China News Network Client Beijing, April 29th (Reporter Shangguanyun) A few days ago, the news that science fiction works such as "Village Teacher" and "Wandering Earth" were adapted into comics was screened online. It is reported that this is the first time Liu Cixin's work has been adapted into a comic series.

  This news also quickly led many science fiction fans and "original fans" to discuss: which works were adapted? What style of comics? How much do you restore the original?

Image source: "Wandering Earth" comics

These works are adapted into comics

  Since winning the "Hugo Award" in 2015, Liu Cixin's popularity has been high, and some works have been adapted one after another. The movie "Wandering Earth" adapted from his work of the same name has become an explosion.

  Not long ago, popular science fiction novels such as Liu Cixin's "Village Teacher" and "Wandering Earth" were also adapted and published as comics. The reporter learned that the entire series of "Liu Cixin's Science Fiction Comics" is divided into 4 series and will be completed by the end of June 2021.

  Among them, each work is coordinated by different artists: a professional comic writer and a painter, plus a colorist.

  For example, the writer of the comic book version of "Wandering Earth" is Christopher Baker, the painter is Stepheno Lafre, and he is engaged in the creation of black and white manuscripts. Finally, a colorist from Brazil carries out color creation.

  Li Yun, the producer of "Liu Cixin's Science Fiction Comics" said that readers don't have to worry about the original being "magic-changed". The original story structure, original worldview, spiritual core, etc. in the book will not change.

Restoration of the original book "Wandering Earth"

  Specific to the work, for the cartoonists participating in the creation, how to use visual language to better present the abstract knowledge in science fiction works is the first problem to be faced.

Image source: "Wandering Earth" comics

  The painter of the cartoon "Wandering Earth" is the Italian cartoonist Stephano Lafrey, who has participated in the creation of more than 20 well-known American and Man works such as "Batman" and "X-Men".

  "The sun sprayed its light and heat to the earth for the last time. The frozen carbon dioxide dry ice on the ground melted first, and a burst of white steam rose; then the surface of the sea ice also began to melt, and the uneven heating of the sea ice issued a shocking shock. The loud noise ... "

  This is a classic text in Wandering Earth. But for readers unfamiliar with the universe and astronomy, it is difficult to understand visually. Therefore, the painter presents to the reader through a series of compact and coherent pictures.

  For example, the comic book "Wandering Earth" also shows every detail of the construction of the "Earth Engine", as realistically as possible to restore the terrible "big red spot" on Jupiter, and the "dungeon" for human containment.

  Stephano said that his favorite mirror is a four-page double-pull page (P17-20) that is not easy to draw. It shows the magnificence of the planet and the majestic and beautiful mountains above it. Small, but I want to show that although human beings are small, they can create something more magnificent than these mountains: those engines that can propel the earth. "

  "Here, readers should be able to realize the greatness of these things. This pull page reflects the praise of human power." He said.

Draw "Village Teacher", small entry point

  In comparison, Liu Cixin's "Village Teacher" story has a small entry point, which also poses a problem for the painter in terms of picture expression.

Image source: "Village Teacher" comics

  The content of the story is not complicated. A young man came to the mountain to be a teacher and tried his best to keep the school running. After learning that he was suffering from cancer, he gave up treatment and left all the money to the school children. At the last moment of life, he was still teaching the children the "Newton's Three Laws."

  At the same time, the earth is facing a destroyed fate. This rural teacher's last physics lesson inadvertently saved the entire planet.

  The painter of the comic "Village Teacher" is Zhang Xiaoyu. It took him a year and a half to complete the creation. In addition to the purely graphic expressions of science fiction elements such as interstellar warfare, he also focused on the design of people and things in impoverished villages.

  "I have to realistically portray them in order to make a strong contrast with the alien civilization." Zhang Xiaoyu said that he wanted to present a geological sense and atmosphere unique to this work.

Can the adaptation of comics take science fiction works further?

  In fact, including "Wandering Earth" and "Village Teacher", a total of 15 Liu Cixin works were adapted into comics this time.

The first series of works of "Liu Cixin Science Fiction Comic Series". Photo courtesy of CITIC Publishing Group

  The idea of ​​this adaptation is also related to Li Yun ’s previous experience. Since 2012, he has been engaged in the translation, publication and copyright export of Liu Cixin ’s works. In the promotion of Liu Cixin's works, he found that the promotion of short stories to the global market was far more difficult than that of long novels.

  Therefore, he thought of using the form of comics to adapt and promote short stories. "Comic is a favorite reading content for readers of all ages in the West, and it will be easier to achieve the international dissemination of related content."

  "Science fiction works are adapted into comics, which are more sensual and intuitive." Li Yun believes that teenagers who have grown up in the age of multimedia and image reading can better understand the "li" of science fiction stories in the story context constructed by colors and lines With "face".

  But he also said that not all science fiction works are suitable for adaptation into comics. What really makes a science fiction work go further is the content itself. (Finish)