Review: A Wrinkle In Time graphic novel

I started reading a graphic novel version of A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle. It was adapted and illustrated by Hope Larson. I read the book a long time ago and only have a vague memory of it being unsatisfying. But I’ve always wanted to give it another try, and this will be a quick way of knocking it over. Larson’s art style reminds me of the work of Keith Haring. She draws detailed but rudimentary graffiti-looking figures with minimalist backgrounds. It’s just enough to capture the gist of the story. I like it. Her interpretations of the main characters, especially confused, self-doubting Meg, and her little brother, weird genius empath Charles Wallace, are spot on. She gives his face a blank creepiness that promises all kinds of unsettling possibilities. The mysterious Mrs’s Whatsit, Who and Which are updates of Shakespeare‘s three witches from Macbeth. It occurs to me reading the story this time around, with its grand parade of eccentric characters, that this might be yet another early entry in the ‘weird fiction’ genre, following on from the great work of HP Lovecraft. I look forward to rediscovering the book.

Lately, when I’ve been settling down in my rocking chair (yes, I love my rocking chair) to read more of A Wrinkle In Time my dog has decided it’s time to play. So I’ve been a bit behind in something that I was supposed to knock over quickly. The characters are now on the planet of Camazotz and they’ve met the sinister Prime Coordinator, who has ‘taken over’ Charles Wallace. He tells sister Meg, ‘On Camazotz we are all happy because we are all alike. Differences create problems…Individuals have been done away with. Camazotz is ONE mind.’ This is reminding me of the Borg, from Star Trek. It’s a variation on one of the great themes of literature (and a sociology trope): society versus the individual. I’ve had my own thoughts about this lately. Maybe I’ll share at some point.

I finished the graphic novel of A Wrinkle In Time. I really liked the overall weirdness of it all. The characters Mrs Whatsit, Who and Which. The creepy IT (a disembodied brain dripping ooze onto the floor!). The tesseract idea for space travel. Even the nightmare of uniformity planet Camazotz was memorable. But why is it considered a time travel book? It’s more about space travel. In the end, love wins out (nice, but simplistic). The theme of individuality versus conformity was half-baked. Oh well.