The opening page of this issue from BOOM! Studios states that, “this series is the complete text of Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, presented in graphic form.” It’s an interesting message to those who may be expecting these pages to show Harrison Ford running around in the dark getting beaten up by androids. I recently watched the ultimate edition of Blade Runner, the 1982 film directed by Ridley Scott that loosely adapted Dick’s novel, so the differences are fresh in my mind.

I must say that BOOM! have the most diverse range of licensed titles on the shelves. From Pixar properties such as Cars and The Incredibles, to Warhammer, The Muppet Show and Die Hard they offer something for every type of reader. This mammoth 24 part adaptation of the 1968 sci-fi novel is another bold string in that curious line-up.

From the first page it becomes jarringly obvious that this is no ordinary reading experience. Not surprisingly it lies somewhere between a novel and a traditional comic book. These days readers are more accustomed to reading captions that reveal the inner thoughts of the characters. The captions here are initially of an omniscient narrator, as is to be expected. With no writer’s name on this comic the enormous effort of bringing a forty year old story from prose to sequential art hangs on the brave shoulders of artist Tony Parker and colourist Blond.

I’d imagine that Parker and editor Ian Brill would’ve spent many hours discussing the finer points of Dick’s original text, and how to work with it in pictorial form. With word balloons followed by caption boxes stating, “He said gloomily,” and so on it breathes like a unique media hybrid. Deckard’s discussion, with caption narration switching perspectives, goes on for 6 pages, but within these 6 pages a few facts present themselves, such as the reason for the unusual title, the fact that most of the city has left earth thanks to World War Terminus, and that the city’s gases occasionally create “specials” (read: mutants) in the populace.

This first issue opens with android hunter/killer Rick Deckard waking, and arguing with his wife Iran over before going to their respective “mood organs” to decide what their emotions will be. It’s a great start that shows what sci-fi does best; the integration of seemingly absurd technological ideas in an ordinary context.

The next 6 pages show Deckard conversing with his neighbour about their respective animals. It is by this point that most readers will decide if this series is for them or not. As is to be expected, this is more wordy than an average Brian Michael Bendis title. For some it may be a trudging read, but it’s obvious that Dick is a revered writer for a very good reason. He creates this world with depth and clarity. There are points of mild bewilderment, particularly with the sequence focused on the special John Isadore but at least for a $4 comic, you get a lot of reading material in this extra-sized ish. This one won’t be hurried through on the average daily commute.

The afterword, or “backmatter,” by fan fave writer Warren Ellis gives some truly fascinating insight in to Dick’s upbringing and talent and the literary weight of “Androids.” It’s a nice touch and puts Dick, and his most famous work, in context, and perhaps will help some readers justify BOOM!’s decision to publish the novel word for word. Let’s face it, if you’re going to publish a book exactly as is, why bother with pictures? However, it’s exactly that kind of choice that make BOOM! the unique publisher they are. I can’t imagine any other comic book company toying with this idea, and it does highlight the strengths, and perhaps weaknesses of the sequential art form. Tony Parker’s art decides for us what we see, rather than imaging it on our own if we were to read the novel.

Not a lot happens here, but things end when Deckard receives a new case, so perhaps things will pick up next issue. It is somewhat plodding but fans of Philp K. Dick, or those that want to see where Blade Runner took its cues, will be satisfied. After reading this debut issue, I can see why the entire tale will take 2 years to tell. It has already sold out before hitting shelves, so there are obviously plenty of curious readers out there.

July 15, 2009
Categories: New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: Boom Studios, Philip K. Dick . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment