Writer Neil Gaiman has had a number of his prose works translated into the comic book medium over the years.
Originally famous for his dark fantasy The Sandman series at DC Comics during the late 1980s and early 1990s, Gaiman moved into the world of award-winning, fantasy-based novels in the early-to-mid 1990s. He’s been writing eagerly-anticipated long-form fiction ever since without, to his credit, ever leaving the comic book scene – either as outright writer and creator of monthly comic book titles or via his novels being turned into everyone’s favourite other form of storytelling.
In 2005, Gaiman released his novel Anansi Boys to a waiting public, a follow up to his very well regarded tale, 2001’s American Gods, which, not so coincidentally, was turned into a comic book series (and television series) a number of years ago, care of publisher, Dark Horse Comics. Not so much a sequel, Anansi Boys did have some characters appear in both novels.
Anansi Boys went on to win the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel in 2006. Now, the novel follows the same path, released by the same publisher as a comic book series.
Anansi Boys is the story of Charles “Fat Charlie” Nancy, a wayward man about to be married, whose estranged father unexpectedly passes away. Visiting his father’s home in Florida, Nancy surpassingly discovers that he is really the son of Anansi – the West African Trickster God. What’s more, Charles discovers that he has a long-lost twin sibling, Spider, who has God-like powers. The antithesis of Charlie, the two jousting brothers adventure together, learning about their bloodline while exploring the world of African mythology amongst a plethora of interfering animal Gods.
Adapted for the comics medium by journalist, television and comic book writer Marc Bernardin (The Highwaymen, Masters of the Universe: Revelation, Carnival Row, Star Wars: Mace Windu) and illustrator Shawn Martinbrough (Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: 1955, Thief of Thives) Anansi Boys is an eight-issue miniseries. It comes in advance of the Anansi Boys television show, brought to small screen streaming by Prime Video, currently in post-production and set for release later this year (fans hope)!
Make the run to your local comic book today and pick up the first issue of Anansi Boys! Learn about a set of folklore characters that you might not be so familiar with = and an award-winning story that is fully enthralling! You can catch a sneak preview of Anansi Boys #1 right here.
