael-Cera figure. Cera provided this endearing awkwardness that provided some sympathy for his portrayal of Scott, even when movie Scott was being a douchebag. This graphic novel has no such inherent characterization, so I am actually less sympathetic to Scott's antics with Knives Chau and empathize with him less. Ramona's initial agreement to date Scott however makes more sense than the movie, as she acknowledges it was her fault that Scott is obsessed with her, what with all the roller blading through subspace highways in his dreams and everything. Thus she feels bad and goes on a pity date with him. Winstead's portrayal of Ramona had less reason to say yes at all when Scott opened the door.
I'm not super qualified to discuss the merits of the art style of Scott Pilgrim, but it was an easily enjoyable aesthetic that was, according to the epilogue at the end of this particular edition, drawn quite authentically to match real life locations around Toronto. As such, those exact locations are also where the movie was filmed. It all just fits perfectly, and it is very satisfying. The more fantastical bits like Scott's dreams, going through subspace highways, and the final fight against Matthew Patel are where Bryan Lee O'Malley's art talents can really be portrayed. They are fun set pieces indeed.
A high recommend from me to any Scott Pilgrim fans. Reading this graphic novel will truly give you a good idea of how faithfully the filmmakers stuck to O'Malley's vision. Can't wait to continue through the rest of the series!
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Much as I enjoy Scott Pilgrim, I'm glad to see some changes as the series has grown over the years
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.5 stars. Based on this first volume, I think the movie adaptation is extremely well done.
I got the full set for Christmas and this was a re-read if the first volume which I read in 2010 so a refresher was due.
I love this guys work. The art is great and I just love the dialog. I’ve read his other stuff and loved that as well.
Can’t wait to finally read all of this series.
I love this guys work. The art is great and I just love the dialog. I’ve read his other stuff and loved that as well.
Can’t wait to finally read all of this series.
funny
My fucking childhood, the movie was not only the start of my Scott pilgrim obsession but also my micheal cera obsession