Stormbreaker: The Graphic Novel
Encyclopedia
Stormbreaker: The Graphic Novel is a graphic novel
, written by Antony Johnston
and illustrated by sisters Kanako Damerum and Yuzuru Takasaki,. It was released on 3 July 2006 in the UK, published by Walker Books
, and 19 October 2006 in the USA, published by Philomel
.
It is adapted from the Stormbreaker movie screenplay
by Anthony Horowitz
, itself adapted from Horowitz' original novel Stormbreaker
.
at Brookland School, where he gives a speech about his family, but not much of it, claiming he didn't know his parents, since they died when he was small. He currently lives with his Uncle, Ian Rider, but he's rarely at home either. Mostly, Alex lives with his best friend, Jack Starbright, who is also a housekeeper, there for Alex while Ian is always away on business. Alex also makes a claim that his uncle is a bank supervisor and is in charge of customer care, currently at a conference in Cornwall
, unaware that Ian's true occupation is a spy
, working for the Special Operations Division of MI6.
After the school day is over, and after having a talk with Sabina Pleasure about going out on the weekend
, Alex's uncle rings Alex and after they engage in a short, simple conversation about how things are, a helicopter approaches the Rider car, and one of the antagonists of the story, Yassen Gregorovich, shoots
Ian to death while hanging from the chopper.
From there on, the novel follows the plot and scenes of the Stormbreaker movie plot, though some scenes are shortened or excised. Some scenes were also altered slightly, including the dematerializing of a fish in the jellyfish tank (it was a barracuda
in the graphic novel, but a jellyfish
in the film).
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
, written by Antony Johnston
Antony Johnston
Antony Johnston is an award-winning British writer. He is known for the post apocalyptic comic series Wasteland, his graphic novel adaptations of Anthony Horowitz' Alex Rider novels, and his work with Alan Moore.-Career:...
and illustrated by sisters Kanako Damerum and Yuzuru Takasaki,. It was released on 3 July 2006 in the UK, published by Walker Books
Walker Books
Walker Books is an independent British publisher of children's books, founded in 1978 by Sebastian Walker.The success of their Where's Wally? series enabled them to expand into the American market, starting a sister company called Candlewick Press in 1991.Amelia Edwards, co-founder of Walker Books,...
, and 19 October 2006 in the USA, published by Philomel
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
.
It is adapted from the Stormbreaker movie screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
by Anthony Horowitz
Anthony Horowitz
Anthony Craig Horowitz is an English novelist and screenwriter. He has written many children's novels, including The Power of Five, Alex Rider and The Diamond Brothers series and has written over fifty books. He has also written extensively for television, adapting many of Agatha Christie's...
, itself adapted from Horowitz' original novel Stormbreaker
Stormbreaker (novel)
Stormbreaker is the first novel in the Alex Rider series by British author Anthony Horowitz. It was released in the United Kingdom on 4 September 2000 and in the United States on 21 May 2001...
.
Plot
The story starts off with Alex RiderAlex Rider
Alex Rider is a series of spy novels by British author Anthony Horowitz about a 14-15 year old spy named Alex Rider. The series is aimed primarily at young adults. Nine novels have been published to date, as well as three graphic novels, three short stories and a supplementary book...
at Brookland School, where he gives a speech about his family, but not much of it, claiming he didn't know his parents, since they died when he was small. He currently lives with his Uncle, Ian Rider, but he's rarely at home either. Mostly, Alex lives with his best friend, Jack Starbright, who is also a housekeeper, there for Alex while Ian is always away on business. Alex also makes a claim that his uncle is a bank supervisor and is in charge of customer care, currently at a conference in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, unaware that Ian's true occupation is a spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
, working for the Special Operations Division of MI6.
After the school day is over, and after having a talk with Sabina Pleasure about going out on the weekend
Workweek
The workweek and weekend are those complementary parts of the week devoted to labour and rest respectively. The legal working week , or workweek , is the part of the seven-day week devoted to labor. In most Western countries it is Monday to Friday. The weekend comprises the two traditionally...
, Alex's uncle rings Alex and after they engage in a short, simple conversation about how things are, a helicopter approaches the Rider car, and one of the antagonists of the story, Yassen Gregorovich, shoots
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
Ian to death while hanging from the chopper.
From there on, the novel follows the plot and scenes of the Stormbreaker movie plot, though some scenes are shortened or excised. Some scenes were also altered slightly, including the dematerializing of a fish in the jellyfish tank (it was a barracuda
Barracuda
The barracuda is a ray-finned fish known for its large size and fearsome appearance. Its body is long, fairly compressed, and covered with small, smooth scales. Some species could reach up to 1.8m in length and 30 cm in width...
in the graphic novel, but a jellyfish
Jellyfish
Jellyfish are free-swimming members of the phylum Cnidaria. Medusa is another word for jellyfish, and refers to any free-swimming jellyfish stages in the phylum Cnidaria...
in the film).
External links
- Talking Strombreaker with Antony Johnston, NewsaramaNewsaramaNewsarama is an American website that publishes news, interviews and essays about the American comic book industry.-History:Newsarama began in Summer 1995 as a series of Internet forum postings on the Prodigy comic-book message boards by fan Mike Doran. In these short messages. Doran shared...
, October 4, 2006