Just in time for Halloween comes this handsome repackaging of the graphic novel adaptation of the literary juggernaut that is Twilight. Both volumes, previously released separately in paperback, are contained in this chunky hardcover, packaged to sit nicely on the shelf next to the source novels. In a nice touch, the connecting covers of the two previous paperbacks are reprinted inside this volume’s dust jacket. It really is attractive packaging.

(I’m covering the book for the vampire manga moveable feast, except that they’re not selling this as manga, and I’m a day past the event.)

Twilight: The Graphic Novel
Collector’s Edition

When I stop to think about it, I can’t stand Stephenie Meyer’s story, due to its clichés and reliance on damaging gender stereotypes. However, while reading it, I admit, I did get carried away by the romance. There’s something very seductive about the idea of a super-powerful, perfect lover whose only weakness is how much he adores an otherwise normal girl. More importantly, Young Kim’s art is lovely and well-suited to the mood of the book. A flip-through shows her heavy reliance on closeups of facial expressions, emphasizing the emotional impact of the story on the reader.

The only flaw that stands out is that the “inhumanly beautiful” vampire Cullens don’t look particularly more attractive than the other characters. Everyone’s very pretty, especially the supposedly gawky Bella. It’s not a fatal flaw, since it’s more pleasant to read about attractive people, and we can tell ourselves we’re seeing Bella as Edward would see her.

The book, even at over 450 pages, is a fast read, with easy-to-take-in images conveying a story likely already familiar to the reader. I thought it would be in black and white, but while it’s mostly greyscale, there are touches of color at meaningful moments that really add to the telling.

If you’re curious about the Twilight story but have never read it, this is a great introduction. If you love the series, you’ll want this version of it to see how the characters look in the comic format. Everyone else, well, it’s not intended for you — there are enough of the others to make this a success. (The publisher provided a review copy.)