A review by edsicalz
The Electric State by Simon Stålenhag

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 There's no way Netflix is going to make a faithful or successful adaptation of this masterpiece. The Electric State is beautifully haunting, never feeling too far-fetched, in my opinion. The artwork is striking, and it's so easy to get lost in the panels of this book. Stålenhag’s visuals are so intentional that you can almost understand the story without the text. While the prose is just as haunting and tragic, covering some deep subjects, the art and prose almost tell two different stories. But when put together, they create a unique sense of dread that pervades throughout the book.

I’ve been aware of this graphic novel for a few years and finally decided to track down a copy at my local library, especially after hearing names like Millie Bobby Brown, the Russo Brothers, and Netflix were attached to the adaptation. Based on the trailer alone, I don't see how it will stay faithful to the novel, except perhaps through the visuals. The tone of the trailer doesn't even come close to how you feel while reading this book.