Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere [Paperback]

Mike Carey (Author), Glenn Fabry (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 14, 2007

The complete comics adaptation of the acclaimed novel by New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman is now available in one volume!

NEVERWHERE follows the adventures of an ordinary Londoner who stops to help an enigmatic girl and is drawn into a battle to save the strange underworld kingdom of London Below from destruction.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Vertigo (February 14, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401210074
• ISBN-13: 978-1401210076
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 0.4 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #183,251 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mike Carey got into writing through comic books, where his horror/fantasy series Lucifer garnered numerous international awards and was nominated for five Eisners. From there he moved into novels and screenplays, while still maintaining a presence in the comics world (he is currently writing two of Marvel's flagship titles, X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four). His movie Frost Flowers, an erotic ghost story, is currently in production with Hadaly/Bluestar Pictures. He lives in London, England, about as far as you can get from the centre of the city and still have access to the London Underground train network. His wife, Linda, writes fantasy for young readers under the pseudonym A.J. Lake. They have three children and an implausibly beautiful cat.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Failed attempt to improve on the book, August 24, 2009

By 

James I. Hales "Gaiman fan" (NYC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere (Paperback)

I tried to read the publication, but couldn't stomach it. It takes the story out of order, removes chapters, and adds dialogue and detail that contradicts the original Novel; it's worse than anything Hollywood could have done to it. Read the original novel. Also, the BBC miniseries isn't bad.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A victim of 'superhero-itis', July 24, 2010

By 

Byron (Fort Lauderdale, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere (Paperback)

As far as the narrative is concerned, this adaptation is fine. The visual interpretation, on the other hand, is so far off Gaiman's descriptions that it's impossible to enjoy. Just seeing how the character of Door is portrayed demonstrates the problem. Gaiman describes her as being small and pixieish, dressed in layers of clothes as well as an oversized leather jacket to 'disappear' into when she is feeling vulnerable. This highly-sexualized version of Door looks more like a refugee from the X-Men by way of Mad Max with her bustier, garterbelt, large breasts and bare midriff on display. The concealing leather jacket has turned into a Matrix-like leather trenchcoat which constantly flaps out behind her. Just because it's fantasy subject matter told in graphic novel form doesn't mean it has to use the visual guidebook of superhero titles where characters are all buff and either wear skintight outfits or show as much skin as possible. I haven't even mentioned the tattoo of a keyhole over her eye. Very subtle. This isn't just a matter of slightly different interpretations. The way the characters are described by Gaiman are part of what defines them and their actions. Very disappointing

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Dead & Dying of London Below!, August 21, 2010

By 

Scotman55 "James" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere (Paperback)

I've never read Neil Gaiman's original novel, but its graphic novel adaptation is an interesting fantasy as told from the viewpoint of a mousy man from London. Richard is a working man, pushed around by his boss, led by the neck from Jessica, his hard-as-nails fiancé. After working 11 hour days he spends his nights eating TV dinners and watching TV.

One day he finds a woman on the streets of London. She's just jumped through a dimensional portal you know, being chased by hit men Croup and Vandemar. He takes her in over the objections of Jessica and nurses Door (yes, that's her name) to health.

In doing so, he becomes an un-person, no one knows he's there. His only hope is to follow Door and hope that he can get his life back, as mundane as it is.

I enjoyed the art by Glenn Fabry very much. The large monster panels of the Beast of London, the large Angel Islington and the realistic blood and the decadent Floating Market are drawn in great detail.

The only thing I did not like was the slow pace of plot. There were not a lot of fight scenes, and not a lot of explanation of the characters and who they were, except for Door. We do learn of Door's family, their power to create doors to anywhere, the ritual slaughter of her family and she, as the survivor, out for vengeance.

The "employer" who hired Croup and Vandemar to kill off Door and her family was revealed mid-novel. And the surprise ending was not all that surprising. The innocence of Richard Mayhew (the story is told from his point of view) does get a bit annoying at times.

Overall, a decent read. I will probably read the original novel and compare to the graphic novel. Writer Mike Carey makes a good point that the graphic novel was never made to be a substitution of the original but to stand on its own as its own story. I can agree to that.

Recommended!

Other Graphic Novels from Neil Gaiman:

Coraline: The Graphic Novel
The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes
Coraline Graphic Novel