Bram Stoker's Dracula: The Graphic Novel Adapted by Gary Reed Illustrated by Becky Cloonan Date of Publication: 2006 ISBN: 0-14-240572-8 Number of Pages: 175

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Junior: Average Intermediate: Low
GENRES: Horror/Graphic Novel
THEMES: Good versus Evil - Life versus Death - Sacrifice and Redemption - Appearance versus Reality

SUMMARY:
Jonathan Harker, a young lawyer, is invited to the reclusive Count Dracula's castle, located on the mountainous border of Transylvania. He is to arrange a real estate transaction between Dracula and Harker's employer in London. During his stay, Jonathon realizes that the Count is not just an eccentric, old shut-in, but something much more sinister. Jonathon is actually frightened by Dracula’s behaviour, and feels like he has been imprisoned. Searching for a way out of the castle one night, he falls under the spell of three vampiresses, but is saved by the Count. Harker barely escapes from the castle with his life.

After Harker escapes, we meet Mina Murray, Jonathon's devoted fiance and her vivacious friend, Lucy Westenra. Lucy brags to Mina about receiving three marriage proposals in one day, from Hon. Arthur Holmwood (later Lord Godalming); an American cowboy, Quincey Morris; and an asylum psychiatrist, Dr. John Seward. Mina later notices that Lucy leaves her room to meet "him" and she seems entranced by a spirit.

In the meantime, a ship called the Demeter arrives in the port. All the passengers and crew are dead and witnesses see a huge dog or wolf (Dracula in animal form) running from the ship. Boxes of dirt are the only cargo on the ship. When the Demeter arrives, it has an amazing impact on Lucy. Lucy is obsessed with "his" arrival and there are mysterious deaths in the area. Mina witnesses Lucy being fed upon and when Lucy is bitten two more times, she begins to degenerate. John Seward, Lucy's suitor, calls in his old teacher, Professor Abraham Van Helsing from Amsterdam. Van Helsing know that Lucy is a victim of vampirism, but keeps it confidential. Van Helsing tries multiple blood transfusions, but she has no blood left in her. Lucy apparently dies soon after.

Lucy is buried, but soon afterward the newspapers report a vampire lady attacking and feeding on children in the night. Van Helsing, knowing that this means Lucy has become a vampire, confides in Seward, Arthur, and Morris. The suitors and Van Helsing exhume her body, stake her heart and behead her.

Newly-married Jonathan and Mina Harker arrive home from Transylvania to join the coalition, who now turn their attentions to dealing with Dracula himself.
Dracula takes revenge by visiting - and biting - Mina at least three times. Dracula also feeds Mina his blood, creating a mental bond between them, aiming to control her. Mina slowly begins to degenerate much in the way Lucy did. She has a telepathic connection with Dracula that can only be broken by killing Dracula. It is also the only way to track him down.

Van Helsing and the gang pursue Dracula back to his castle in Transylvania. They manage to track him down just before sundown. Dracula crumbles to dust, his spell is lifted, and Mina is freed from the marks. Quincey Morris is killed in the final battle. The book closes with a note about Mina's and Jonathan's married life and the birth of their firstborn son, whom they name Quincey in remembrance of their American friend.

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...
- loves goriness and the occult
- enjoys horror movies
- loves comic books
- is into vampires
- has read the original Dracula story

WHAT ELSE?
There are references to blood letting and some violent scenes in the book that are not for the faint of heart. For example, Dracula wards the vampiresses away from Harker by tossing them a bag from which to feed. Harker makes note that he hears a baby crying, and later a woman comes to the castle to find her baby.

The artwork is excellent in this book, and it is part of a larger series of graphic novel versions of classic fiction by Puffin Books.