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The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is adapted by Clover Press using fidelity to the original text above creative innovation. Though it stays true to the original work, the comic adaptation falls short of its potential by not providing a different viewpoint on this classic American book.
Readers almost a century after its publication still find great captivation in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. The way the book examines the American Dream, riches, and the negative consequences of social class still has resonance today. Written by Ted Adams and illustrated by Jorge Coehlo, Clover Press's adaptation seeks to bring the grandeur and social criticism of the original book into a visual form. But the adaptation mostly emphasizes on copying the original text, which results in a faithful, but rather predictable, view.
The Great Gatsby revolves on Nick Carraway, a recent arrival to West Egg, Long Island, who gets caught in the life of the rich and mysterious Jay Gatsby and on the apparently flawless but profoundly damaged Daisy Buchanan and her husband, Tom. Carraway discovers the hollowness behind the glitzy front of these three characters' life by means of the love triangle they negotiate.
Any adaptation of a classic work—book, play, or movie— begs the issue of whether it is really necessary. Reiterating a narrative that has already been extensively understood can help one gain fresh understanding. How might a new media improve the themes of a work of original creation?
Regarding the comic adaptation of The Great Gatsby, the responses to these concerns still remain unknown. Adams and Coehlo's adaptation gives a faithful reading of Fitzgerald's book top priority, so leaving little opportunity for creative inquiry or reinterpretation. This method guarantees a faithful reproduction of the core of the book, but it also reduces the possibility for new ideas and creative originality.
Fitzgerald's vivid language helps the comic adaptation, but in a comic book form the reliance on exact language and descriptions from the original novel can feel rather awkward. Although appealing to readers of the original book, the adaptation's exacting approach also limits its ability to produce a really unique and unforgettable experience. Although the artwork of the comic book is competent, it falls short in breaking free from the limitations of the original text, so creating a sense of lost artistic interpretation opportunity.
Though faithful to the source material, the Great Gatsby comic adaptation falls short of its potential. The strict adherence to the original text of the adaptation keeps it from considering alternative readings and providing a fresh viewpoint on Fitzgerald's masterwork. Though it faithfully replics the original text, the comic book adaptation lacks the artistic spark that would have taken it beyond a mere recounting.
For readers of the original book, The Great Gatsby comic adaptation is ultimately a faithful and fun read. But its rigorous respect to the text and lack of creative originality make it seem as a lost chance. A more daring and interpretive approach would have helped the adaptation to explore the themes of the book in an interesting and fresh manner. Though entertaining, the comic version falls short of its potential as a really creative and artistic rendition of a classic American work.