One of Agatha Christie’s most popular stories, Murder on the Orient Express has received a graphic novel adaptation from William Morrow – an imprint of Harper Collins. The classic mystery has charmed readers for years and this new version of the story is similarly charming. Remaining faithful to the story’s structure, the graphic novel is a must-read for Christie fans. It’s the perfect time for this adaptation, which releases at the same time as A Haunting in Venice, starring Kenneth Branagh as Poirot.
Murder on the Orient Express has the creative team of Agatha Christie and Bob Al-Greene. Al-Greene works as design director for Mashable. He adapted the original novel and provided art for this new edition. Williams Morrow has published several graphic novels and comic-related works, including projects by Scott McCloud and Larry Gonick. Additionally, the company released a graphic novel adaptation of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address in 2013. The imprint publishes several mystery novels, including Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple series.
Agatha Christie Comes to Comics in Thrilling Adaptation
Murder on the Orient Express is a Hercule Poirot mystery, in which the titular detective is on a train that ends up stranded thanks to a blizzard. A perfectly planned murder is derailed from its original plans as a result, leaving Poirot to find the culprit. The story has been well-received for decades for its plot intricacies and the star detective’s unparalleled deductive skills. With many classic novels being adapted into comic and manga formats, it makes sense that Agatha Christie’s iconic novel would also receive one. This graphic novel provides a different way of experiencing a story that has been adapted in film, television, and stage repeatedly, adding a new medium to its legacy.
This version of Murder on the Orient Express captures the intrigue and complexity of the story’s events, while bringing each individual character to life – an essential aspect of the story. There are character moments that are removed, but this allows the story to progress smoothly and quickly for the medium. The spectacular settings of the story range from very detailed to solid coloration, varying the story’s visuals. Being able to see the layout of the train and the clues to the murder make the reader feel even more involved, and immediately conveys the tone of each section of the story. The graphic novel is split into three parts: The Facts, The Evidence, and Poirot Thinks. The first two portions directly mirror the allotted chapters in the novel, while the last has a condensed chapter count – albeit handled very well!
A New Way to Read Murder on the Orient Express
Murder on the Orient Express is such a classic that fans are always looking for new ways to experience it, leading to many versions that put their own stamp on the mystery. The comic is notable for being so faithful to the novel, and taking pains to tell the story without confusing tangents or excessive cuts. The comic gives the story room to breathe rather than trying to truncate it – a major criticism of the 2007 comic adaptation by François Rivière. Murder on the Orient Express – as adapted by Bob Al-Greene for William Barrow – is a fascinating mystery that honors Christie’s storytelling within the comic medium.
Murder on the Orient Express is coming September 12 from William Morrow.
