Complete Metal Gear Solid
by Kris Oprisko, Ashley Wood
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Book Summary Information
Author: Ashley Wood, Kris OpriskoEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2006-11-22
ISBN: 1600100317
Number of pages: 288
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Book Reviews of Complete Metal Gear Solid
Book Review: A Must for Die-Hard Fans, but...
Summary: 3 Stars
Reading this reminds me of exactly how I felt when I played Dirge of Cerberus, the game set as the sequel to the epic Final Fantasy VII. I enjoyed it as slightly as I did, only because it was FFVII. And I'm not talking about the gameplay; that's irrelevant. What I'm talking about is the development of the story and it's justice paid to the original. If Dirge of Cerberus was a game competely separate of the FFVII plotline, with a whole different cast of characters in an entirely different setting, I think it would have been a complete debacle. In of itself, it holds no valuable depth, leaving it dependent solely on its attachment to familiar characters.
Reading this graphic novel version of MGS had me feeling the same exact way. If the game never existed, and this were an original graphic novel series like Frank Miller's Sin City, it would not be able to stand on its own. I felt better about buying it before I actually read it, just having it sit in my room as a collector's item, and leaving the fulfillment of its infinite potential up to my imagination.
Before I go on, let me make one thing clear: it is not the artwork that disappoints me. The artwork is discussion for many fans. Some like it, some don't. Personally, I find the edgy/sketchy artwork to fit the portrayal of both the characters and the environment very well. But seeing as to how "on the fence" the body of fans seem to be, I won't go into it.
What really disappoints me is the writing. As some reviewers have mentioned, the graphic novel incorporates additional scenes and dialogue that help color in the more subtle points of the story, which is somewhat nice, but only conceptually. Overall, the execution and delivery of the writing, although it successfully runs through the major points along the plotline, fails to bring out the emotional depth embedded throughout the plotline itself. It's almost as if I'm reading a synopsis of the plot through characters summarizing the events of the story to each other. The scenes and dialogue zip through as if in fast-forward. It rarely allows the reader to delve into the scene and attach themselves emotionally to the characters.
More specifically, the characters are so shallow and single-sided. There really is a lacking of the depth, complexity, and thickness of the characters, especially Snake. Most of the time, he's either making crude, sarcastic jokes, or screaming out someone's name. Now, I'm completely aware that sarcasm and screaming are large parts of Snake's character, but so are confusion, regret, callousness, and so many other emotions and qualities that make Snake as intriguing a character as he is, but that are missing from the writing in the graphic novel. Ultimately, because the characters lack a large emotional engagement in the plot, so is it difficult for readers to become emotionally engaged.
Two final points, part of what I was expecting from this graphic novel is the grasping of the opportunity to get into Snake's head. If you read many of the most acclaimed graphic novels such as Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and The Dark Knight Returns, part of what makes them so great is the writer's ability to bring out the thoughts of the main characters, to get into their minds. And because the game isn't able to delve into the realm of thought, I was excited to see how the graphic novel would utilize the opportunity. It doesn't, however, take this opportunity, and leaves everything expressed through dialogue. When Snake's talking to Psycho Mantis, or Vulcan Raven, I want to know what he's thinking! Maybe he's not thinking anything! But at least show the absence of thought, the absence of emotion. That in itself, the lack thereof, is an emotion.
The final point I want to make is the particular scenes and dialogue that the writer chose to keep versus those he cut out. I'll use the Vulcan Raven fight and the final fight against Metal Gear Rex as examples. These two scenes were probably my favorite. However, as I mentioned before, these scenes seem so rushed, and so detached, I really lost whatever favor I had felt before. One of the most important parts of the final dialogue between Vulcan and Snake, right befoe Vulcan dies, is the ruthlessness of Snake; the merciless trail he leaves behind that is marked by the blood of his enemies. This notion from Vulcan reveals the age old question in Snake's character: is he really a valiant hero? Or is he just a pawn who fights only because fighting is all he knows?
In the game, this scene is contrasted with the dialogue between Grey Fox and Snake while they are fighting Rex. One of the most famous lines from the entire game is when Grey Fox tells Snake that despite the fact he is a pawn, he still fights for what he believes in. These two pivotal pieces of dialoge are stripped completely, and replaced with extremely swift accounts of the plot.
I am aware that some adjustments had to be made. However, I feel as though there was a terrible imbalance due to a significant loss in translation. The graphic novel proves to focus too heavily on the plot itself, rather than the actual characters involved.
Overall, this is still something all hardcore MGS fans would want to have. The three star rating is for people who are already MGS fans, who are probably the only ones looking up this graphic novel anyway. But if you're separate from the MGS loop, and you're a fan of the graphic novel medium, not the game, this is definitely a 1-2 star.
Summary of Complete Metal Gear Solid
This deluxe edition collects the entire saga of Metal Gear Solid in one all-inclusive volume. Featuring bonus artwork and a cover gallery from series artist Ashley Wood, this re-imagining of the beloved Konami videogame is a must-have for all MGS fans!General Books
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