GtPGKogPYT4p61R1biicqBXsUzo" /> Google+ Sheep ARC review: Cry Wolf (Alpha&Omega Graphic Volume #1) | I Smell Sheep

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Sheep ARC review: Cry Wolf (Alpha&Omega Graphic Volume #1)

Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega Graphic #1)
by Patricia Briggs (Creator), David Lawrence (Adapter), Jordan Gunderson (Illustrator)

The long-awaited collection-the first four issues of the graphic novel adaptation of the #1 "New York Times" bestselling author's novel "Cry Wolf"

"Cry Wolf" is Patricia Briggs' "New York Times" bestselling novel about the werewolves Charles Cornick and Anna Latham. Now, these characters come alive in full-color graphic novels.

Anne never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack...and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack she's learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males.

Then Charles Cornick-the son of the leader of the North American werewolves-came into her life. He insists that not only is Anne his mate, but she is also a rare and valued Omega wolf. And Anna may be the key to stopping a rogue werewolf that threatens the entire pack.

This is a re-issue of Ace's compilation of the Dynamite Entertainment Cry Wolf graphic series. It contains new artwork and a never-before published version of issue #1. It is NOT identical to the Ace edition though it does have the same ISBN.


I have read some of the Mercy Thompson graphic novels and loved everything about them so I was excited to see the Alpha and Omega series was also being adapted as a graphic novel. The only Briggs novel I have read is Fair Game (Alpha and Omega series Book #3) and I was blown away by Briggs's writing (my review). Cry Wolf: Volume One is a collection of the first four issues based on the first book in the A&O series, which I haven’t read.

Cry Wolf: Volume One is about Anna, who was changed unwillingly into a werewolf and then abused by the pack that changed her. She was rescued by Charles who is Bran’s (ruler of all werewolves in North America) son and chief enforcer and it turns out Anna is Charles’s mate. Their inner wolves recognize each other but they have yet to complete the bond as man and woman and Charles doesn’t want to force her after her traumatic experience with the pack that turned her. Anna is also a rare Omega wolf with powers she doesn’t understand but will prove fateful in later chapters. Charles and Anna are sent to investigate attacks in his pack’s territory of Montana. Volume one introduces us to Charles’s family and sprinkles in Anna’s and Charles’s individual backstories to catch the reader up.

The writing was a little vague and I was confused at first but things were eventually addressed later in the story. If you have already read the novels, though, this might not be an issue for you. By the end of the fourth chapter I was hooked on the storyline and there was plenty of suspense, and I was happy that a few pages from Volume Two were included as a teaser.

The whole point of a graphic novel is to have pictures do most of the story telling so it is a major part of the book. Unfortunately, the artwork didn’t deliver a great experience in this collection. The cover art for all four chapters is perfect and sketches provided as extra content were spot on, but something happened when it came to the coloring of the panels. The characters become too cartoonish looking and downright ugly in some panels. When compared to the Mercy Thompson graphic novels this was a disappointment, and I expected better.

Bran, Charles and Samuel


I would give the story adaptation 4 Sheep, but the art is of such importance in this media I can only give this 3 Sheep overall.




Sharon Stogner (edited by BAK)

No, Charles...just No

15 comments:

  1. I agree with you about the art. It absolutely does not do the story justice. The cover looks great though and I love all of Patricia Briggs' books so I'll give this a try.

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    1. there is nothing wrong with the story...I was just surprised with the art work. I am not the only one...I've seen other reviews that pretty much say the same thing I did.

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  2. Those ugly pictures would really ruin the book for me, so I am not even going to peek inside. I prefer my own images in my head, of real people, thank you.

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    1. there is some good art in the book, but that NOT what I pictured Charles looking like. He looks like a clown in some panels.

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  3. Oh, wow...that's horrible. I bought the first issue years ago and the art looked nothing like that. It's too bad they changed it.

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    Replies
    1. I've seen the original too and loved it. Maybe they will make a change for Volume 2. Penguin has just started this new line of graphic novels. They will be doing Charlaine Harris's Grave Site and some of Laurel K Hamilton's.

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  4. I am still so on the fence about favorite series going graphic. I have a series I have followed for (I will not say how many years LOL) years that in the past couple have gone graphic. The characters might match the authors mental picture, but definitely not mine and I spent a pretty penny for it (it came out in hard bound). Very disappointing for me, although others seem to really enjoy it. I think my favorite series will stay in my imagination where I will not be disappointed. Thanks for sharing with us today :)

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    Replies
    1. I find I enjoy adaptations more if I haven't read the novels. So I have no preconceived ideas of what the characters look like.

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  5. I love the cover! But not so much on the 2 illustrated panels... yikes!

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