Posted in: Comics | Tagged: eisners

Countdown To The Eisners – Best Adaptation From Another Medium

by Cameron Hatheway

Adaptations can be tricky, no matter what the medium may be. The fans are the ones who will be hardest to please, despite companies/studios/etc trying their best to please the target demographics along with the fans. The results from some adaptations are the uninitiated become interested in the source material, and go forth and scavenge for the comics, books, movies through Amazon and flea markets, and become fans that way. You can't please everyone, but it's always fun to witness the adaptation doing better that the source material in some cases. Today I'll be focusing on the Best Adaptation from Another Medium category. If you need a reminder of what's been nominated, you can find the entire list right here, and see what I chose last time right here.

Keep in mind I cannot vote for who wins (nor can you, probably), as per the rules. However, that's not keeping me from being vocal regardless!

Who is not eligible to vote?

• Comics press or reviewers (unless they are nominees)
• Non-creative publisher staff members (PR, marketing, assistants, etc.)
• Fans

Before I get back to adapting Fifty Shades of Grey into a graphic novel so I can be eligible for next year, let the games begin!

Best Adaptation from Another Medium

Chico and Rita, by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal (Self Made Hero)

Review copy unavailable.

Homer's Odyssey, adapted by Seymour Chwast (Bloomsbury)

The classic tale with a new and quirky take from graphic artist Seymour Chwast. Odysseus  longs for home after the Trojan War, and is constantly being blown off course by the vengeful Gods. With the help of Athena, he's able to eventually make it back home to his dear wife and son, as the entire story is taking place with a science-fiction backdrop. It's definitely a more zany and interesting take on one of the best stories ever told.

Richard Stark's Parker: The Score, adapted by Darwyn Cooke (IDW)

Just when he thinks he's out, they pull him back in! Parker returns to take on his biggest heist yet; robbing a small mining town out in the middle of nowhere. The only problem being he's managing a crew of other professionals this time around, and not everyone ends up sticking to the plan. Cooke makes adapting the Richard Stark novels look like a breeze, so much so that anything with 'Darwyn Cooke' and 'Parker' in the title is almost a guaranteed Eisner win at this point.

Road to Oz, by L. Frank Baum, adapted by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young (Marvel)

Dorothy walks the long way from Kansas to Oz, picking up a new band of misfits along the way. It's Princess Ozma's birthday soon, and it seems like everyone Dorothy meets on her journey wants an invitation to the royal ball. Adapted from the Frank L. Baum book of the same title, Shanower and Young continue bringing their A-games to the cherished children's saga with so much love and pizazz.

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle, adapted by Hope Larson (FSG)

Review copy unavailable.

Who I think should win:
Richard Stark's Parker: The Score, adapted by Darwyn Cooke (IDW)

Like The Hunter and The Outfit before it, The Score is the latest epic installment from Darwyn Cooke, adapting from the Richard Stark novels. In fact, I'm feeling bold enough to proclaim that The Score is even better than its predecessors. Parker is back and just as unlovable as ever, yet for whatever reason we want him to pull-off the biggest heist of his career with a group of fellow 'professionals.' The beauty of this book in particular is that you don't need to be familiar with the first two.

Everything from the layouts to the retro style artwork is fantastic, and the color of this installment is a brilliant yellow. Cooke has done such a profound job with this latest graphic novel that it will be interesting to see if he can top himself with the upcoming Slayground.

Who I think could win:
Road to Oz, by L. Frank Baum, adapted by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young (Marvel)

Like Cooke, Shanower and Young are also used to raking in the Eisners for their ongoing Oz series adaptations. With Road to Oz the fun continues with the introduction of The Shaggy-Man (my personal favorite), Button-Bright, the foxes, and the return of some familiar faces such as Ozma and Jack Pumpkinhead.

Young's artwork continues to amaze, for the land of Oz is brought back to life and looks better than ever. I feel that the artwork alone is worth the win.

Who I think should have been nominated:
The Bible, by Sheldon Mayer, Joe Kubert, and Nestor Redondo (DC Comics)

What would Jesus do? He'd definitely checkout an adaptation of The Bible if Joe Kubert is one of the illustrators. Not doing so should be considered a sin.

Who do you think should win / been nominated?

Cameron Hatheway is the host of Cammy's Comic Corner and Arts & Entertainment Editor of the Sonoma State STAR. You can invite him to partake in your latest heist on Twitter @CamComicCorner.

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