Richard Adams’ classic Watership Down is brought to lustrous life by James Sturm & Joe Sutphin in this new graphic novel. I first read Adams’ novel in ninth grade and absolutely loved it. Finding this graphic novel was a real treat.

The story follows Hazel and his brother Fiver. Fiver is a bunny with the dubious gift of prophecy. Following a harrowing vision of the destruction of the Sandleford warren, Hazel and Fiver leave to find a new home. A few others from the warren like Bigwig, Silver, and Blackberry join them. From the perils of a road, to the insidiousness of Cowslip’s warren and the terrors of the restrictive Efrafa, their adventures to find a new home are fraught with danger. But despite all that, new friends abound and in the end a new home is found.

This book stays true to the original in its themes, with the different warrens representing different styles of human government. Death and violence play a large part, as do friendship and cooperative efforts. The latter is especially important as it doesn’t just apply to the rabbits. There’s interspecies cooperation too. Perhaps the greatest example is that between the rabbits and the black-headed gull Kehaar. If the bunnies can do this, certainly people can.

If you enjoyed the original novel, enjoy animal stories in general, or charming graphic novels, be sure to check out this gem! Highly recommended.

***Many thanks to Netgalley & Ten Speed Press for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.