March 25, 2019
This disappointing graphic adaptation of Remarque’s classic novel, by Vansant (The ’Nam), dutifully relays the chronicle of Paul Baumer, who, along with three of his friends, enlists in the German army shortly after the start of WWI and is sent to the Western Front. Like its predecessor, the comic concentrates on the depressing realities of war and the alienating effects of fighting for a homeland from which the soldiers feel a growing sense of distance. But the adaptation reads like a sketched-over executive summary of the brilliant original; the long stretches of narration drag on, and often omit the best parts of Remarque’s use of language, such as his ability to turn a phrase. The realist-style art also missteps, for example where the naive young soldiers, introduced at the outset as “all 19 years old,” can look as grizzled as the veterans, and their awkward proportions occasionally stretch the limits of credibility. The coloring also puzzles, with changing monochromatic backgrounds used without apparent thought or narrative import. The effort feels rushed; educators and fans of the original looking for a quality graphic adaptation would do well to wait for a worthier venture.
June 1, 2019
Grades 9-12 Remarque's seminal novel about the horrors of WWI is nicely handled in this graphic adaptation. In his matter-of-fact, full-color artwork, Vansant focuses intently on individual faces, revealing the terror, resignation, anger, and occasional contentment the soldiers feel as they're shuttled between encampments, trenches, and increasingly despairing field hospitals. Camaraderie undergirds the majority of the story, as Paul narrates how he and his fellow soldiers cope?or a least attempt to cope?and cling to their friendships while, one by one, they eventually all fall. Occasionally, the pages are text heavy, with lengthy dialogue and voiceovers crowding the panels, but given the amount of introspective first-person narrative in the original, that's hardly a surprise. Though the artwork doesn't add much, its emphasis on facial expressions and individuals rather than battle scenes fits the deeply personal nature of the novel. Students assigned the book in class might appreciate this adaptation, and paired with Jacque Tardi's graphic novels about WWI, It Was the War of the Trenches! (2010) and Goddamn This War! (2013), they'll get an even richer account of the era.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)