4 out of 5

Alan Moore does not like film adaptations.  This we know.  Because the works were intended for the medium in which they’re originally presented, or various other genius eccentric statements.  And I don’t disagree, though I surely do think it can be fun (and occasionally worthwhile) to see something appropriated for another format, if the appropriator is aware of the mix-and-match of strengths and weaknesses of source and destination.  But Alan Moore doesn’t seem to mind comic book adaptations of his written works, or at least those done by Antony Johnston.  I can imagine several reasons for this discrepancy, but foremost (in my imagination) would be that Moore can trust Johnston to not step on the work; to find the best way to represent it visually.  Antony expertly cuts only the text that is excessive with a visual component, otherwise keeping things primarily intact.

This care is certainly evident on Hypothetical Lizard, Moore’s (typically) layered meditation on identity.  Between artists Lorenzo Lorente (issue 1) and Sebastian Fiumara (2 – 4), the story is patiently sequenced and blocked to keep the themes the focus, downplaying the potential distraction of the gender-bending and sexuality, except where and how those elements are important to the story.  Lorente’s more formal imagery undoubtedly sets the tone and pace, but it’s Fiumara that ends up giving it emotion, with his between panel inserts and borders enhancing the concepts.

Story-wise, some of the fantasy names (Som-Som, Foral Yatt) are a little eye-rolling, until you learn that this novella was first presented as part of a shared universe of short tales, which ends up making it doubly fascinating for the wonder of whether or not Moore’s contribution fit into the bigger picture, and if so, how.  The plot beats are also a bit obvious once you’ve settled into the world, and I doubt I’m alone in wishing that we could’ve learned more of Som-Som, although her role in the piece is very purposeful as an observer.  And while we’re letting the nitpicks nit: Moore’s prose is ridiculously flowery, every line soaked in metaphor.

But…

It works.

Som-Som lives an odd existence at The House without Clocks, which is a bordello for clients with… particular tastes.  Such as those seeking the acting talents of Yatt, or the feminine beauty of the youthful (male) Rawra Chin.  Som-Som – something of a sensory mute – has watched events unfold for several years, including a relationship between Yatt and Chin that ended with Chin’s departure from the House.  And now it’s discomfiting reblooming when She returns…

Moore’s erotica tends to play with expected sexuality roles quite on purpose, and here he filters that through some effective questions of identity: what it means to be who we are.  ‘Hypothetical Lizard’ is soaked in dramaturgy quite purposefully, which is why the flowery language is the right touch 99% of the time.  To quote Som-Som: the world is a “churning maelstrom of sex,” and the windy wordflow puts us in the proper mood for the tale.

The 14.99 edition of this trade collects both the 4 issue comic and the original novella.  Reading either one will give you the full effect of the story, which of course makes me ask the question I have to ask about any and all of Johnston’s adaptations: why?  The price works for the comics alone, so I’m not complaining, but I really can’t justify the _need_ for the comic when the text does it all so well.  However, truth be told – and perhaps my answer – I probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity / desire to read this were it not presented as such.