Manga: - Steamboy (Novel), Volume 1 (Steam Boy Ani-Manga)

Steamboy (Novel), Volume 1 (Steam Boy Ani-Manga) Customer Review: Steambore
This novel adaptation of the animation from acclaimed director Katsuhiro Otomo falls flat on its face for the very reason that books tend not to have car chases. Because I have intentionally not yet seen the animation for purposes of grading the novel on its own merits, I cannot comment on the accuracy of its translation to print [or even its translation to English]–however, reading the book without being able to see the stunning visuals I can only imagine are in the animation has only served to put me straight to sleep, particularly with all the history and unnecessary flashback sequences instead of one chronological stream. This technique may work in a visual format, but in text form it is definitely lacking, like reading a novel about The Matrix instead of watching the movie… WHY? Action is, by its very nature, visual, and you are much better off simply watching the film or, at the very least, picking up the "graphic novel" version instead.