SIR GAWAIN & THE GREEN KNIGHT ...

Is a well known Medieval poem that has been adapted for book and film many times with differing results and faithfulness, but it is as a comic of the same name by Mark Penman and John Reppion that is the best adaption of the poem. The tale has been brilliantly depicted in a simple and dynamic way with only four colors: black, white, red and green that tell the story in a very accessible and faithful way while retaining all the nuance of the original Chivalric poem, like how the knight Gawain has a pentangle on his shield and the prologue mentioning Troy.

                                                                                                                           © John Reppion and Mark Penman

The hardback copy even has an introduction by Alan Moore and a list of historical information at the end.

Here's a link to the comic on the website of the writer John Reppion and his wife Leah Moore, where you can also find a downloadable soundtrack to go with the comic.

And here's a link to the artist Mark Penman's website.

HIS DARK MATERIALS ...

Is a series of three books by Author Philip Pullman best described as theological fantasy with science thrown in, being inspired by the epic poem Paradise Lost by John Milton among other things. Although the book series is well known, it has not had a successful movie adaption and considering that the story involves many worlds and species, it is not surprising that a faithful translation to screen would be difficult to achieve. So, it is all the more surprising that after a Hollywood movie of the first book called The Golden Compass (The book was called Northern Lights in the UK) failed to launch a franchise - even though it wasn't that bad - the series then got a full TV adaption from a coproduction between the BBC and HBO that is one of the best translations of page to screen I have ever seen.

     © BBC & HBO                                                     © BBC & HBO

The story is done full justice in the TV series - which is three seasons/series long, one for each book -  and while not always directly faithful to the book series, it feels like the larger overall story of the books is better told and better paced. It is a suitably high value looking production in its CGI and sets, all of which look suitably impressive considering the scope of the books but which don't feel like money was ever wasted on anything; except maybe the opening title intros for each series which look simply amazing and have a Latin sung chorus to them. The series is I think, the best way to enjoy the story of Pullman's work and is even better then the books (which is something I do not say!). The TV series also has a little humor to it which is missing from the books and which just improves things.  

                  © BBC & HBO                                                         © Philip Pullman

Here's a link to the full three season boxset of the TV show - also called 'His Dark Materials' - on Amazon where you can buy the entire TV series.

For those of you who want to buy the books here's a link to the one volume Everyman edition that includes the original three books in the series that are separately called 'Northern Lights', 'The Subtle Knife' and 'The Amber Spyglass' on Amazon where you can buy the book.

CASPAR DAVID FRIEDRICH ...

Is a much neglected Romantic landscape painter who in stark contrast to his contemporaries, with their classical tastes, was much more interested in the landscape than portraits or still lives. His art can't fail to impress you with the impact he manages to express in his landscapes. He would study different aspects of nature in detail and would then paint a landscape with this level of detail.

                                                                              © Wanderer above the Sea of Fog

                                                          © The Abbey in the Oakwood

He is known for his expansive landscapes against which he would often set human figures and buildings. His paintings were often gothic or sublime in nature. A contemporary said that he had discovered the 'tragedy of landscape'. In recent years his impact and legacy has been reevaluated and in 2025 there was a show of his work on at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York called Casper 'David Friedrich: The Soul of Nature'.

Here's a link to the Exhibition.

  

MAID MARIAN & HER MERRY MEN ...

Is a children's TV series about the adventures of Maid Marian as the leader of the Merry Men instead of Robin Hood who is portrayed as an inept ex-tailor rather than the valiant leader of the band of outlaws known as the Merry Men.

                           © BBC                                                                © BBC

The TV series is historical in a tongue and cheek sort of way and is genuinely very funny as it follows the escapades of The Merry Men lead by Marian against King John and the Sheriff of Nottingham. 

The TV series stars Tony Robinson of 'Time Team' and 'Black Adder' fame, so it is interesting to see how well the history is portrayed and parodied like in 'Black Adder' where he played a character called Baldrick. Robinson has expressed interest in continuing the series beyond series four and one Christmas special. Interestingly the series was adapted into a series of comics By Paul Cemmick for 'The Daily Telegraph' newspaper's children's newspaper: 'The Young Telegraph'.

              © BBC                                                                © BBC

Here's a link to the TV series on Amazon where you can but it.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA ...

'Echoes of Wisdom' is a Zelda game made by Nintendo that uses the same aesthetic as a previous Zelda game called 'The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening', which is itself a remake of an earlier Zelda Game. You can read more about it in one of my previous blogs.                         

                                                                                                                                © Nintendo

It is interesting for two main reasons; the first and foremost is it is actually the first Zelda game where the main character you play as, is Zelda Herself and not Link who usually has to rescue Zelda in previous games. Ironic since the entire franchise is called 'The Legend of Zelda' and not 'The Legend of Link'.

                      Zelda ©Nintendo                                      Link ©Nintendo

The second reason that the game is different to most other Zelda games is you mainly use just the power to copy and place objects and creatures temporarily (the power of which increases over the course of the game) instead of the normal collection of different tools and weapons to increase your abilities.

Here's a link to the game on Nintendo's website where you can buy it.

THE ISLAND ...

Is a picture book by renowned Swiss artist Armin Greder. He works mainly in compressed charcoal and pastels for his bold and minimalist illustrations. His work is often about serious topics like immigration, and prejudice conveyed in an accessible and impactful way without the usual bombast of other fables in similar picture books. His work reminds me of Henry Moore the sculptor and Edvard Munch's 'The Scream' in its intensity, while the plot and tone feel more like a Raymond Briggs picture book. 

                                                                                                                            © Armin Greder

                        © Henry Moore                                                  © Henry Moore

                                                                                  © Edvard Munch                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                            © Armin Greder

Armin Greder has published many other picture books on various themes and his work has been nominated for multiple awards; such as the Hans Christian Andersen award and the CBCA Picture Book Of The Year Awards. 

He currently lives in Peru after previously migrating to Australia. 

Here's a link to The Island on Amazon where you can buy the picture book.

THE MYSTERIOUS CITIES OF GOLD ...

Is a French animated TV series loosely inspired by two children's historical adventure books called respectively 'The King's Fifth', and 'Island of the Blue Dolphins'. The animated series follows the adventures of three children called Esteban, Tao, and Zia; and is set in the 16th Century as Spanish Conquistadors invade and plunder the New World (The North and South Americas) in search of gold and glory. In particular they are after the fabled Seven Cities of Gold (also known as the Seven Cities of Cibola and based on a real legend). It is these seven cities that the TV series is centered around and a lot of history and culture is mixed with the science fiction technology of the cities in a very exciting and adventurous way.

                                                          © Blue Spirit                                                    © Blue Spirit              

The TV series was first broadcast in 1982 and concluded with only one of the cities discovered but exactly thirty years later in 2012 the series was not rebooted but was actually continued and ran for another two seasons until 2020. The quality and story of the first TV series was carried over perfectly and the TV series concluded in truly epic fashion with the discovery of the final city. I would highly recommend this TV series to anybody who likes adventure and history with a science fiction twist and anyone who is interested in different cultures as the story takes place all over the globe after season one!            

Here's a link to the complete first TV series on Amazon where you can buy it. And here's a link to Blue Spirit production's website.