Sundiata [Hardcover]

Will Eisner (Author)

Book Description

In this tale from the land of Mali, the ruler Sumanguru cannot satisfy his ambition enough. When he encounters the Gray Rock of Evil, his powers are multiplied manifold. Now able to manipulate the elements, he goes on a rampage of conquests. However, the rock is devious and prepares an enemy for him, one he knows Sumanguru will pay no heed to: a crippled child.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This series is one of a few literary adaptations Eisner's penned in recent years, and this story seems the least suited to the artist's urban style. The Sundiata legend is a hero/nation-building myth, an adaptation of the African legend of Sundiata, in which a Malian child-prince, born crippled, liberates his people from Sumanguru, the evil King of the rival Sosso people. Eisner's version of the tale begins with an explanation of the Great Grey Rock, a magical stone which gives Sumanguru mighty evil powers. Sumanguru discards the stone after tapping its powers, an act he will regret. Eventually Sumanguru comes to the land of Mali and defeats Sundiata's father. When Sundiata finally confronts Sumanguru, he is saved from defeat by the deviously magical Rock, which removes Sumanguru's evil powers at a crucial moment. Sundiata then rules gently over his newly free and prosperous Mali. While these events unfold clearly enough, there is nary an ounce of drama in the book. Eisner's artwork, once supple and expressive, has deteriorated into a scratchy, by-the-numbers affair. On firm territory when he creates urban stories, in this work he seems lost in the wilderness. Eisner is one of the great masters of comics storytelling, but his recent works continue to suffer from stereotype and melodrama.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-Though the figures in this freely retold comic-book version of the legend are charged with melodrama, veteran graphic novelist Eisner has inexplicably chosen to color them in drab ocher and gray. Narrated by the Rock of Evil, a head-shaped boulder with faint African features, the tale actually centers around the rise and fall of Sumanguru, a leering, brutal magician-king who conquers the peaceful land of Mali, but then makes the mistake of letting the last survivor of its royal family, the lame child Sundiata, live. Sundiata grows from naked (sexless) boy to strong manhood in two pages, learns the art of war and gathers an army in two more, then marches on Sumanguru for a climactic seven-page battle that ends when the tyrant vanishes into a cave. Sundiata goes on to become a beloved, long-lived king. Confusingly, the lithic narrator seems to have a change of heart, and closes its tale with a benevolent smile. Though Eisner depicts strong emotions and larger-than-life characters masterfully, this sketchy account of the great Malinke ruler is unlikely to make as lasting an impression on readers as David Wisniewski's Sundiata: Lion King of Mali (Clarion, 1999).
John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Nantier Beall Minoustchine Publishing (November 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561633321
• ISBN-13: 978-1561633326
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,065,754 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #74 in Books > Children's Books > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > African

More About the Author

WILL EISNER was born William Erwin Eisner on March 6, 1917 in Brooklyn, New York. By the time of his death on January 3, 2005, Will Eisner was recognized internationally as one of the giants in the field of sequential art, a term he coined.

In a career that spanned nearly eight decades -- from the dawn of the comic book to the advent of digital comics - Will Eisner was truly the 'Orson Welles of comics' and the 'father of the Graphic Novel'. He broke new ground in the development of visual narrative and the language of comics and was the creator of The Spirit, John Law, Lady Luck, Mr. Mystic, Uncle Sam, Blackhawk, Sheena and countless others.

During World War II, Will Eisner used the comic format to develop training and equipment maintenance manuals for the US Army. After the war this continued as the Army's "PS Magazine" which is still being produced today. Will Eisner taught Sequential Arts at the New York School of Visual Arts. The textbooks that he wrote based on his course are still bestsellers. In 1978, Will Eisner wrote "A Contract with God," the first modern Graphic Novel. This was followed by almost 20 additional graphic novels over the following 25 years.

The "Oscars" of the Comic Industry are called The Eisner Awards, and named after Will Eisner. The Eisners are presented annually before a packed ballroom at Comi-Con International in San Diego, America's largest comics convention.

Wizard magazine named Eisner "the most influential comic artist of all time." Michael Chabon's Pulitzer-prize winning novel "Kavalier and Clay" is based in good part on Eisner. In 2002, Eisner received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Federation for Jewish Culture, only the second such honor in the organization's history, presented by Pulitzer-prize winning cartoonist Art Spiegelman.

You can always find more information about Will Eisner at www.willeisner.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Sequential Master Comes Full Cycle, August 12, 2004

By 

Michael F. Hopkins "A Deeper Groove" (Buffalo, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sundiata: A Legend of Africa (Paperback)

Since his creation of THE SPIRIT and his partner Ebony
White over 60 years ago, the fame and influence
of Sequential Master Will Eisner and his inspired
urban fable has frequently been accompanied by the
ongoing debate over the nature of THE SPIRIT's
gregarious sidekick. Is Ebony a blatent
stereotype, or is the durable, likeable
mug an African American maverick hampered
by -and prevailing despite- the
distortions of 1940s racial imagery?
It's an engaging question which has
lost none of its zeal over the decades.

While pondering upon this question about
the past, consider the overall worth of
all Eisner continues to bring to all literary
arenas, Sequential and otherwise. His
comprehensive storytelling genius sharper
than ever, he has recently embarked upon
the distillation of classic literature
into Comic page storybooks
for young people.
Not content with giving the old CLASSICS
ILLUSTRATED a stylistic run for its money,
Eisner has broken further ground in
interpreting one of the most revered of
all African folktales, the legend of the
Lion of Mali, SUNDIATA.

A fine way of introducing young and old
alike to this magnificent tale, this
graphic album is both signature piece
and significant milestone in a long,
distinguished career. A profound tale
of resilience, ingenuity, and fortitude
overcoming all obstacles, SUNDIATA is
both earthy and graceful, carrying
great subtlety while rolling with
flamboyance. In Eisner's hands, the
saga of the cripple who rises up to
oppose an envious sorceror's murderous
tyranny is imparted with deep dignity,
and a winning respect to interest all
ages from all persuasions.

Over 60 years and
still running it
strong.

Will Eisner.
SUNDIATA.

Come read this.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not memorable, better adaptations exist, only worth the trouble of finding if you are a Will Eisner fan, December 16, 2010

By 

Gagewyn (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sundiata: A Legend of Africa (Paperback)

Will Eisner's telling of Sundiata is not so hot as a stand-alone, although it might be nice in an anthology.

The story has been retold by many authors, although I'm not aware of any other comic book versions. As a small child, Sundiata is unable to walk. Meanwhile, in the nearby desert, the evil warrior Sumanguru meets a magical stone which promises power to Sumanguru. Sumanguru begins his conquests and comes to conquer Sundiata's land...

The illustrations are a bit flat/bland. It looks like Will Eisner's other later work from the 80s and 90s. There is not much color - everything is in earth tones. Frames bleed into one another or are boxed off when appropriate. The layouts work but at the same time there isn't anything about this book that makes it stand out visually.

Overall, nothing made this book or telling of the story stand out to me. The entire book is only 32 pages long, and all 32 pages are forgettable. There are short stunning picture books, and short stunning comic books, and short stunning stories, but Will Eisner's Sundiata is not one of them. The problem is that there just isn't enough there. Sundiata would be great as part of an anthology of Eisner's work, but doesn't seem worth a separate book.

This is worth reading if someone hands you a copy, but not worth tracking down for pleasure reading, unless you are very into Will Eisner. If you want to read the Sundiata story, a better option might be an illustrated version. Sundiata: Lion King of Mali, by David Wisniewski looks promising but I haven't read it.