Book Review: Stephen King's Graphic Novel "N"

 

When I picked up this graphic novel of a Stephen King story called "N" a few days ago, there was no certainty that I had ever read this story or had any real familiarity with it. Then I read the Intro and realized that, in fact, I had read it before. It was one of the stories of "Just After Sunset," a book which I had read years ago. But I could not remember it, at least not by name.

However, once I actually started to read this story, it came back to me. The more I read, the more familiar it became to me. Yet, this is different, because it is a graphic novel. Not all that dissimilar to a movie, in many respects. So that adds some dimensions to what was already a relatively familiar story. And I always felt that there is something about Stephen King's stories that generally tends to lend itself well to graphic novel or comic book style.

Before I go any farther, however, let me give the usual warnings to stop reading if you intend to read this book, because there will be spoilers ahead.

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT

Okay, so by now if you are still reading this, I have to imagine that you either are familiar with this story already, or perhaps you do not mind the spoilers. Please just don't say that you were not given advanced warning. 

Marc Guggenheim and Alex Maleev collaborated on this work. "N" is a Stephen King short story which is turned into a graphic novel.

The story is great. A guy visiting a psychiatrist explaining the deterioration of his life, which is directly linked to an obsession with counting numbers. And this began with a very specific event, seeing a mysterious circle of rocks (not unlike Stonehenge) in the middle of a field surrounded by the woods of Maine. At times, it appears that there are eight rocks in the formation, and that is good. Even numbers are good. But then, once he walks away, he sees only seven. He tries to take a picture with his camera, and again there are eight. But then when he looks with his naked eye, there are only seven.

Suddenly, he feels absolutely convinced that this place - the rock circle - is a portal to another universe, or another dimension. And if there are only seven rocks, these horrible creatures will invade Earth and wreak havoc. But if there are eight, they are kept imprisoned under the ground there. But to keep the number eight, is increasingly more than a full-time job. It takes over his life, until he has had enough and takes his own life.

Yet, this sickness spreads to his doctor, who himself visits the field. At first, he convinces himself it is just out of professional curiosity, dotting i's and crossing t's. Before long, he also becomes obsessed with numbers and with keeping these horrific creatures at bay. Eventually, it consumes his life as well, until he too kills himself.

Then it is the original guy's sister. She cannot resist a visit to the field. And then she, too, becomes completely obsessed and consumed by numbers until it takes over her life, as well. Then finally she also takes her own life.

This looks like it will be an endless cycle, until the very end. We have a teacher who is headed to this mysterious place. He suspects that there is a story here to write, possibly a book can come of it. He pushes his students away and goes to visit this field. Only we learn that he is killing people, 12 of them. 

A very dark and mysterious ending.

Overall, a solid work. I remember enjoying the original King short story. Yet this adds new dimensions as a graphic novel which perfectly compliments the story. Persaonlly, I enjoyed it, and am willing to bet that you will, too.

Strongly recommended.