The three-body problem comic helps you grasp the details
by Cixin Liu The Three-Body Problem is the first in a complex science fiction series that explores not only the search for extraterrestrial life but also various theorems and technologies. A lot happens, and the novel involves physicists and scientists experiencing things that can be explained right from the start. Now then first episode belong to The Three-Body Problem the manga adaptation by XuDong Cai, Jin Cai, Silver, Twilight Lu and Xiao from Yen Press is out, it’s interesting to see how it helps illustrate what everyone is going through throughout the story. While I’m not sure this is my favorite adaptation, I’m glad it’s here.
Editor’s note: There will be some minor spoilers about the first volume of the series. The Three-Body Problem comic below.
Everything in the comic book adaptation sets things up with Wang Miao as our main character in Beijing. Although he didn’t encounter anything bad at first, he was bound to people who were. He was soon met and picked up by Captain Shi Qiang and began researching the formula and investigating an organization called Frontiers of Science for a government project due to his work with nanomaterials. In the confusion and chaos of information, he learned that Yang Dong, another physicist he admired, was one of many scientists associated with the group who committed suicide for an inexplicable reason. Okay. To learn more about what’s going on, he joined Frontiers of Science.
Given the weight of the story, one of the first benefits of this format is having images to break up the text. Being able to see character portraits and environments makes it easier to understand. Translation and adaptation are also handled skillfully, with the introduction quickly capturing the reader’s attention.
Only once when Mieu met Dinh Nghi did I feel it The Three-Body Problem the comic started to really come into its own. That’s because when Miao and Yi use a game of billiards to discuss particle collisions, physics, and collision experiments, it really illustrates how well the story can adapt to the visual medium. image. It supports storytelling.
This becomes even more apparent when Miao begins to see numbers on the photos he takes, with lines appearing on the developed photos and negatives. Introducing and executing the countdown this way is extremely effective. Especially if you have also read the books and watched the movies, you can compare. It makes gathering additional details easier.
On the contrary, sometimes, I find the comic version of The Three-Body Problem A little harder to follow than the show or book. Everything is presented clearly. The art is handled well. So is the way it is organized to better serve the story being told around it. However, because there’s so much going on and it’s so heavy, I feel like sometimes it doesn’t convey things as well as in the book or live-action adaptation.
Still, The Three-Body Problem volume 1 is a promising prospect and means to explore the story in a new way. This retelling is trying to use the medium to illustrate what is going on as we read. Considering the weight of the story, it might even make it more accessible to some people. However, I wonder if perhaps it’s best as supplementary material rather than the first source you turn to, given how solid the original novel is.
Volume 1 of The Three-Body Problem comics are now availableand Yen Press will Release volume 2 on February 18, 2025. The live-action adaptation is available on Netflix. Tor Books handles English publish novels.
