Customer Reviews

Pathfinder

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
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"Pathfinder" is the graphic novel adaptation of the big screen motion picture. The book is written by Laeta Kalogridis with art by Christopher Shy. The book is based on the premise, and recent archaeological information that the Vikings came to North America many centuries before later European explorers and some 800 years before the first colonists. The Vikings came as raiders and were considered monsters and demons by the Native American tribes along the north eastern shore. When a young Viking boy is left behind, the only survivor of a shipwreck, he's adopted by the Indians and "Pathfinder" is his story.

He's found by the wife of the tribe's chief and the tribal elders debate on whether he should be allowed to stay or not. The boy speaks little as he grows up with the Indians, always under a suspicious eye because of the color of his skin. When the other young men go through the rites of manhood, Ghost, as he is named, is not allowed to join them. He's told his destiny lies along a different path. But trouble soon comes to the Indians because the Norsemen have returned to their shores, and they want the boy back! Ghost must some how lead the people who've scorned him to safety, knowing that they are no match for the swords of the vicious Norsemen.

"Pathfinder" deals with many issues...racism, isolation, becoming a man, and it scores on all of these levels. Kalogridis' story is captivating because while it is taking a guess at history, you get the feeling that this could have happened. The art of Christopher Shy is a major advantage of the book. The art is done in various shade and tone palettes that give the book a very primeval look, exactly what you might expect North America to look like in around 800 AD. Shy makes the Norsemen look larger than life...mythical creatures...giants, demons that put great fear into the Indians. Shy's work is the most evocative I've seen in a long time and is worth the price of the book alone.

Now that I've read the graphic novel I really want to see the film but I'd say the film has a pretty tough act to follow!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

Great graphic novel. Better than the movie, as most books are, though the movie held pretty true throughout.

Pathfinder is an entertainingly quick read, that offers little depth or characterization, and even limited action setpieces. The wonderful artwork is the sole saving grace here, as Christopher Shy's touch is amazingly realistic and fantastically moody.

As far as the story goes, it is a very interesting idea, made more interesting that recent discoveries have pretty much concluded that the Vikings did indeed stop off on our shores before the Europeans did; perhaps they may have had several confrontations with the Native Americans, and certainly the Norsemen may have been seen like monsters in their eyes, so the exaggerated appearances ofthe Vikings is easier to digest, allowing it to work as a myth. The Native Americans appear to be portrayed rather accurately, making this a story obviously told from their point of view, and making them immediately sympathetic.

The first act is well done, paced in just the right manner, setting up Ghost's finding and admittance to the tribe - but then jumps ahead to view Ghost as a teenager, skipping what could have been a great look into his upbringing. Instead, all we get is a few panels of him killing a mountain lion after being denied his right to a trial for manhood.

Here the story lets go, and the Vikings arrive full of pillage and slaughter, and Ghost sets out to revenge his tribe which was wiped out. What follows is nothing we haven't read over and over in the various Conan publications, except that Ghost hasn't been nearly as well developed; in fact, this is where the novel fails most - there is no characterization whatsoever. Everyone is seen only in snipets, like half-imagined phantoms; Pathfinder is given no great leadership abilities, we feel no sadness when the attacking Indians fall to their death in a trap set up by Ghost - the Vikings are ugly and mean and slaughter with no real motivation - and even Ghost, who should be the centerpiece, offers no depth. He is conflicted...but never really shows it...he's angry...but we never truly know why.

The action is limited to a few scenes, and really doesn't do much for the latter half of the novel, when the stories and characters have really failed, and some great setpieces might have bailed them out. The Vikings go out rather easily, and there's never any doubt that Ghost will exit victoriously.

This could have been a great novel, because the ideas were there - perhaps a longer series would have done the trick. In any case, I enjoyed the first read, and re-read it a couple of times hoping it would get better, but it only becomes more obvious that it's pretty to look at, but nothing to think about.

This is a gorgeous and emotionally charged graphic novel. Although it is decent in length(in number of pages), it could be read much quicker than one would think due to the story's absence of many words. The story is told in a mostly visual fashion, through powerful images imbued with an alluringly atmospheric palette of colors that embolden the moody tone of the book. The lack of wordiness, in this instance, only enhances the flow of this very real, yet very dreamy tale of heroism and self-discovery. There are other themes here, such as racism(and intolerance in general), but I felt drawn mostly to the heroic and inspirational deeds of the stories protagonists, and the journey of self-discovery and enlightenment that the main character(Ghost) undergoes. These elements are depicted brilliantly through both the artwork and the nicely minimalized prose.

The story(the book says it is adapted from the screeplay-it was also conceived simultaneously as a movie- by Laeta Kalogridis; and as stated by director Marcus Nispel in the introduction, was influenced by Marcus, himself and this book's artist, Christopher Shy) is not only packed with stunning visuals, but has multiple meaningful messages that are conveyed in a manner that comes across as honest and poignant, and far from heavy-handed. Nispel and Shy, utilizing Kalogridis' screenplay, worked in nearly-synchronized perfect harmony to paint the picture of this fantastical and dramatic action/adventure tale - in both movie and graphic novel form - that takes you to a world and time of both beauty and brutality. Shy's artwork is nothing short of breathtaking. Although there were many pages that had me lingering, for no short period of time, drooling over the sweet eye candy, there is one particular image(pages 118-119) that really floored me. It is a scene of death, where the demonic-looking Norsemen descend upon the Native Americans with a violent ferocity that invokes the horrific stuff of nightmares. The look of the art gives me a similar feel to that of which I get when I look at Frank Frazetta's work. It's like it's alive! When I get that feeling from a piece of art, I know I'm looking at something really special. And as I said, though this is my favorite image, the book is littered with images that are full of wonderous beauty - be they heavenly or like a depiction of the darkest recesses of the mind. I LOVED the artwork! And the writing suits it to a tee. Normally, I'd say the artwork suited the writing to a tee. But, in this case, I really feel that the story is told in a largely visual manner; and therefore it seems right to phrase it in the opposite way that I have. Make no mistake though, the story(in terms of writing) is executed skillfully. This is a book to READ. It's not for just looking at pictures. Yes, the story is very visual in its nature, but without the words, the story wouldn't be complete. It wouldn't be whole. You'd miss those great messages I spoke of earlier. And that would be a shame.

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His path emerged from violence, from a senseless slaughter - only that one boy survived. His adoptive people called him 'Ghost' for his pale coloring. I wonder, though. The Ghost is also one who came out of that place of death. When the killers return, his unquiet spirit also haunts them, demanding revenge.

This comic adapts a movie that I have not yet seen, so I can't comment on its representation of the original film. In itself, however, it moves well and tells just enough of the story to leave elements of mystery brooding behind the scenes. Shy uses color with dramatic effect. Nearly every panel follows the cover's monochrome pattern, usually in that watery blue-green, but sometimes in fiery oranges. Multiple hues, when the appear, create additional drama.

Although generally well done, I found the dark mood a bit wearing - doesn't this land ever feel sunlight? Also, the open tribute to Frazetta's Deathdealer (p.118) came across without subtlety. Despite these minor points, this movie adaptation stands well on its own, well enough that I now want to see what it adapts.

-- wiredweird