Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five Gets Comic Book Treatment
by James Ferguson
BOOM! Studios has announced a graphic novel adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five. Writer Ryan North and artist Albert Monteys will bring this seminal anti-war novel to comics with color assistance by Richard Zaplana.
Writer Ryan North says:
Like most people, Kurt Vonnegut has been one of my favourite writers since I first read his books decades ago, and it’s been such an honour—and challenge—to adapt his most famous work for a new medium. Slaughterhouse-Five is a deeply funny and deeply moving book, and my goal with this project was to keep all of that, while still making something that feels at home in this medium. I picture it as a window into an alternate universe where Kurt (and Kilgore Trout) worked in comics instead of prose. Every medium can do things that others can’t, I’m beyond excited to share this new version of Slaughterhouse-Five with you very soon.
Slaughterhouse-Five follows Billy Pilgrim, a man who has read Kilgore Trout, opened a successful optometry business, built a loving family, witnessed the firebombing of Dresden, traveled to the planet Tralfamadore, and met Kurt Vonnegut. He’s also come unstuck in time. The book is a farcical look at the horror and tragedy of war and a moving examination of what it means to be fallibly human.
Artist Albert Monteys added:
What a challenge, what an opportunity! When I was presented with the chance to collaborate in the graphic novel adaptation of Slaughterhouse-Five my first reaction was ‘this is one of my favorite books and it can’t be adapted.’ That was until I read Ryan North’s script, nodding enthusiastically at every great idea, every moving moment, every scene that made me want to grab my pencil right away. A good adaptation shines new light on the original, I hope we managed to do just that. I think we did, somewhat, in the telegraphic schizophrenic manner of tales of the planet Tralfamadore—which is what comics are, after all.
I read a good amount of Vonnegut’s work in high school and college, but haven’t revisited it since. This is a great way to do so. Vonnegut’s novels could make for some very interesting comics so I’m eager to see how this one comes out.
Sierra Hahn, Executive Editor, BOOM! Studios says:
The trust and support shown by the Vonnegut family is gratifying for everyone who poured their hearts into ensuring we could best represent Kurt Vonnegut’s seminal work while creating something new in the graphic novel space. We believe we’ve created a gateway book for new Vonnegut readers and a book any longtime fan will admire and want on their shelves.
Slaughterhouse-Five will be published under BOOM! Studios’ Archaia imprint. It’s definitely a nice fit there. The graphic novel is set for release in September 2020.
