Review by Frank Plowright

Chivalry is another of Neil Gaiman’s short stories adapted into a graphic novel, or in this case perhaps a graphic novella, but under either term Chivalry is a delight.

It’s almost an exercise in bathos as it follows the elderly Mrs. Whitaker in her ordinary day to day life, contrasting that with the persistent knight in armour Sir Galaad attempting to persuade her to part with the holy grail. Or Holy Grail if that’s your preference. It’s certainly Galaad’s as he’s been searching for centuries, and the final stages of his quest are reduced to giving horse rides for the children living in Mrs. Whitaker’s street and shifting boxes around her attic for her.

Given so many of Gaiman’s short stories have been adapted, it may occur to wonder why 1998 became 2022 before a graphic novel version appeared. The reason is likely that once the core ideas have been introduced there’s a saggy middle period before a perfect ending, and it took an artist with the vision of Colleen Doran to see how glorious it could look. She captures the mundane suburban life in the way of Raymond Briggs, although with greater precision of style, giving it a romantic gloss that wouldn’t actually exist. However, it’s with Galaad’s presence that Chivalry achieves artistic glory. He’s designed as almost the perfect man, not just in terms of looks, but via reflecting the title in deeds and consideration. When he tells his tales Doran depicts the text in the manner of the astoundingly decorative illuminated manuscripts produced by the monks of old, accompanied by the stirring type of heroic illustrations found in Victorian and Edwardian picture books.

There’s more. As Galaad tempts Mrs. Whitaker with an assortment of arcane magical objects, Doran supplies a succession of imaginatively painted spreads explaining their origin and purpose. They’re magnificent, and a 2023 Eisner Award is surely recognition no-one could begrudge.

Doran’s afterword details her own quest and trials, of somewhat shorter duration than Galaad’s, but then to the best of our knowledge she’s not immortal. Too many great artists are beset by doubt preventing complete personal happiness, with the trade off being they’re never satisfied with their work, which becomes ever better. It’s a sad ending to a magnificent graphic novel.