Stormbreaker: The Graphic Novel (Alex Rider Graphic Novels) [Paperback]

Antony Johnston (Adapter), Anthony Horowitz (Author), Kanako Damerum (Illustrator), Yuzuru Takasaki (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 19, 2006 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Alex Rider Graphic Novels

They have become a phenomenon. The Alex Rider adventures are now bestsellers the world over, and the book that started it all, Stormbreaker, is soon to be a major motion picture. Now is your chance to see this book visualized in a brand-new format, with bold, edgy, manga-like illustrations that bring Alex Rider to life in a way not seen before. For existing fans of the series, this graphic novel will be a must-have; for those yet to discover Stormbreaker, this will be the perfect introduction.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

An ode to rampant commercialism, this is not exactly based on Anthony Horowitz's thrill-a-second novel about 14-year-old Alex Rider, who discovers that his deceased uncle was a superspy and that Alex himself must face an evil businessman and his multitude of gruesome killers. No, this graphic novel springs from the screenplay for the recent movie, which is based on the novel--which, itself, is a clever compilation of James Bond movies. If it's possible, this is even more rapidly paced than the novel. Alex remains an appealing hero here, and the idea of a heroic teen up against insidious adults continues to be an extremely powerful draw for readers. The female art team casts the action in exciting manga style, and the digital colors produce an anime-like sense of depth and motion. Readers who already like Alex Rider will want this; even adventure lovers unfamiliar with the books will find it difficult to resist the hyperkinetic fun, although they may feel they have sold a bit of their souls to get it. Jesse Karp
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Anthony Horowitz lives in London.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Philomel (October 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399246339
• ISBN-13: 978-0399246333
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,042 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Antony Johnston is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of comics, graphic novels, video games and books, with titles including Wasteland, Daredevil, Dead Space, Julius, and Frightening Curves. He has also adapted books by bestselling novelist Anthony Horowitz, collaborated with comics legend Alan Moore, and reinvented Marvel's flagship character Wolverine for manga. His titles have been translated throughout the world and optioned for film. He lives and works in England.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Creative Re-imagining of the Alex Rider Series, July 6, 2007

By 

Lane Young "Teacher and Librarian" (Highland Park, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stormbreaker: The Graphic Novel (Alex Rider Graphic Novels) (Paperback)

This is a creative re-imagining of the Alex Rider series. This novel closely follows the plot of the first novel. Alex Rider lives with his distant Uncle until his Uncle's sudden and surprising death. Alex soon learns that his Uncle was actually a spy and is recruited to finish his last mission, to find out what secret the rich and reclusive Harold Sayle is hiding. Alex, in the role of teenage James Bond, gets his own gadets and will rely on those, as well as his quick thinking, to save Britain from Sayle's evil plot.

This popular series is actually enhanced by the change into the graphic novel format. The pictures enhance the action and suspense of the story, making an already accessible story even more accessible. Readers who love the series, as well as those who never have read the book, will both enjoy this engaging and well done graphic novel.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good for reluctant readers, May 7, 2007

By 

M. Rice "Circe" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stormbreaker: The Graphic Novel (Alex Rider Graphic Novels) (Paperback)

I teach junior high students. I had a lot of kids read the novel version who also liked the graphic novel. Also, this book was good for bridging kids from graphic stories to other kinds of text.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Teenage James Bond, January 25, 2010

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Stormbreaker: The Graphic Novel (Alex Rider Graphic Novels) (Paperback)

Action, adventure, and just plain being a spy- these are the things Stormbreaker has. If you enjoy that, this is the book for you. Anthony Horowitz does a great job of keeping you reading by building tension, though at certain times it gets a little boring. Other than that, though, it's a wonderful book.

Stormbreaker is the starting book to the Alex Rider series, all about a teenager who ends up becoming a spy. MI6 needs to use a kid to spy on a company-owner who they think might be up to something, and of course MI6 uses him. The rest is for you to read.

Also, Stormbreaker had been made into a major motion picture, so it's got to be pretty famous, right? If you read the book and you like it, you should see the movie next. I've read every book in the Alex Rider series, and just as a warning some of the books are a little bit gory. Although Stormbreaker isn't too much at all, and that's one of the reasons I think this one is the best.