Freddie L. Almaguer 
Snow, Glass, Apples, Neil Gaiman & Colleen Doran (Dark Horse 978-1-50670-979-6, $ 17.99, unpaginated, hc) August 2019. Cover by Colleen Doran.
Tanith Lee’s Silver Metal Lover, Trina Robbins (It’s Alive 978-1-7325915-2-3, $ 24.99, 80pp, hc) September 2019. Cover by Trina Robbins.
Nordic tales: folk tales from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark, Ulla Thynell (Chronicle Books, 978-1-4521-7447-1, $ 22.95, 160pp, hc) August 2019. Cover by Ulla Thynell.
Snow, Glass, Apples is a unique, gorgeous and at times brutal take on the legend of Snow White, from a stepmother’s perspective. This provocative Neil Gaiman dark fantasy story is brought to life by artist Colleen Doran in a hardcover graphic novel by Dark Horse that offers impressive production values.
This flawless take on the story of Snow White with Snow White as the villain is not for kids or the faint of heart. Doran makes him visually powerful, erotic and memorable. In an afterword, she cites as her main source of inspiration the artist Harry Clarke (1889-1931), a leading figure in the Irish Arts and Crafts movement, renowned for his Art-Nouveau and Art-Deco-inspired stained glass designs. . Doran goes far beyond the traditional graphic novel format, literally liberating the history of panels and gutters to deliver a stimulating dramatic experience. It’s a must read for fans of beautiful graphic novels, dark fantasy, inspired artwork, and Neil Gaiman.
(Note: Colleen Doran also contributed to the Tanith Lee Tribute Reissue The lover of silver adapted and illustrated by Trina Robbins. See below.)
The lover of silver is a reprint of comic book pioneer Trina Robbins’ romantic adaptation of Tanith Lee’s love story between a human and a robot. It is beautiful, well done and important for several reasons. It is first of all the association of two powerful creators. Then, Robbins’ interpretation of Lee’s story is a nostalgic visit to a vanished era of comic book design by one of the only women to draw comics at the time. Finally, it’s packed with extras: articles from comic book luminaries and writers influenced by both Lee and Robbins, plus a bonus story, “Exercise in Gold,” a Robbins adaptation of another. Lee’s story, taken from his novel Don’t bite the sun, for Heavy metal magazine. (“Exercise in Gold” was not licensed at the time Robbins drew it and Tanith Lee initially considered suing Robbins, but eventually forgave him and allowed the story and adaptation to be used. of The lover of silver.) Romantic and retro, with commentary from comic book stars Gail Simone, Colleen Doran and writer Storm Constantine, this is a must-have for anyone interested in the history of women in comics.
Nordic tales: folk tales from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark, illustrated by Ulla Thynell, offers a lot of artistic value for a modestly sized book that won’t take up too much shelf space.
Attractive packaging features embossed lacquer framing on the cover, full color artwork, a bound ribbon bookmark, and whimsical flyleaves and dividers. In these tales, trolls inhabit snow-covered forests, monsters roam rough seas, and a young woman sets out on a journey to the ends of the earth. Translated and transcribed by folklorists in the 19th century, these unabridged stories are cozy, hilarious, spooky and magical. Ulla Thynell evokes dragons, princesses, talking bears, magical castles and the northern lights. It is a charming book for lovers of fairy tales and folklore.
This review and more in the December 2020 issue of Place.
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