Comic Books

‘Good Omens’ spreads its wings into an all-new graphic novel adaptation

We spoke with art director Alex Stott about the book, which launches today via Kickstarter.

August 1, 2023

When it debuted in 2019, Good Omens felt like a proper TV/streaming event. The story, adopted from Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s 1990 novel, saw two people who should never be friends — the angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley — trying to stave off the Apocalypse in a story spanning time and space itself. With season two dropping just a few days ago, it seems like this celestial tale of unlikely allies will once again make for proper binge watching.

But there’s another reason to both celebrate and even revisit the Good Omens universe: a brand-new graphic novel adaptation. The title, which officially launches today via Kickstarter, is the work of Eisner-award-winning artist Colleen Doran (Troll Bridge, Neil Gaiman’s Chivalry). While the GN mostly remains faithful to the Pratchett-Gaiman book, there’s no denying that Doran’s work is a spellbinding addition, as it creates a unique visual feel and experience that unlayers new depths to this deeply magical universe.

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To better understand the Good Omens graphic novel, we spoke recently with Alex Stott, the art director of Dunmanifestin (the publishing arm of the Pratchett estate). We discuss the book’s development and relationship to the TV series and novel; some sweet Kickstarter rewards (including the “Celestial Edition,” with only 24 available); and other Pratchett books that may eventually traipse into the realm of comics, among other topics and tidbits.

If you’d like to contribute to the Kickstarter campaign, head here.

Art by Colleen Doran. Courtesy of Dunmanifestin.

AIPT: Terry Pratchett’s obviously a legend, but where does Good Omens stand in that massive bibliography? Why has it resonated so much?

Alex Stott: Good Omens resonates because it’s about very human themes – like a lot of Terry and Neil’s work, the fantastical is often just a way to look at humanity from a different angle. It’s also a hilarious book, the collaboration between the two authors almost makes it feel like you’re in on the joke – it feels like a book that had two world-class writers trying to make each other laugh.

AIPT: What is it about Good Omens that makes it perfect for life as a comic? Does it have something other Pratchett stories don’t, perhaps?

AS: Good Omens actually has something a lot of Terry and Neil’s stories do have in spades – it’s vastly cinematic, no screen adaptation would ever have the budget to visualize every single joke and every aside to the reader. It’s also a favorite comfort book for countless people – it’s able to be both vast and cozy at the same time, and as a graphic novel, it lets you climb deeper into the novel in a new way.

Art by Colleen Doran. Courtesy of Dunmanifestin.

AIPT: How does Good Omens the graphic novel differ from the show or the book? What does it add to the whole story and larger experience?

AS: The TV show has a very important role – to be a TV show. That means there’s no narrator constantly telling you the story, no footnotes, no lengthy asides – and there’s a finite VFX budget. We have none of those constraints, so we can revel in the details of the story and enjoy finding new details to bring to the fore. The graphic novel is incredibly faithful to the book, pains – actual pains – have been taken to make sure everything is as close to the text of the book as possible.

AIPT: Let’s talk about the efforts of Colleen Doran. What does her work add to this story? What made her such a solid choice for this adaptation?

AS: Planning this project, we knew we wanted someone like Colleen – and Neil’s very first question was ‘have you asked Colleen yet?’ Colleen has a great history working with Neil and thankfully not only did she did she say ‘yes’ but she turned out to be possibly the biggest Good Omens fan on the planet. She already had an encyclopedic knowledge of, and genuine love for the book – this feels like something that’s been percolating in her mind for a very long time. The pages just radiate fun – you can feel the joy that she has creating them.

Art by Colleen Doran. Courtesy of Dunmanifestin.

AIPT: What sort of goodies and other perks will be featured in the Kickstarter?

AS: There are a few things you might expect to find in a graphic novel project – and a few things you wouldn’t. Some things you just can’t get your hands on in a bookshop, or that a publisher would find immensely impractical to produce and distribute. There are art prints from Colleen and a range of wonderful artists, limited edition enamel pins, trading cards, socks(!), notebooks, a GIANT map – and more!

AIPT: Do you have a favorite moment, page, and or panel in the new GN?

AS: The first double page spread is a ‘wow’ moment, as is the introduction of each of the horsemen – Colleen mixes the elegant and the macabre so deftly, every page has something completely new, no page feels like more of the same.

Art by Colleen Doran. Courtesy of Dunmanifestin.

AIPT: Can we expect other GNs from Pratchett’s novels/stories? Is there anything you’d like to see adapted at all?

AS: Terry’s writing is very visual, it has such energy that it’s – as fans would often observe to Terry ¬– like watching a movie in your head. We’ve had some beautiful graphic novel adaptations and illustrated Discworld books over the years, but we’d be lying if we didn’t want much, much more. Watch this space.

AIPT: Why should anyone support this project/campaign?

AS: The reason we decided to launch the project this way was primarily about getting the best possible book into the hands of fans and putting every possible penny into the production of this story. It’s also about sharing the creative process – we’re having the best possible time on this journey with Colleen, and we’re excited for readers to get to experience that too.
We’ve got a really wide range of tiers jam-packed with rewards and beautiful, wonderful things.

We’re also working to get the books into independent bookstores and comic stores – there’s a special tier just for them in the Kickstarter that will let them order books at trade prices.