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A review by ribbenkast
Kafka: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Nishioka Kyodai
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
3.75
The art in this manga/graphic novel was stunning. I deeply connected with it. Even without the text it felt like visual poetry. Every "shot" felt so intentional and the framing was so well done I wish I could give this book 5 stars just for that. Some highlights: The Vulture, The Trial, The Hunger Artist.
However, as an adaptation it doesn't really work. I'm sorry to admit that I have yet to read any actual Kafka. I bought this book both for the art and I to dip my toe in the water of his work. Some of the short stories are nearly incomprehensible if you haven't read the original unfortunately. Even though the metamorphosis is quite arguably one of Kafka's most famous stories, I found it really hard to follow. This felt a bit alienating to me, as I don't think you can expect your reader to read 9 whole other books in order to comprehend a 170 page manga.
It did make me excited to actually start reading Kafka now.
However, as an adaptation it doesn't really work. I'm sorry to admit that I have yet to read any actual Kafka. I bought this book both for the art and I to dip my toe in the water of his work. Some of the short stories are nearly incomprehensible if you haven't read the original unfortunately. Even though the metamorphosis is quite arguably one of Kafka's most famous stories, I found it really hard to follow. This felt a bit alienating to me, as I don't think you can expect your reader to read 9 whole other books in order to comprehend a 170 page manga.
It did make me excited to actually start reading Kafka now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror