Very few are the graphic novels I've read based on a stage play, but this one has to go down as as much a success as the source. And the source story is very fine indeed. Here is a small island town, boosted no end by a health spa – except that when a doctor realises the water is contaminated and injurious to health he ends up in combat with the mayor who has to insist everything is fine and dandy. Oh, and the two are brothers – brothers with a history. And what is almost a Trump wig in one instance. Elsewhere, a teacher finds out the trouble to come from politicising her young charges.

Put aside the brilliance of the original Ibsen, this is still wonderful. Things are opened out, so that scenes happen in sleazy cocktail bars, phone booths, multiple offices. The bath visitors are allowed to be extras, and (eventually) the villagers more so. We have an extended presence of a particular sheep (a black one, of course), a potentially fatal car drive, an unstageable stunt with a neon sign. Oh and we have a grandstanding final image perfectly in keeping with it all. While the text (certainly in translation) might lose a little of the brilliance of the original, this is still utterly readable, and in a world where the author will still like as not be misheard as Henry Gibson still oh so damnably current and relevant. The play never once lost its relevance since the time it was first staged, and this book does it no harm whatsoever, presenting the sheer evil of power going to someone's head brilliantly. Seeing as I too want to see the back of an unwanted mayor called Peter, this has to get five stars.

Art: 9/10

Paneling: 8/10

Characters and Plot: 6/10

Thoughts: While this graphic novel is GORGEOUS and I really enjoyed a lot of the commentary about capitalism and corruption, the characters and world itself didn't entirely draw me in, this is a really good graphic novel but not one I would reread

This is Ibsen’s play adapted and written as a graphic novel. The story is about Dr. stockman who discovers bacteria has contaminated the town’s thermal springs, so he contacts everyone. To fix the problem would be very costly. The town mayor who is also the brother to the doctor tries to silence this information. While the doctor has several supporters, some will stop supporting due to greed,. By closing the bath for two years would cease payments for the stockholders. Will the community stop the mayor from favoring the stockholders?

It’s interesting to read this as it appears to me to be a reflection of what I see happening in the United States. The rich/strong’s manipulation over the majority and shows the potential for tyranny. It’s sad if the majority doesn’t let them know that they don’t want that. It is an excellent way to get people thinking after reading this. The adaptation of the novel is well done and the artwork is perfect. It’s a graphic novel for this time.

Dr. Stockmann finds out that the town’s thermal springs are contaminated. They are the jewel of a small town and a tourist attraction. Dr. Stockmann wishes to reveal this to the public, but his brother, the mayor, wants to silence him.

An Enemy of the People is a graphic novel adaptation of Ibsen’s play with the same title. I liked Henrik Ibsen in high school, but I must admit I didn’t read the original play. The story of dr. Stockmann shows us how politics can influence the public and often wins over a public health issue. Ibsen lived and wrote his plays in the 19th century. But the questions they raise, although not so likable, can be still relevant today.

I wasn’t sure about the art at first. But after a few pages, beautiful illustrations with vivid colors came into view, and it turned out this style is very suitable for this story of political games.

Thanks to Europe Comics for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review, and all opinions are my own.

I don't have that much to say about this one, the art was really nice but for me personally, the story is just not interesting enough to translate well into a graphic novel form. Usually, I finish novels in this form in one sitting but this one took me three days to get through. I would say that if you are familiar with the story and you know you like it, go for it, but other than that, you are not missing that much.

Thank you Netgalley UK for providing me with a copy of this book for an honest review.

An intriguing and well-paced story of corruption, the power of the media and the nature of democracy. The beautiful artwork and color schemes adds to the story.

This graphic novel is an adaptation of the Ibsen play of the same name. Henrik Johan Ibsen was a Norwegian-Danish playwright and theatre director and he wrote this as a play.

A small community live on an island which is gaining popularity with tourists because of its springs, but unbeknownst to the town the springs are contaminated. When Dr. Stockmann, the towns doctor, tries to alert the town and inform them about the contamination, he finds himself thwarted by the mayor of the town who is actually his brother. Fixing the problem with the springs would be very expensive and this is something the Mayor wishes to avoid because the Mayor is at the beck and call of big business. Dr Stockman encounters powerful factions as he tries to alert the town, but his brother and others manage to turn the town against him. It is a good graphic novel with great artwork. I hadn’t heard of this play before and so the graphic novel is a good introduction to Ibsen.

Copy provided by Europe Comics via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Personally, I felt this book to be a bit too preachy for my taste. And it's message of ignoring the majority in favor of the well-educated or those who consider themselves critical thinkers seemed too pessimistic as well.

3,5
throughout this cast of characters and this plot , Javi Rey breaks down the complexities that lie in our « democratic » systems and how profit rules down the global interest . This book despite a not so happy ending succeeds in convincing us that there is always a leap of faith and hat the light at the end of tunnel surely exists. What is keeping me from giving this books a higher rating is not being able to connect with the story from the begging and the graphics were sometimes off-putting . But overall , I would recommend this book to everyone who is looking for a graphic novel with an engaging story that holds definition to terms such as (democracy,capitalism,liberalism,..etc)
*I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange of my honest review*

Really lovely little adaptation of the Ibsen drama, breaking the play open and making it more grounded in the town it takes place in. It also feels more pertinent, with themes of corruption, the idiocy of the majority and (I really loathe this term, but here we go) fake news.

That would make this a fine graphic novel on its own, but then the art is just beautiful, and just as beautifully coloured.

Very good, indeed.

Thank you to Europe Comics and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

An Enemy of the People by Javi Rey is an interesting graphic novel that adapts one of Ibsen's plays. The story revolves around Dr. Stockmann, who has discovered that his town's thermal springs, a popular attraction, contain dangerous levels of bacteria. He tries to warn the town's populace, but the mayor, his brother, will do whatever it takes to get Dr. Stockmann to keep his findings to himself. Which brother will prevail?

Overall, An Enemy of the People is a unique literary adaptation that will appeal to fans of Ibsen's plays. One highlight of this book is the vibrant artwork. I was surprised and excited by the psychedelic colors and images, which wouldn't normally appear in a realistic graphic novel like this. The art really enhanced this book. I did take off 2 stars, because I was a bit bored by the storyline. If you're intrigued by the description, or if you're a fan of graphic novels in general, I recommend that you check out this book, which is available now!

It is a brilliant idea to adapt classic stage plays to graphic novels which approximates the theater better than any other literary form and Javi Rey couldn't have picked a more relevant play to adapt in the Covid Era than An Enemy of the People. The play, written by Henrik Ibsen, explores the downfall of Dr. Thomas Stockmann whose town turns against him when he discovers contamination in their new, expensive baths. The play has aged beautifully and can be read in the context of the anti-vax movement, climate change deniers and a host of other still relevant issues facing modern society. For those unfamiliar with Ibsen's work this graphic novel is the perfect entry point.

Thank you to Netgalley and Europe Comics for this ARC!

The art style and color choices in this book are beautiful. Visually it was stunning. The story didn’t really grab me though. The messages about power, environmentalism, and politics were well handled but it was really disheartening that nothing really changed. The characters suffered from idealism to the point of nativity and it was their downfall. While this book was beautiful, it wasn’t satisfying overall.

This was tough to get through.... I had never heard of the play before, but after I read this graphic novel, I read the synopsis of the play and it seemed like this left out a lot of material. I did not like the ending's abrupt cut off but that appeared to be how the play ended as well.

(Thank you to Netgalley and Europe Comics for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

The art style was cool but the story let this graphic novel down. I appreciated the message it was sending (about social corruption and the abuse of power) but the pacing was off (the ending felt very rushed compared to the middle which was super slow). I liked the main character's daughter and her determination to teach children the truth of the world but wish there was more of her in the story.

I liked the art, but the story was just okay. I could see what they were going for but the story rushed the ending and dragged the expository details. Real life doesn't have things wrap up with neat bows. But it felt unfinished.

I don't really have a taste in reading plays, so I found this form highly refreshing.

It is such an edifying story that I might never get to know if it wasn't packed up into this lovely 150 pages of such calmingly illustrated piece.
Javi Ray knows how to make you feel with just one color.
The colors, the panels, and even the dialogs are so impactfully placed to produce a good satire drama effect. I really enjoyed it, and hope to see more from this artist cause I like the idea of multiple forms of stories.

An enemy of the people, originally a play by Henrik Ibsen, is about a Doctor who discovers that the towns thermal baths are contaminated and tries to warn the people while being silenced by his brother, the mayor of the town.

This graphic novel addresses many political issues like corruption and abuse of power.
The relationships between all the characters was all because of his decision to reveal the truth was interesting and made the story more intriguing for me. I loved the side plot about his daughter.
I was a little underwhelmed by the epilogue but I guess it serves as a hopeful ending in a way.

The art was stunning. The constant shift between blue and red fit the atmosphere so well and made the story even more enjoyable.

3.75

I loved loved loved the artwork! I hadn't read the Ibsen play but I liked the plot and the message it conveys. Really great graphic novel.

This timely graphic novel speaks to so many political issues still around today, including corruption, abuse of power, and manipulation. The message was a bit heavy-handed, but I liked the story of the family at the center of the story. The artwork was also stunning.