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1. • CommentAuthorLamont Cranston
   • CommentTimeApr 9th 2008 edited

    
   Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser
   Howard Chaykin (w) Mike Mignola (a) & Al Williamson
   Dark Horse Books
   £12.99
   
   These adaptations of some of the stories in Leiber's F&TGM series were originally published in 1991 as 4 prestige issues by Marvel (when Marvel took artistic risks). Naturally, being high quality classy comics they sank without trace. The obvious spur to this re-issue is the presence of Mike (Hellboy!! = Cash$$$$!!) Mignola on art. This may be enough to ensure this nifty volume adorns more shelves than my own. Hopefully many more shelves, because this really is a high quality comics package. One worthy even of Leiber's original stories. Fritz Leiber (1910 - 1922) was an S-F/Fantasy author who, like all such authors of this period, was highly prolific (they got paid by the word, see) but crucially, unlike most of his contemporaries Leiber's work was marked by an unusually high level of sophistication and intelligence.
   
   F&TGM is a fantasy series set largely in and around the city of Lankhmar telling of the adventures of the mismatched eponymous duo. The Tales adapted within are: Ill Met In Lankhmar, The Circle Curse, The Howling Tower, The Price of Pain Ease, Bazaar Of The Bizarre, Lean Times in Lankhmar and When The Sea King's Away... Evocative as each of these titles are they tell you little of the richness of characterisation, setting and atmosphere within these pages. Fans of intelligent pulp action with a weird slant will be well served here. Oh, and although it is technically sword and sorcery, don't be expecting Conan. This is like Conan crossed with Oscar wilde: Conan The Slightly Uncouth But Very Good With A Sword, if you will. I don't want to spoil any of the action, adventure, intrigue, tragedy and humour that await you, but be most assured that await you they do.
   
   F&TGM seem to be Leiber's most enduring creations and certainly seem to attract the most plaudits, the back of this book sports laudatory quotes from both Michael Moorcock and Harlan Ellison. F&TGM certainly attract Howard Chaykin, this being his second crack at the material. This time Chaykin confines himself to scripting and performs admirably. Limiting himself purely to dialogue and the fervent hope that his artist will correctly illustrate the given descriptions Chaykin takes the most difficult adaptive route and makes it work. Heck, together with Mignola's sterling performance they make it sing while it works. Chaykin doesn't get enough credit for his writing and while this is an adaptation, adaptation is an art in itself and one Chaykin excels at here.
   But no matter how talented Chaykin may be (Answer: Humungously) this is a true collaborative comic book adaptation and the artist's can-do is essential. Without Mignola's excellence the whole thing would fall to pieces. But excellent Mignola is. This is Mignola on his way to the Hellboy style; it is more grounded in reality but the expressonistic fancies are starting to take precedence; the tiny feet, the leaping bow legged stance, the artful clutter and the eye for the telling detail (in the background of one panel a blind beggar holds a placard saying "blind" but the text is upside down and back to front - kchow!). Of course being inked by the legendary Al Williamson doesn't do any harm either. So, a trio of talented men take another talented man's creations and create something that is both faithful and innovative. Now that's peachy keen-o comics!
   
   Verdict: Fritz Leiber, Howard Chaykin, Mike Mignola and Al Williamson? Sophisticated escapism? A definite buy, I'd say.
   
   (And no, I don't know how to pronounce "Fafhrd" either.)