While browsing my local comic shop I picked up a copy of a comic adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped (1886).
I'm afraid I'm in the process of being priced out of the average comic book so I've been looking for bargains and paperback collections or one and dones as I like to call them.
This comic ticked those boxes with the bonus of dovetailing with my renewed interest in tackling the 'classics' works from the early 20th century and earlier. As a student I used to dip in and out of gothic horror, translations of Roman and Greek myths and philosophy and regency era drama thanks to the cheap Wordsworth and Dover Thrift editions.
I'm pleased to learn that Marvel have a similar line in adapting classic works including Stevenson's other famous work Treasure Island.
Kidnapped has some similarities to Treasure Island, a young protagonist, sinister sailors, sword fighting and plotting and murder over plunder.
But there are more influences that keep Kidnapped fresh and its own story. The narrative takes place exclusively within Scotland from the Highlands to the outskirts of Edinburgh.
The plot is also steeped in Scottish history and takes place in the aftermath of the failed Jacobite rebellions. I think if it had been published today it find its home on a Young Adult shelf in a bookshop or library. It doesn't bog the story down in detail but does make sure the important parts are covered by the events of the story.
As a comic version of a novel the events are necessarily abridged, but the art of Mario Gully makes up for the reduced page count. Whereas prose would convey that a character is hiding a sinister intent through descriptive paragraphs, a comic can convey that through its panels, e.g. the character is all smiles with the group, but is grim and sinister when alone.
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| Or in this case you can show how intense and stubborn Oig Roy is by posture and face |
I quite enjoyed my evening with Kidnapped, I recomend it if you've been curious about it or Stevensons work but found the langauge off putting, its a fine introduction to his works and style.
