First, I will go ahead and say that I did not care much for Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale when I read it years ago. This general dislike has kept me from watching the series on Hulu; plus, I have heard of how intense it is, so it may be too much for me anyway. Even so, I was still excited when I learned there was to not only be a graphic novel, but a sequel as well that is set to come out later this year. It is always interesting to me so see how artists decide to depict the events inside of classic works of fiction. The Situation: In an unnamed year, in an unidentified reality that could be the future, or just another version of Earth, the United States is no longer the country as we know it. After a coordinated attack that has left the president and most of Congress dead, a radical extremist group has taken over. There are many changes, perhaps one of the most notable of which is that women can no longer hold property, handle money, maintain a career, or even read or write. But men are also affected, as newly established social classes give ultimate power to a few, while making others into little more than either common servants, or agents of the government in one of the many different roles that serve to keep the newly established society in-tact. Our narrator, Offred, is a Handmaid: a fertile woman who is assigned to a household of the ruling class in order to bear that household a child.
The Problem: Offred is on her third assignment, which means that if she does not get pregnant, she will be in risk of being labeled infertile and sent off to the wasteland of the Colonies. Of course, there is a chance that Offred may not get that far if she is ever believed to be violating one of the many laws that keeps this society going. The Handmaids are barely able to speak to each other, and when they do, they must be careful as to not be overheard, especially if they speak beyond general and approved pleasantries. Offred takes chances when she speaks with her partner Ofglen, as well as when she begins to have small communication exchanges with Nick, her Commander's chauffeur. When the Commander begins to request her presence in private in his office, something that is forbidden, Offred knows she is being forced to walk a fine line. Being found out would certainly mean being picked up by the black van, and any hope of one day reuniting with her daughter would certainly be lost, if it is not already.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a graphic novel adaptation of Atwood's classic done by artist Renée Nault. If the original story was not unsettling enough, now it has gained another life in brilliant, colorful, and detailed drawings. The red of the outfit worn by the Handmaids takes on a whole new severity, especially when many of them are grouped together. Offred's life in the Republic of Gilead seems to be full of one color or another. If it is not the red of her uniform, then it is the light purple of the Wives' uniform, or the green of the Marthas', or the army green many of the men wear, or even the black of the van that may come to pick someone up at any time. When Offred remembers her life before, the memories are in full color, but they also come throughout the story, and out of order. At one point, Offred apologizes not only for the disorganized nature of her tale, but also how upsetting and sad it is. In an effort to address the issue of lower birth rates, a radical group has warped and distorted selected passages of the Bible, creating a dystopia that suites no one, and ultimately solves nothing.
My Verdict: I cannot imagine attempting to adapt any novel, especially a well-loved classic, into a graphic novel. For me, this adaptation worked well, perhaps because I did not much care for the original novel. Graphic novels move quicker, while giving a visual to what the original author put on paper. That does not mean that the brutality and harshness of this new world is lessened at all. In many ways it was made much more vivid. But I do feel like something was lost in translation, and some details were missed. While Atwood's story was always a bit opaque, at least to me, this adaptation both cleared some things up, while also making other aspects of the story more confusing. In the end though, it was still an enjoyable experience, though many die hard fans of the story may have a few issues with it. I will say one more thing: I love love love the cover. Love it! The black matte look is one of my favorite for book covers. And the red of the Handmaid uniform against that background works incredibly well.
Favorite Illustration: The images of the ceremony that takes place when a Handmaid gives birth are extremely well-done, as well as extremely upsetting.
Favorite Character: Moira is a woman who refuses to give up, and refuses to settle into the life of a Handmaid. She ends up with the (maybe) more desirable assignment as a Jezebel, and maintains her sardonic wit.
Recommended Reading: It is worth reading the original novel by Atwood. As for another graphic novel adaptation, I recommend Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, adapted by Damian Duffy.
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