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M

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This book is a hard cover graphic adaptation of the 1931 film "M". This is a film that I saw for the first time just a few years ago. As a fan of classic horror films of the 1930s and 40s, I was attracted to the film because of its young star, Peter Lorre, and the director Fritz Lang. Land is best know for his groundbreaking 1927 silent film "Metropolis" which is still influencing filmmakers some 80 years later. The series was originally published back in 1990 by defunct Eclipse Comics. Long out of print, the series has now been collected in hardcover format by Abrams Books. The fact that it's being put out by a major book publisher as opposed to a comic publisher should tell you a bit about the quality and literary value of the story.

The story is based upon the actual crimes of Peter Kurten, dubbed the "Vampire of Düsseldorf" who committed a number of murders and sex crimes in Germany in the late 1920s. In "M" a child killer is on the loose in Berlin, having already murdered several children. The shadowy killer makes his presence known by the haunting melody he whistles as he claims a new victim. The people are in a panic, demanding the police catch the maniac. Like Jack the Ripper, the killer taunts the law enforcement's inability to stop him with letters to the newspapers. Even with police flooding the streets they are unable to find any clues.

This is when the Berlin criminal underworld decides to take matters into their own hands. The killer is bad for their illicit businesses as the police raids have become more frequent and some even blame the murders on organized crime members. They make a pact to use all of their resources to track down the fiend before he can kill again.

The killer is terrifying in his motivations but ultimately, he can turn be described as just a regular guy. He's the type of person that neighbors might say he was quiet and kept to himself. The confrontation between he and the forces of Berlin's underworld is chillingly compelling as this court of thieves decides the man's fate. The result is a stunning piece of visual storytelling, perhaps the best comic graphic tale since The Watchmen.

"M" the film is an extremely moody piece of filmmaking. It's a very early talkie and the film quality is dark and grainy, filled with deep shadows. Muth has managed to capture the look of the film perfectly. The story is told through photographs that Muth has then used pencil and brush to add various tones, gradients, and textures, along with a few strategic dashes of color. Rarely has a "comic book" been able to evoke such an atmosphere on a page. If anyone ever questions why you STILL read comics, hand them a copy of "M" and show them why!

With this version of "M," Jon J. Muth updates the visual of Fritz Lang's classic screen play. The story is told through Muth's stunning photo-realistic charcoal sketches, that mold Lang's cinematic tale to fit perfectly into a graphic novel format. "M" is yet another example of the heights to which visual and verbal storytelling can soar.

All these decades later, Fritz Lang's METROPOLIS overshadows M in terms of fame and legacy. But M, the story of a serial killer who hunts children, is such a dark, macabre classic that even Lang considered it his best film. It's a seminal work, one of the most amazing accomplishments in cinema.

It was nearly 20 years ago that Jon J Muth, a writer and illustrator of children's books and comic books, decided to create a graphic series based on M. Muth's work back then remains as vital, impressive and simply awe-inspiring now, especially since it has just been re-released in a gorgeous hardcover format, which also includes an informative introduction and afterword that provide useful insights into the creative process behind the work.

Muth gathered together friends, family and acquaintances to pose for photos that reenacted Lang's film. But this is no shot-by-shot, frame-by-frame recreation. Instead, Muth changes points of view and perspective to create a new experience, something far removed from its source material yet so lovingly inspired by it that it maintains respect at all times.

Muth then took those photos and made drawings from them. His afterword explains the process, which involves silverpoint, graphite and charcoal, the effect of which is so stunning, so lush, that it's clear how much of an influence Muth's work here has had on generations of artists who followed in his footsteps. Reading M has the bizarre effect of feeling like you're looking at a series of old photographs, stepping back in time and experiencing a long-ago past first-hand.

And M is thrilling. The story is frightening and thrilling on its own, with its terrifying notion of a serial killer who targets children. The murders leave the entire city in a state of panic, with the population demanding action from the police. As the police crack down on brothels, bars and gambling spots around town, the leaders of the city's seedy underground decide they have to take action to find the killer themselves, if only to keep their own businesses afloat.

M has various themes of horror and old-gangster-style crime running through its rich pages. That Muth is able to carry this off without stepping on the toes of the original film is a testament to his larger-than-life abilities as an artist. The phrase "a graphic novel for someone who doesn't typically enjoy graphic novels" gets tossed around quite a bit, but in this case, it seems to apply. A work this atmospheric certainly transcends the boundaries of format in ways that others can't.

Muth has gone on to create many other works in both comics and traditional publishing, but M remains such a glorious work, such a lovely piece of art, that it continues to inspire fellow artists. It continues to entertain and mesmerize readers as well.

--- Reviewed by John Hogan

I would agree that the artwork for M is exceptional. Most of the book is in sepia tones with a smattering of coloring such as the serial killer's green eyes. Color mostly was used for chilling emphasis. That's not to say that the artwork was completely realistic and jaw-droppingly beautiful.

My problem lies in the story. While the book is based on the brilliant film, I found the story a little too brief. It's almost as if the book was made as a sort of complementary role to the film, not a stand-alone solid novel. While that might have been Muth's intent, I still prefer a strong storyline.

Still, Muth's M (any coincidence?) should at least be borrowed at the library or perused at a bookstore. The artwork is incredible, and the photo-like layout of the panels creates a surreal, suspenseful atmosphere. However, lovers of art may want to buy this book. It's rare to see a comic book with such incredible detail and subtlety as in M.

I first saw M in college, and the impression that film left on me was a lasting one. While Lang is known for Metropolis, I believe his true creativity is showcased in this movie, especially when you know this was one of the first films to be released with sound.

The chilling vision of Lang has been accomplished masterfully in Jon Muth's graphic novel. Not since Morrison and McKean's Batman: Arkham Assylum or David Mack's Kabuki has artwork like this made my hold my breath. With a horrific tale and a cinematic master's composition at its core, Muth gives M a treatment worthy of only the highest caliber.

This is an exceptional graphic novel that has a rightful place in a library right next to the DVD of Fritz Lang's masterpiece. Well done.

All these decades later, Fritz Lang's Metropolis overshadows M in terms of fame and legacy. But M, the story of a serial killer who hunts children, is such a dark, macabre classic that even Lang considered it his best film. It's a seminal work, one of the most amazing accomplishments in cinema.

It was nearly 20 years ago that Jon J Muth, a writer and illustrator of children's books and comic books, decided to create a graphic series based on M. Muth's work back then remains as vital, impressive and simply awe-inspiring now, especially since it has just been rereleased in a gorgeous hardcover format, which also includes an informative introduction and afterword that provide useful insights into the creative process behind the work.

Muth gathered together friends, family and acquaintances to pose for photos that reenacted Lang's film. But this is no shot-by-shot, frame-by-frame recreation. Instead, Muth changes points of view and perspective to create a new experience, something far removed from its source material yet so lovingly inspired by it that it maintains respect at all times.

Muth then took those photos and made drawings from them. His afterword explains the process, which involves silverpoint, graphite and charcoal, the effect of which is so stunning, so lush, that it's clear how much of an influence Muth's work here has had on generations of artists who followed in his footsteps. Reading M has the bizarre effect of feeling like you're looking at a series of old photographs, stepping back in time and experiencing a long-ago past first-hand.

And M is thrilling. The story is frightening on its own, with its terrifying notion of a serial killer who targets children. The murders leave the entire city in a state of panic, with the population demanding action from the police. As the police crack down on brothels, bars and gambling spots around town, the leaders of the city's seedy underground decide they have to take action to find the killer themselves, if only to keep their own businesses afloat.

M has various themes of horror and old-gangster-style crime running through its rich pages. That Muth is able to carry this off without stepping on the toes of the original film is a testament to his larger-than-life abilities as an artist. Muth has gone on to create many other works in both comics and traditional publishing, but M remains such a glorious work, such a lovely piece of art, that it continues to inspire fellow artists. It continues to entertain and mesmerize readers as well.

-- John Hogan