Northwest Passage: The Annotated Collection [Hardcover]

Scott Chantler (Author, Artist)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 20, 2007

After Fort Newcastle is brutally captured by invading French mercenaries, Charles Lord and a band of his surviving soldiers, trackers, and explorers embark on one last great adventure to unite the people of Rupert's Land to reclaim their home. This rollicking historical adventure fights its way on land and sea, all in search of and control of the mythic Northwest Passage.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

While being hyped as the greatest Canadian western comic book ever may sound like faint praise indeed, in the case of Chantler's thrilling historical adventure, it definitely is not. Categorized as young adult historical fiction, the book is a James Fenimore Cooper–styled thriller set in remote Rupert's Land, circa 1755. Fort Newcastle, an English-run trading post commanded by the stout-hearted hero Charles Lord, is overrun in a vicious sneak attack by French mercenaries looking to get rich off the fur trade. Lord and the survivors of the massacre wander the wilderness, looking for allies and plotting their revenge, while inside the captured fort, the villainous Guerin Montglave plots evil deeds. Chantler's sharp black and white artwork (replete with dramatic closeups and muscular action choreography) has a welcome precision to it, while the writing has a pulp immediacy ( 'T'ought you could 'ide, English dog?' ) which brings history to life. This collected edition of the three-issue original comes with copious and welcome annotations at the back, where Chantler discusses various plot points and historical references as well as the different styles used from one frame to the next (including one he calls his Frank Miller shot). (June)
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From Booklist

A cover from the serialized version of this story proclaimed "two-fisted historical adventure," and seldom has a product so lived up to its advertising. Chantler conflates American western mythology and British naval adventure to tell the story of the Canadian northern frontier of 1755, when British, French, and private interests competed for the lucrative fur trade. In such a large-scale epic, characterization might easily have been lost, but by focusing on the fierce enmity between Lord, a British company man and explorer, and Montglave, an amoral French privateer, the story hangs its historical facts on an emotional stake. Though Chantler assembles a huge ensemble cast with complex backstories, his expressive, fluid art brings out the personality of even such supporting characters as a Han Solo–inspired trader and a Batman-like hunter. Readers, particularly boys, looking for a rich, suspenseful, action-packed story (with some fascinating historical details) will find it here in spades. Included is a nearly book-length annotated section, discussing the book's creation. Karp, Jesse

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Oni Press (June 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932664610
• ISBN-13: 978-1932664614
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,785,432 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Scott Chantler is the acclaimed cartoonist of the graphic novels TWO GENERALS, NORTHWEST PASSAGE, and the THREE THIEVES series. His books have been nominated for the Eisner, Harvey, Russ Manning, Joe Shuster, and Doug Wright Awards, and been recommended by the American Library Association and the Junior Library Guild. He is also a popular commercial illustrator whose clients have included McDonald's, Reebok, Macy's, Rogers, The New York Daily News, The National Post, The Toronto Star, and Maclean's. When he's not doing either of those things, he teaches Writing for Graphic Novels at Max the Mutt Animation School in Toronto.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging and artistic graphic novel, September 24, 2007

By 

Sheltie Mom (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Northwest Passage: The Annotated Collection (Hardcover)

We first saw Northwest Passage at the San Diego Comic-Con and was immediately drawn to the fabulous artistry of the author. I picked it up and started reading, and I couldn't put it down! I only stopped reading to attend a panel... The story is extremely engaging, the characters so well-developed that you KNOW them even from the very short time you meet them, the details in the drawings are marvelous. The Chantler's 'direction' of the scenes is inventive and very moving. It felt like we were watching a great movie, but we really were reading a graphic novel. We are in complete awe of the work. The only problem is that we have to wait for the next installment! If you haven't read this book, you MUST. It is amazing storytelling at its finest.

4.0 out of 5 stars been searching high and low for this book, August 20, 2009

By 

Adam Griffith (San Clemente CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Northwest Passage: The Annotated Collection (Hardcover)

Great story, art took a little getting used to. Id been looking for this book for awhile at comic shops with no luck. Its a good read if your into historical fiction.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazon sent me a damaged book., January 23, 2008

By 

J. Weiss - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Northwest Passage: The Annotated Collection (Hardcover)

I liked Northwest Passage. But for the third time in six months, Amazon sent me a DAMAGED book. All three just happen to have the Amazon Returns Center as the return address. STOP SENDING DAMAGED BOOKS. Look out for this.