GraphicAudio, out now

 

The Krael don’t take prisoners. Everyone knows that. Yet somehow Joe and other humans have been taken to a world with a prison camp…

This is the first GraphicAudio adaptation I’ve heard, and it’s an impressive opener. Based on the graphic novel by Kevin J Anderson, Steven L Sears and Mike Ratera, it’s an at times visceral look at the hinterland of a war and what happens to those who’ve been taken off the board by the opposing side. Our protagonist is Joe, first encountered during a Krael attack on a human ship removing the identity chip from his arm because he’s aware of the issues that might arise were it discovered (something that the story never really examines, but which makes sense to anyone with knowledge of the Nazis’ Prominente). When he has to give his name, he elects to be known as Joe Human (which makes a change from John Smith or John Doe!) – and he quickly becomes the focus of a Krael scientist, nicknamed, for what become obvious reasons, Mengele. The battle of wills between these two form the heart of the story as Joe learns more about the truth of the Krael and their plans.

His interactions with two other female characters are also key – the mysterious Deacon, who we learn (before Joe does) has an interest in him that may not be beneficial to his health; and Linda, a human prisoner who seems to have formed an unhealthy bond with Mengele. More than that, you really don’t want to know before you go in.

Steve Wannall is adaptor, narrator and director of the GraphicAudio version which runs about two and a half hours to cover 150 or so pages of graphic novel (approximately a minute a page). The narration does a lot of heavy lifting, with Anderson and Sears’ text retained pretty much intact – particularly with regards to dialogue – but Ratera’s artwork described in detail, accompanied by a soundscape from Abby Rose Raetz that neatly anticipates the narration at times (so you don’t get that irritating “he heard a doorbell”, cue doorbell FX – the two happen simultaneously) and the voice actors delivering the goods as necessary.

There’s a lot going on, and just occasionally you feel like you could do with a moment or two more to breathe between scenes, but the intention here is clearly to transfer the original text as intact as possible, rather than adapt it to the strengths and weaknesses of a new medium.

Verdict: An at times thought provoking tale given a strong audio treatment. 8/10

Paul Simpson