Full disclosure: I’ve never read any of the original Stieg Larsson novels, nor have I seen the Swedish films or the one existing American film (though the soundtrack to David Fincher’s Dragon Tattoo kicks all kinds of ass). That being said, my review of Vertigo’s Dragon Tattoo adaptations will be unaffected by any preconceived notions of the series and judged solely as a comic book. That means if you’re a big fan of the Milennium Trilogy in other mediums, you should probably take that into account while reading this review.
Denise Mina (Hellblazer, A Sickness in the Family) is right at home here, diving head first into the Swedish crime series without any reservations of losing the reader along the way. There are names tossed our way fast and furious with jarring scene transitions every few pages, but if you’re willing to go along for the ride and put the pieces together yourself, then Dragon Tattoo Book 1 is actually a pretty rewarding experience. The onslaught of information and names is enough to make your head spin, particularly when artists Leonardo Manco and Andrea Mutti don’t do much to differentiate the characters in physical appearance. However, Mina does a great job of letting the reader slowly construct the pieces of the book’s many mysteriess alongside protagonists Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander.