Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Book 1 - PNP Review

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Book 1 is a 2012 crime thriller graphic novel written by Denise Mina, illustrated by Andrea Mutti and Leonardo Manco. When Harriet Vanger, heiress to a wealthy Swedish family, vanished decades ago, her uncle never stopped searching. Now, journalist Mikael Blomkvist and punk hacker Lisbeth Salander delve into her disappearance, uncovering shocking corruption and dark secrets.

Plot:

This graphic novel captures much of the intrigue of Stieg Larsson’s novel, though translating such a layered story to comic format presents challenges. This first volume functions primarily as setup, introducing key players and complex storylines, laying the groundwork for the mystery, and building the dark world inhabited by journalist Mikael Blomkvist and hacker Lisbeth Salander. The story centers on Blomkvist, who, after losing a libel case, is hired by Henrik Vanger to solve the decades-old disappearance of his niece, Harriet. Blomkvist, aided by Salander—a fiercely independent investigator with her own troubles, including an abusive guardian, Nils Bjurman—delves into the sinister secrets of the Vanger family.

While the comic effectively maintains the suspense and emotional weight of the original, compressing the plot to fit the medium results in some sacrifices. Certain nuances and smaller character moments are omitted, which impacts the depth of the story’s world-building. The pacing, while generally tight, can feel slightly rushed in places, likely due to the dense material the adaptation must cover.

The characters retain their essence, though some adjustments, especially to Lisbeth, may feel unnecessary to fans of the book. Despite these alterations, Blomkvist remains compelling, and the supporting cast—particularly Erika and Mimi—add richness to the narrative. Although it doesn’t capture every detail, this comic adaptation provides a tense, visually engaging entry point into Larsson’s story, capturing enough of the original’s essence to keep readers invested.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Production:

Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Book 1 from Vertigo Comics adapts Stieg Larsson's gripping thriller with a fresh visual impact and storytelling precision. Writer Denise Mina’s adaptation captures the dark, suspenseful tone of the original novel, bringing depth to Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist's investigation into the Vanger family’s secrets. Mina’s writing style maintains the novel’s intensity, balancing its complex themes of corruption, trauma, and justice with efficient pacing that keeps the reader engaged.

The artistic style by Andrea Mutti and Leonardo Manco is undeniably a highlight of this graphic novel. Their cover art powerfully embodies Lisbeth's character, reflecting her hardened demeanor and mystery, and sets the atmosphere for the story. Within the pages, the illustrations are detailed and rich, breathing life into both gritty settings and nuanced expressions. The character designs add realism, grounding the characters in their stark, Scandinavian backdrop.

Paneling is handled thoughtfully, enhancing the narrative flow and capturing the shifting moods between action and introspective moments. Each page is crafted to guide the reader smoothly, with visual pacing that matches the story’s dark, thrilling tone. Mutti and Manco’s attention to detail and texture bring a haunting depth to Mina’s script, making this adaptation a commendable visual interpretation of Larsson's iconic thriller.

Rating: 3 out of 5

The Verdict:

In the end, Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Book 1 is a good adaptation of such an epic story.  It’s entertaining in a lot of ways including the story itself and the visual aspect, however, the plot is hindered by some of the missing aspects that were cut (which weren’t that many). Thumbs up to Denise’s direction and Mutti and Manco’s artistic contributions. Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Book 1 gets 3 out of 5.