The Wall Street Journal-20080201-WEEKEND JOURNAL- Adviser -- Books- Drawn to Fantasy- Two Cartoon Sagas Aim to Pick Up -Harry Potter- Readers
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WEEKEND JOURNAL; Adviser -- Books: Drawn to Fantasy; Two Cartoon Sagas Aim to Pick Up 'Harry Potter' Readers
Full Text (877 words)The publisher behind "Harry Potter" is turning to cartoons for two new fantasy tales.
This month, Scholastic publishes "Ghost Circles," the latest in its "Bone" graphic novels by writer-illustrator Jeff Smith, which follows the adventures of three Bone cousins in a dangerous magical world. Last month it introduced the first book in another cartoon fantasy series, "Amulet, Book One: The Stonekeeper," by Kazu Kibuishi.
Scholastic, of course, had great success with J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books. Associate publisher David Saylor hopes the new graphic novels will reach younger readers, especially boys, who might not read other books beyond the Harry Potter ones. Because graphic novels "connect words with pictures, they reinforce the meaning of words, and actually help get kids into reading longer books," Mr. Saylor says.
Mr. Smith began self-publishing his "Bone" comic in 1991, and finished it four years ago. Scholastic, looking to expand its graphics books lines, bought the rights to the books and began issuing the saga in single volumes (nine are planned) in early 2005. The original series was in black and white, and Scholastic's version is in color. Scholastic has sold about two million of the "Bone" novels so far, and the series has generated a mini-industry of fan sites and merchandise, including screen savers, T-shirts, and action figures. "There's something about the immediacy of mixing words and pictures that forces the reader to participate with me in the storytelling," says Mr. Smith.
"Amulet" is about the adventures of a family which, following the death of the father, moves into a spooky house. The daughter comes upon a magical amulet that she uses to help rescue her mother from a monster. Mr. Kibuishi says he envisions a five-book saga.
Mr Kibuishi says he was influenced by "Star Wars" films and the animated movies of Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, known for such acclaimed works as "Howl's Moving Castle." Several "Amulet" illustrations pay homage to R2-D2 from "Star Wars" as well as some images from Mr. Miyazaki's films. "I'm really just like a DJ," Mr. Kibuishi says.
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Murder Most Medieval
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In a New Novel, a Doctor Examines a 12th-Century Crime
"The Serpent's Tale," by Ariana Franklin, out this week, is the second of her mystery-thrillers to feature Adelia Aguilar, a 12th- century woman doctor in England who solves politically sensitive murders. An actual medical school in 12th-century Salerno, Italy, inspired the author. The school "was extraordinarily liberal, and I'm pretty sure there were women doctors there," Ms. Franklin says. "The Serpent's Tale," the sequel to "Mistress of the Art of Death," concerns the murder of one of Henry II's mistresses, Rosamund, with blame falling on his estranged wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Below, some excerpts.
-- Robert J. Hughes
Page 12
Adelia was a doctor -- not just wise in the use of herbs and the pragmatism handed down from woman to woman through generations, and not, like so many men parading as physicians, a charlatan who bamboozled his patients with disgusting medicines for high prices.
Page 36
"If someone has attempted to harm this Rosamund Clifford, I am sorry for it, but it is nothing to do with me."
She crossed the room to take the baby from him. It brought them close so that she could smell the incense from the Mass he'd celebrated clinging to him, infecting their child with it. His eyes weren't Rowley's anymore, they were those of a bishop, very tired -- he'd traveled hard from Oxford -- and very grave.
"Not even if it means civil war?" he said.
Page 123
Sighing, Adelia bent to look into the face. Open, blue eyes were slightly cast downward so that they appeared to be rereading what the hand had just written.
But Fair Rosamund was very dead.
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Datebook
Friday 1
Tonight, Disney Channel launches a new animated series, "Phineas and Ferb," about the daily madcap adventures of two step-brothers on their summer vacation. Episodes run daily through Feb. 29 at 8 p.m. EST. On March 1, the series will begin a regular weekly time slot, at 8 p.m. EST.
Sunday 3
As an alternative to the Super Bowl, TNT is running a 12-hour marathon of "The Closer." The series stars Kyra Sedgwick as Los Angeles Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson. Showings begin at noon and run until midnight.
Wednesday 6
Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. hosts "African American Lives 2," a follow- up to the 2006 public television series. The show uses DNA analysis to help trace the family histories of such guest stars as Chris Rock, Morgan Freeman and Tina Turner. The series runs Feb. 6 and 13, 9 to 11 p.m. EST (times may vary depending on local PBS stations).
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Broadway Hits the Web
When the Broadway musical about a 1953 Bronx wedding, "A Catered Affair," previewed at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre last year, audience members often shared their own wedding tales with the show's creative team, says Jordan Roth, vice president, Jujamcyn Theaters, and a show producer. That inspired him to create a Web site launching today, ACateredAffairOnBroadway.com, where people can upload wedding stories and videos. The show, by Harvey Fierstein (right) and John Bucchino, opens April 17.
-- Robert J. Hughes
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