Based on the 1957 french novel of the same novel by Steven Wull, Niourk is an intriguing look at a world that could be through the eyes of a small black boy, our protagonist.

The graphic novel is a labor of love by Oliver Vatine of Star Wars fame. He both wrote and penned Niourk, and his passion for the work shows through on each page.

The art is wonderful. There's not much to say here except that Oliver's talents shine through quite well. It's top notch art from a top notch artist.

The story is packed. It moves fast as Oliver is tasked with condensing a novel into about 150 drawn pages. This is especially noticeable towards the last third of the comic where the story takes a dramatic shift in pacing. Some people may find this off-putting, but I found it to be helpful in telling an intriguingly mysterious story.

I picked this up from the library on a whim and was delighted with what I got. One of the happiest accidents I've had in a long time. A good graphic novel like this makes you immediately purchase the book because the story was so well told. That's exactly what happened here. more