The definitive graphic novel adaptation of Dune, the groundbreaking science-fiction classic by Frank Herbert Dune, Frank Herbert’s epic science-fiction masterpiece set in the far future amidst a sprawling feudal interstellar society, tells the story of Paul Atreides as he and his family accept control of the desert planet Arrakis. A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism, … and mysticism, environmentalism, and politics, Dune is a powerful, fantastical tale that takes an unprecedented look into our universe, and is transformed by the graphic novel format. In the first volume of a three-book trilogy encompassing the original novel, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson’s adaptation retains the story’s integrity, and Raúl Allén and Patricia MartÃn’s magnificent illustrations, along with cover art by Bill Sienkiewicz, bring the book to life for a new generation of readers.
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This is a faithful adaptation of Dune into a graphic novel format. As is typically expected from detail-dense, it loses some of what’s in the novel. I do think it does a great job of hitting what needed to be hit, though.
The artwork isn’t quite as stunning as I had expected. It’s good, in my opinion, and it’s certainly better than a lot of novel-to-graphic-novel adaptations that have literal pages of text or panels just filled with black-and-white text.
There isn’t a ton to critique as far as the story or characters go, as this is a faithful adaptation. The art and pacing are the biggest parts with and change. The art is discussed above, and the pacing isn’t bad. It’s not perfect, but it’s really hard to pace half a story. I feel, assuming the same pacing structure is maintained, the whole story will be well-paced.
I’m not sure I’d recommend this to someone who hasn’t experienced Dune, though. Similar to the movie, this is only the first part, so it feels incomplete. And really, Dune doesn’t start fast, per se, so just having the first part of the story is a disservice to anyone coming in without any Dune experience. I would highly recommend this to people who have read Dune. It’s a great adaptation in that regard, but I’d hold off if you haven’t until the entirety of the first Dune is adapted.
I picked up this copy of Dune: The Graphic Novel, Book 1 in a huge Barnes & Noble sale back in April, knowing that the movie was coming at the end of the year. This was my very first time delving into the world of Dune, and I was hooked from the first couple of panels. I wanted to read this in anticipation of the movie (I also had high hopes of watching the original, but I think that’s on the backburner now as I’m seeing Dune tomorrow!), but I realized very quickly the entire world of Dune would not be captured in Book 1 (I guess that’s why it’s just Book ONE) and as soon as I put the book down I was aching for more! I don’t mind at all having the film spoiled (or the upcoming books of the graphic novel spoiled by the film I’ll see tomorrow) because this is clearly a lavish world with lots of nooks and crannies to explore (also apparent by the number of Dune novels out there).
I would someday like to read the original Dune novel, but I didn’t believe I would get it done before the film release, which is why I’m glad the graphic novel caught my eye; I thought to myself that the graphic novel would be a more reasonable way to absorb a huge story in a short amount of time. But (supposed) brevity is not the only reason I picked up the graphic novel. Graphic novels are a form I have slowly been getting into in the last decade of my life, they are wildly enjoyable not only because of the stories they hold, but the way in which they are read entices more than just the imagination: a picture is indeed worth a thousand words!
In Dune, the water-rich home planet Caladan contrasts beautifully against the dry, red planet of Arrakis, which is the perfect backdrop for the political intrigue of House Atreides vs. House Harkonnen. I can see why this world has inspired two films and multiple spin-offs and graphic novels (because my book is not the only graphic novel iteration of Dune!); not only is the story rich, but Dune is full of color and action! And that is really all I can say: in order to know Dune, one must first involve themselves with Dune.
A brilliant comic adaptation of the first book/act of the first Dune novel. It gets a lot of little details right that many of the adaptations always got wrong, like the Baron Harkonnen’s suspensor belt that allowed him to stand upright, but not flight around like a comic book super villain. If you’ve read the first Dune novel, then this is a must have for you. Worth every penny.
Fantastic world!! Just be sure to bookmark the description of everyone and everything so you’ll understand who these very important people are and the things that are mandatory behaviors on this planet. (I spent most of my time during the reading of the first book of 3-which now there are MANY more books on the Dune worlds!-going back and forth to figure out who was who and what was what. But once you get it down, the reading is fascinating.)
As someone who’s always been intrigued by the first Dune tale, I was excited to see the graphic novel version available at my library. This version doesn’t disappoint, but neither does it wow.
The art is crisp and well done, but nothing terribly unique. The colors show a nice transition between scenes and which characters head you’re in. But the main detractor was the writing/story-boarding. If I didn’t know what this book was about, I would have been completely lost in the first 10-20 pages and probably would have abandoned it (it does get clearer as you go on). And the dialogue is painfully stiff, even more stiff than I recall from the novel.
I’ll probably read the next volume, but won’t be scrambling for it.
One of the best creations of a different (not alternative) world.
I am not a fan of graphic novels of any sort (and this is book is only half the story)…. usually because the rendition of the characters is not even close to what I see in my head. The older comics had characters that looked like real people. Anime has crept into everything (not as much in this Dune graphic novel) as to totally distort the normal human figure. This graphic novel does this more than I like. I have read and reread Dune multiple times in my life and it is always just a thrilling as the first time. So the only 3 stars is related to the format not the story
Readers interested in diving into the daunting sci-fi/fantasy genre may find reading the original Dune novel by Frank Herbert to be quite intimidating, but these readers may find Brian Herbert’s and Kevin J. Anderson’s DUNE THE GRAPHIC NOVEL: BOOK 1 [Harry N. Abrams, November 24, 2020] as a more welcoming introduction to the epics within the genre. Through the colourful illustrations and animated dialogue, this graphic novel proves to be an important addition to the Dune collection.
The first in several instalments of the series, Dune: Book 1 follows the story of fifteen-year-old Paul Atreides as he tries to navigate his new life on the desert planet Arrakis where his powerful family has taken control. When Paul’s mother Jessica finds a note in a secret conservatory warning her of a traitor in their midst, the Atreides family scrambles to figure out which one of their trusted advisors is plotting to kill them or even worse—deliver them to the wicked Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. While Paul and his father Duke Leto navigate the customs of this new world from flying across the sand dunes while trying to avoid giant man-eating worms to selling drops of water to poor people on the street, it is made clear to both Paul and Duke Leto that living on Arrakis will be no easy feat to accomplish.
Throughout the novel, the colourful illustrations accompanying the dialogue between the characters proves to provide special insight into what exactly Herbert intended readers to imagine while reading his original novel. A particularly enjoyable aspect of the novel is a scene where Paul and his father travel to the sand dunes to watch natives to the planet Arrakis mine for spices. During this scene, readers are given special insight into how important spice mining is for the sake of the planet and just how dangerous mining is. Paul and his father have to wear special spacesuits called stillsuits in order to survive in the arid heat of the desert and the air is so potent on the dunes, both men have to breathe through a special apparatus. Then, when a giant worm threatens to swallow all of the men on the dunes whole, the action sequence that follows provides much needed tension and excitement in order to compel readers to continue turning the pages.
With just the right amount of information, humour, and action mixed in with politics, readers may find Dune: Book 1 to be a perfect introduction into the world of sci-fi and fantasy. Through the different races and well-rounded characters that readers are able to meet accompanied by tensions that arise between the house Atreides and the other races provide an interesting dynamic that keeps readers interested. Additionally, the different prophecies surrounding Paul and his magical abilities and how important he is for the development of the planet Arrakis pushes readers to continue flipping the pages and even to go as far as to anticipate the release of the next graphic novel adaptation in the Dune series.
While the addition of illustrations provide much needed insight into the scenery of the planet Arrakis and the differentiation between the different races of people in the series, Dune: Book 1 does leave out some much needed information especially in terms of what certain terms mean. From the Kwisatz Haderach, the Bene Gesserit, Gom Jabbar, and the fremen, there is little to no explanation of what these terms mean and they seem to have a very important place within the novel. It would be helpful for readers, especially those who are new to the intricacies of the sci-fi/fantasy genre, to have a dictionary to reference in the back of the novel in order to clear up the confusion they may feel around these terms.
Overall, the Dune: Book 1 graphic novel is a much-needed addition to the series started by Frank Herbert decades ago. Readers who are trying to find an easy introduction to the dense epics already published within the genre may find this graphic novel to be the perfect way to dip their toes into sci-fi without the added commitment of the written novel.
Dune is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.