In their graphic adaptation of Franz Kafka's timeless tales, the sibling duo Nishioka Kyodai offers readers a visually stunning journey into the eerie and surreal world of the acclaimed author. Released in April 2010, "Kafka" presents nine classic Kafka short stories in manga form, appealing particularly to fans of horror and the macabre, reminiscent of Junji Ito's style.

Each story within the manga collection stands on its own, showcasing the unique and haunting narrative of Kafka's original works. Strengths lie in the distinctiveness of each tale and the compelling imagery that accompanies them. However, some stories may feel weaker than others, and certain graphics might leave readers puzzled.

The absence of traditional narrative in manga is compensated by descriptive language and tone, ensuring a quick and immersive reading experience. Themes of horror and the surreal permeate the pages, delving into societal constructs, familial relationships, and life's existential dilemmas.

Nishioka Kyodai's adaptation brings a fresh perspective to Kafka's stories, infusing them with innovative elements and a chilling atmosphere. While some may find themselves disturbed by the imagery, others will undoubtedly connect with the characters and experience a range of emotions, from unease to introspection.

Overall, "Kafka" is a compelling read, with its strengths lying in its unique storytelling and relatable characters. However, it may not be without its flaws, as certain concepts may initially confuse readers. Personally, the book provided an enjoyable and thought-provoking experience.

Rating "Kafka" with 3 out of 5 stars, it meets the criteria for compelling storytelling, engaging writing style, and thought-provoking themes. It offers a quick yet haunting read, resonating particularly with adult audiences seeking a chilling escape into the surreal.

In conclusion, "Kafka" by Nishioka Kyodai is recommended for those who enjoy a dose of creepiness and suspense in their reading repertoire. It provides just the right amount of spine-chilling narrative to leave readers contemplating its eerie depths.

I loved this book and my only disappointment was that they didn't do The Trial also. Kafka can be weird and challenging; Kafka wanted to destroy his works upon his death. Combining this translation and illustrations added something to the stories while staying true to the ideas and spirit.
I was accepted to read this on NetGalley and my copy expired, but I liked this so much I bought my own copy and I plan to share it with my family. I would recommend this to new readers and people who already enjoy German literature.

thank you netgalley for sending me an eArc of this comic

i really loved the art style and the story

Wowowowowowowow. A complete literary as well as now visual mindfuck. If you love abstract, minimalist illustrations, this comic will give you some inspiration.

Many thanks to Pushkin Press & NetGalley.

My only experience with Kafka before this were through memes, Tumblr exposés, and Wiki articles, so a comic adaptation of his tales was the perfect 101 introductory. Nishioka Kyodai wove Kafka's narratives with clever visuals that challenge both the mind and eye.

A great read for new and old fans of Franz Kafka's collection.
It was, dare I say... Kafkaesque?
5/5 ⭐

I just didn’t vibe with this at all. The art didn’t do it for me unfortunately, & the story didn’t pick up any of the slack. I was expecting something quite a bit more in depth, and I expected the either the art or story to have more of that kafkaesque quality to it since it <i>is </i>titled after him! The art just didn’t suit the topic in my opinion, but art is subjective so there are probably plenty of people that will feel differently. This just wasn’t for me.

I love this book. Spooky, weird, atmospheric -- it's got it all. A great read for those interested in Kafka, Japanese literature, graphic work, or just want something different. It sure takes you on a ride!

This graphic novel is an excellent depiction of a number of Kafka’s stories:

The Metamorphosis
A Hunger Artist
In the Penal Colony
A Country Doctor
The Concerns of a Patriarch
The Bucket Rider
Jackals and Arabs
A Fratricide
The Vulture

I have a number of Kafka’s stories waiting for me in my to read pile and this book provides a glimpse into what lies ahead. In this book stories of fantasy, magic realism and puzzles, are brought to life in a visual way that creates a hunger to read the full stories for myself.

I love Junji Ito and this book has echoes of that dark style of depicting horror and unease. This is an excellent book in the way that it tells the stories in very clear and effective artwork, which packs a punch.

Thoroughly dark, thoroughly gripping and thoroughly Kafka!

Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

I wanted to try a different graphic novel than Junji Ito. I like that the drawing was different than Ito's. I just didn't care for most of the stories.

The stories in this collection are amazing, but I found that the illustrator's style did not match my taste at all. I reached for this without any knowledge about the artist or his previous work. I found this work too dark and disturbing,

This was interesting and I thought the translated aspect of this was interesting. I’d love to have the skills to read it in its original language to see the authors true meaning and intent.

Maybe I wasn't the right audience here but I hated the art style and this was my biggest turn off as a graphic novel.

I also couldn't get into the stories due to this art style and put down the book at around 40%.

I can see others still enjoying the book- just not me.

This was a cool graphic novel! I’m a fan of Kafka’s work and I felt that the illustrations really added to the stories in this collection. I think this would be a great book for anyone looking to get into Kafka’s work especially if they’re not sure how to approach the work by itself.

Thank you to Nishioka Kyodai, Pushkin Press, and Netgalley for this free advanced reader copy of "Kafka: A Manga Adaptation" for an honest review.


A fan of the black-and-white existential and absurdists commentaries of Kafka, I adored this little piece. There are graphic adaptions of 9 of Kafka's pieces (The Metamorphosis, A Hunger Artist, In the Penal Colony, A Country Doctor, The Concerns of a Patriarch, The Bucket Rider, Jackals and Arabs, A Fratricide, The Vulture) in a very stunning, yet errie art style that speaks well of the post-WWII-era in which most of these pieces were written.

I recommend it to fans who are already familiar with his work, rather than as a new entry door into meeting Kafka.

A graphic novel version of some of Kafka’s short stories including ‘The Metamorphosis’, ‘A Country Doctor’, ‘A Hunger Artist’, and ‘In the Penal Colony’. I really liked it. The illustrations added to the weirdness and atmosphere of the stories.

The idea of illustrating Kafka or even turning his work into a graphic or comic storytelling is not as strange as it might seem. I have a terrific edition of Robert Crumb's Kafka for Beginners and Peter Kuper's dark angular illustrations work also well in his adaptations of Kafka's stories. That goes for the most famous works that at least have a surreal and nightmarish quality, which along with terror of the authorities and the hell of faceless bureaucracy is practically a definition of Kafkasque as most people know it. The Japanese artist Nishioka Kyodai covers several of the most famous pieces but also ambitiously takes on some of Kafka's lesser known short works.

The artist(s) finds a way, for example, to illustrate the definition of the imaginary creature 'Odradek' in The Concerns of a Patriarch (otherwise known as Cares of a Family Man) as an angular and geometric abstraction, and there is a similar approach in he mixes that style with more traditional representation. Metamorphosis might be a more narrative typical story to illustrate, but the approach is also unusual, the illustrations flat, almost cubist with no dimensions or relief. Nor do we see the transformation of the unfortunate Gregor Samsa into a cockroach (the translation here settles for "pest"), but rather the view is largely of his family and room sometimes from his perspective. Which, since Gregor tries to keep is hideous form hidden from his family in his shame at his appearance, is probably a good approach. A sympathetic one even.

Some of the less familiar stories show that there is considerable variety to the subjects and themes that Kafka explored in his unique stories. In The Bucket Knight a man flies to the coalman to beg to fill his scuttle, Jackals and Arabs explores the mysterious relationship between animals and humans. In the more familiar nightmarish world of The Country Doctor, the undervalued protagonist, abused by his own stable-hand and the family of a sick boy, reaches the end of his tether. The art approach is just as varied, yet has a consistent and distinct style of its own. The Hunger Artist, one of the most famous stories, experiments with page layout, placing the hunger artist at the centre throughout in a square circled by the crowd that eventually dissipates, as does the hunger artist.

There is a fine selection of stories included here that complement each other well. In The Penal Colony, one of the most disturbing works ever written is essential here. The prisoner subjected to "the apparatus" is truly harrowing, which is a gift for any ambitious and distinctive artist. The focus however not on the prisoner or the apparatus, but the message. "Does the criminal know his sentence?" the visitor asks of the crime inscribed by the harrow on his body? "No. Informing him is needless", he is told, "The criminal will learn it with his body".

Kafka can be a difficult read, so illustrated or graphic versions of the work is actually a good way of helping visualise his world. The distinctive style of Nishioka Kyodai (actually a brother and sister team) truly adds another haunting dimension to the work, and the choices for this collection may even help expand the simplified idea that we have of Kafka, showing that there are many other ways to interpret his work. One such idea is laid out in Metamorphosis of the feeding off others. One dies so that another might thrive. You can find other variations on this theme in The Country Doctor, In The Penal Colony and The Hunger Artist. Or perhaps something else. What is certain is that the singular perspective of Kafka still resonates and still inspires others to bring their own interesting graphic interpretations.

It would appear that the book publication retains the Japanese reading format, reading pages, panels and text from right to left. Some of the text is turned sideways so that it can fit in the narrow text frame that would better suit Japanese downward script. This at least allows the original page to remain unaltered other than for English language translation. The translator notes that there is an attempt to retain a balance of original Kafka as well as the Japanese version of these stories.

A beautiful and surreal manga that retells some of Kafka's most well known stories. I'm new to Kafka, so I found this adaptation really compelling and accessible. The black and white format works well and gives the stories an ominous feel. I think this would work really well as a gift to an adult, or someone interested in literary fiction.

Fascinating visuals and a linking of literary genius with the work of Kafka. I would recommend this for readers of comics, literary fiction, and those looking for either a revisit or introduction to Kafka.

Dnf
I found this graphic novel so hard to get into and the illustrations were so abstract that I could barely understand what was going on though I do feel like this is a me problem. This book just wasn’t for me.

My first ever experience with Kafka when I was about twelve was through a graphic novelization of The Metamorphosis. It got me hooked on Kafka's work, not just because I live relatively close to Prague and had been familiar with him at that point. However, despite that, I will say that that graphic novel came nowhere near the perfection of this art style. It felt like it reflected Kafka's body of work in general better than I ever could have anticipated.

On the other hand, I have some issues with the specific stories that were chosen for this collection and the fact that while parts of it felt way too wordy, other parts felt like they omitted too much and worked more like a brief summary than actual Kafka.

I'd give the art itself full five stars, but the order of the stories as well as which texts were used and how bumps it down for me. I would say, though, that it's still worth reading, exactly because of the art. You don't want to miss out on that.