(Original Review, 1980-11-16)


There are two ways to look at the work of Ray Bradbury. One is to remember how it was: to return to the old friends of youth, when these stories were beautiful, perceptive and spoke of important things. The other is to look at them as they are now: elegant, but a little shallow; obvious; sentimentalized. To do the latter is to deny the child still within us. Not to do it is to deny the child's long struggle to become an adult. What to do? Bradbury peers quizzically out of the jacket photo, and, startlingly, displays a strong resemblance to James Thurber's customary expression. 

If you're into stuff like this, you can read the full review.

This graphic novel is a celebration and tribute to the writer Ray Bradbury.  There are comics here that are adaptations of his works and others that are inspired by his worlds, others still that explore a relationship with Bradbury himself.

Each one is a well written and drawn piece and taken together it is a very neat tribute to the famous author.  A few I've seen before in other collections, some that I actually heard read before seeing this new comic form, "The Man Who Forgot Ray Bradbury," by Neil Gaiman for example, which was very well done.

Those who are fans of Bradbury would be remiss to skip this graphic, check it out from the library, at least!

My favorites were the Gaiman story I mentioned, as well as Live Forever by Weller and Sexton, Altenmoor, Where the Dogs Dance by Castle and Gallant and Conjure by Hoffman, Weller, Castle and Evenhuis.

Though I've read very few things by Bradbury I got the sense from these artists and writers that Bradbury was a large influence on their creations as well.  The authors set out to pay tribute to Bradbury and I believe meet their goal.

It's been quite the journey with Mr. Bradbury and his amazing collection of short stories, The Illustrated Man. It's been a while since a collection has roped me in like this. It was bittersweet to finally finish it, but at the same time I was excited to reach the ending--if that makes any sense.

These stories are pleasantly odd, haunting, somber, and even darkly funny at times. Bradbury makes no secret of condemning certain technological advances, but he does it brilliantly through his stories (two that immediately come to mind are "The Veldt" and "The Concrete Mixer"). And it never comes off as preachy. Bradbury uses that anger and fear to construct brilliant pieces of fiction. In the end, that's what writing's all about.

There isn't a stinker in the bunch. Even though I have my favorites, every single story was good. Not once did I find myself wanting to skip around here and there. Every story felt like they belonged in this collection. And in this exact order. I loved the prologue and epilogue, which ties it all together in the end. Yet every one of these stories is good on its own.

A few days ago I listed my current favorite stories from the collection, even though I had a few more to go. I've added a few more to the list. Again, just because I don't list a story by no means does it mean I didn't like it. I loved all of them. But these are the ones that stuck with me the most, and will continue to stick with me:

The Veldt

The Other Foot

The Rocket Man

No Particular Night or Morning

The Fox and the Forest

The Visitor

The Concrete Mixer

Marionettes, Inc.

Zero Hour

The Rocket

The Illustrated Man

This is an outstanding collection. One of the very best I've ever read. Even though I was always familiar with Bradbury and a few of his stories ("A Sound of Thunder" was my first introduction to him), this was the first time I sat down and really read him. I'm glad I did. He was one of the best storytellers out there, and The Illustrated Man is proof of that. This is a collection I'll revisit again and again.

Finished The Rocket Man, which is right up there with The Veldt for me. Such a somber little story. That one is also getting added to the list of favorite short stories. That list is growing thanks to Mr. Bradbury.