Stephenie Meyer’s bestseller Twilight series never ceases to be in the light. The Saga will soon be seen in bookstores in a slick, new avatar — as a Manga adaptation by Korean artist Young Kim, in a graphic novel format. Twilight: The Graphic Novel, volume 1, published by Hachette India, will be available in India in hardback after April 15.
Although the worldwide release of the book took place on March 16, it’s slated for a late launch in India, just like its first film. In black-and-white, sometimes interspersed with colour, the book will narrate the story of the vulnerable young Bella who is deeply smitten by an irresistibly charming vampire, Edward.
Thomas Abraham, managing director, Hachette India, says, “The Twilight fan will almost certainly want to read it; and there will be a new reader too — both graphic novel fans as well as the movie fans.”
However, he’s not too sure whether the graphic novel will have as many takers. “It’s an expensive import that costs Rs 650, and is still the first part of a two volume edition that just covers the first book in the series, so there will be a price barrier to begin with.”
But with classics and Indian mythology going the graphic route and finding themselves a place in specific sections at bookstores, India seems to have developed a market. “Comics have always been popular, and the repackaged form — the graphic novel — has real aficionados. In terms of being accessible, the pictorial form with bubble text is undeniably an easier read,” he says. While Meyer quoted on her website that Young has aptly transformed her words into beautiful images, it remains to be seen if the artist’s version manages to play to the strength of a graphic novel.
{{/usCountry}}But with classics and Indian mythology going the graphic route and finding themselves a place in specific sections at bookstores, India seems to have developed a market. “Comics have always been popular, and the repackaged form — the graphic novel — has real aficionados. In terms of being accessible, the pictorial form with bubble text is undeniably an easier read,” he says. While Meyer quoted on her website that Young has aptly transformed her words into beautiful images, it remains to be seen if the artist’s version manages to play to the strength of a graphic novel.
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