Joseph K is arrested for a crime he didn't commit and awaits a trial that never happens.

This is my first introduction to Kafka and I thought that this graphic adaption might be an easy way to ease myself into the surreal hopelessness that is the Kafkaesque style. I was wrong.

This piece I think is very well done but it should only ever be a companion piece for the actual novel. I was left feeling confused and bemused throughout most of the story and while I know that this book is supposed to portray the absurdity of the situation, I do believe that a bit of background into the novel will really help the appreciation of this version.

The best part of this book for me was right at the end when Mairowitz spends a few pages detailing Kafka's life. Only recommended for a look if you've first read the original text. ( )

This is an excellent adaptation of Franz Kafka's The Trial that captures the essence of Kafka's work. Yes, the story itself is still dark and deep, and sometimes very difficult to understand, but I think the visuals really help with this kind of story. The illustrations fit perfectly with the dark and absurd elements of The Trial, and I loved the symbolism in every panel – whether it be the recurring symbolic images of the skeleton, the clock, or the candle, or the symbolic images unique to each part of the story. I found the illustrations made The Trial much more riveting and I had a harder time putting down this version than the original. I'd highly recommend this graphic novel for any Kafka fans, anyone who has read The Trial, or anyone who is interested in the darkly absurd. ( )

Franz Kafka's The Trial in de bewerking van Montellier en Mairowitz is in ieder geval een volwassener bewerking dan die van Clod & Ceka. Met meer paranoia, meer onrust, meer lust, meer ruis, ...
Het blijft ook dichter bij het origineel - hakt er minder stukken uit weg, volgt de dialogen, de uitroeptekens, ... en gaat dus de boeken in als een bijzonder verdienstelijke bewerking.

De (vele?) verwijzingen naar Crumb (waarvan ik trouwens ook nog een aan Kafka gewijd boek bezit) en Tardi die hier en daar opduiken zijn bovendien voer voor de ware stripfanaat.

http://occamsrazorlibrary.blogspot.com/2009/08/franz-kafkas-trial-graphic-novel.... ( )