Upon its release in Sweden in 2005 and subsequent English-language debut in 2008, Larsson's best-selling novel
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the first book in the late author's "Millennium" series, captured the imagination of millions of readers. The story follows the recently disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the enigmatic, punk info-mercenary Lisbeth Salander as they work to solve a mystery involving one of Sweden's wealthiest families. This English translation of the now modern mystery classic, first published in graphic form in France in 2013, presents a vivid reimagining of Larsson's saga, in which Belgian comics writer Runberg (
Drones; Conquests) adapts the original plot with great fidelity, expertly distilling its vast exposition of sharp dialog and striking scenes. Aiding him in this effort are the expressionistic illustrations of Spanish artist Homs (
Blade; Red Sonja), which underscore the drama of the narrative, creating characters slightly cartoonish in their lines yet perfectly evoking the raw emotion that helped catapult this book to international acclaim.
VERDICT For any library looking to expand its graphic novels collection, this is a valuable addition, embodying the many strengths that make the format an exceptional medium for modern storytelling.
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