Peter Pan Neverland

Loisel's continues retelling Barrie's classic, with at least four volumes to come after this. Readers who know only the disneyfied version of this story have a surprise in store - and probably want to go through it first, before assuming it's for kids. Somewhat grown-up mermaids and casually violent pirates might not suit gentler sensibilities. Peter takes up with the pirates, eager for adventure but naive about possible consequences. When they go out to look for the Indians, Peter and Pan (the goatish godling, furry legs and all) find more than Peter could have guessed. That includes voluptuous, topless mermaid, and affectionate and jealous Indian princess, and a harrowing trip through the nightmare land of Opikanoba. The journey, its side-trips, and its many incidental characters make for an enjoyable story. I haven't read Barrie's original, so I don't know how accurate this rendering is. Readers who know and love the original might get a stronger sense of nostalgia than I do. Still, despite Loisel's enjoyable imagery and story line, this graphic novelization never really grabs me. -- wiredweird

Just a little word: PERFECT