Review
Reviewed by Verbal from
- The Rime of the Modern Mariner
- Jonathan Cape
Talking Pictures
A perfect blend of classic source material with a modern twist, says Verbal.
Coleridge’s masterpiece recast as a graphic novel. This is one of those books that shows just how much of an artform the comics genre can be and often is these days. Hayes has turned Coleridge’s fantastical voyage into an environmental disaster. Stranded in the North Pacific Gyre (a vast maelstrom of plastic waste) the mariner comes face to face with the consequences of our excessive consumption; in the form of freak weather conditions, petroleum slicks, endangered creatures of the deep and a smattering of apparitions and supernatural entities. Hayes’ illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to his modernised version of the epic poem. Every page is a visual delight and he has used his source material deftly, sensitively and respectfully. It’s funny, beautifully done and crackling with moral force. Coleridge would approve. It’s also on offer on amazon. Buy it now.
