Prince of Persia

At once awe-inspiring and metamorphic, even as remote as a faceless roof-jumping guy on an old Apple computer screen, the original concept of //Prince of Persia// has been translated into both film and graphic novel. Reworking the simple plot, creator Jordan Mechner has decided to elongate and elaborate the Moses-like storyline of a young boy chosen by Persian royalty to be a prince. By adapting it into two sister plots expanding within 400 years of each other, Mr. Mechner was able to portray the details of the tale that both movie and game, in the confines of their individual artistry, could not capture. Dense with rich color, poignancy and action that both child and man (not to mention woman) would find awesome, the graphic novel version of //Prince of Persia// is more than just a companion or afterthought to the video game, it is an epic, artistic journey of its own. Reviewed by: Natalie Fladager

What do graphic tie-ins to non-graphic properties bring to mind? An opportunity to expand upon a given mythos à la Aliens vs. Predator--before it became movie fodder again, that is? Or maybe a quick cash grab by those who care little for comics as an art form but instead see them as one more "channel" for their brand? Well, it may be time to throw out the ol' playbook on transmedia franchises when it comes to the nothing-short-of-brilliant Prince of Persia graphic novel. First published in 2008 and then rolled out again in 2010 in time for the Mike Newell film starring Jake Gyllenhaal, it's so accomplished that frankly it's irrelevant where it fits into any wider canon. But because it bears a title that connects it to a mega-popular videogame, it's the kind of work that's easy to gloss over when perusing the shelves...and that would be a profound shame. Of course you might pause when you notice the publisher, First Second, and recall the editorial thoughtfulness that it brings to virtually all its titles. That's probably the first hint that this is not merely a screen saga rendered flat and brittle as it moves onto paper, just one more disposable pop-culture novelty item. Perhaps mitigating against that perception, though, is a quick glance at the bio of artist LeUyen Pham, whose pedigree before several acclaimed children's books includes a stint at Dreamworks Animation. In other words, does that mean that the artwork is cartoony or juvenile in some way? Ah, but Prince of Persia's ability to confound those kind of snap judgments is where the fun starts. Collaborating with her husband, Alex Puvilland, the phenomenally talented Pham has created images--and sequences of images--that stay with one long after the book is set down. To say that comics storytelling is "cinematic" usually means that the artist has a flair for dramatic angles and chiaroscuro lighting techniques. It sometimes, not often enough, refers to the panel-to-panel interplay of images that both move the narrative fluidly in a shot/countershot kind of way and creates its own poetry in the manner of filmic montage...yet that's what the art in Prince of Persia does, time and again. The narrative efficiency helps writer A.B. Sina tell an epic story--make that two stories, actually--in a modest span of pages, and it's a story that well deserves telling. On the one hand, we get Prince Guiv in 13th-century Marv, lying low in a mystical citadel after almost being executed by his brother-in-law Layth. On the other, we get a story that recounts, years later, the resistance against Layth's successors in the form of an unlikely romance between two teen misfits. How are the two stories connected? Though there is foreshadowing aplenty, especially if one is sensitive to the Moses-like subtext, Sina does a masterful job of structuring things so that each half complements the other and yet feels satisfying in its own right. So both storylines are juxtaposed not simply to dress up a conventi

I'm not very familiar with the video games on which this graphic novel is based, but I am a big fan of comic books and sequential art, so I decided to check out Jordan Mechner and A.B. Sina's adaptation of Prince of Persia. This graphic novel, set in 9th Century A.D, chronicles the rise and fall of the Persian royal family and the resulting convergence of politics, betrayal, prophecy, love, magic and war. It's easy to lose track of when the events in this graphic novel are supposed to take place. At the very beginning there is an informative box that tells you when each of the separate (but interlocking) storylines is taking place, but after that you're on your own. This was very confusing, though it became clearer as the story progressed. The various prophecies and dream sequences only complicated things. Perhaps familiarity with the video game(s) is necessary to keep track of events. LeUyen Pham and Alex Puvilland provide highly stylized artwork that may take some getting used to if you're a fan of traditional superhero comics. The duo's style brings to mind Jeff Smith and Bruce Timm, and has a decidedly animated feel. This style doesn't always suit the seriousness of the subject matter (it's a bit too cartoony at times), but the visual storytelling on each page is truly exceptional. It takes some getting used to, and will no doubt be better with repeat readings, but Prince of Persia is a much better executed adaptation of a video game than anything else I've seen. Again, I'm not familiar with the game so I can't gauge how its fans will react, but open-minded comic book fans should find a lot to enjoy in Prince of Persia.

Actually, I found the storyline in this gem-like graphic novel to be somewhat challenging- I must have skipped back three or four times to figure out exactly what was going on. This is not a criticism, for the interweaving of the storylines from the ninth and thirteenth centuries is rather like that of a Persian carpet. As is brought out in the afterward, from the Arabian Knights to the Sufi tales, the conflict tends to be with the nature of reality itself. That is what makes you think, that is the challenge. If you want a simple-minded, chop-socky hero tale then look elsewhere. If I was to compare this work to anything it would be with the Sandman graphic novels- I could readily see this story woven into those books. In some places the artwork approaches that of an illustrated manuscript. Indeed, the overall design of the book is of high quality including the reflective lettering on the cover and the maps under its folding flaps. Oh yes, I had heard of the original computer game, but I had never played it, but that doesn't seem to be necessary to enjoy the story.

About a year ago someone recommended that I read a pair of graphic novels, Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood and Palestine. I was amazed at how well graphic novels could hold up to traditional books for strength of message and emotion. Now our seven year old son is really getting into comic books and graphic novels which seems like a great way to get him interested in reading. So I picked up a copy of Prince of Persia since I remember the video game from years ago. I was a little disappointed that this book was a little too mature for a seven year old to read (some violence and adult themes, glad I read it first) but I was not disappointed by the story for myself. It is a well crafted intertwined tale which segues dreamily back and forth. It read quickly and sucked me in so well, I couldn't put it down once I started. It is not overwhelming strong artistically but not bad. You definitely don't need to have experience with the game to appreciate the story, although it does kind of end like an open ended prequel. Don't worry though the story stands on it's own well. There is a short history of the Prince of Persian from the creator of the original video game which was a nice bonus. But for me, one of the best things about the book though was the list of other graphic novels that are available. We have a half dozen more coming to us now.