It's a rare storyteller that can create a story that is light and airy, yet utterly absorbing. It's therefore doubly fortunate, then, that Harlequin Valentine has two such storytellers: Neil Gaiman and John Bolton.

Harlequin Valentine is a short update of the Commedia dell'arte legend of Harlequin and Columbine, giving the tale a contemporary setting while sacrificing none of its original magic, whimsy and romance. Having giving his heart freely, the lovestruck prankster Harlequin pursues his Columbine through her city, before the story gets a modern twist which wraps it up neatly. Gaiman's writing is relaxed and unforced as always, allowing the story to unfold at its own natural pace, and drawing the reader along all the while. Bolton's painted artwork, meanwhile, strikes just the right balance between fantasy and photo-realism, matching the dynamic of Gaiman's words. Harlequin Valentine is a short story, certainly, but it's no less affecting for it. --Robert Burrow

Retells a commedia dell' arte legend in which Harlequin gives his heart to his love, Columbine.

2002-07-17 Commedia dell'arte vs women's lib

Once again, Neil Gaiman has written a beautiful and touching modern fairy tale, blending his extensive knowledge of folk tales, mythology and storytelling with a contemporary point of view and a sprinkle of fairy dust. Unfortunately, he then felt the urge to turn it into a comic. This has been a successful venture in the past (cf Stardust and, more recently, Murder Mysteries); and let us not forget that Gaiman is the master of modern dark fantasy comics (Who could possibly forget the legendary Sandman?). However, this time, I think, it doesn't quite cut the mustard. The almost photorealistic illustrations just don't gel with the airy, stylised atmosphere of the story, and the text becomes broken up in such a way as to detract attention from the important bits. This might just be bias on my part, as none of the pictures even remotely approach the mental images I formed when I first read the story in its original (prose) format, but I found myself unable to warm to the style at all. All stars in my rating go for the story, and without the illustrations it would probably get at least 4.5. It's a pity Gaiman chose to tamper with the story, but who can possibly blame him for chasing such a winning formula as he has achieved in the past? It's my comfort that I can go back to the prose version with pleasure. Sorry Neil - better luck next time, eh?