NZ actress has a comic-book makeover

Kiwi star Anna Paquin is being immortalised in a comic book - but some are questioning her cartoon likeness to the real thing.

Paquin's hit show True Blood is being adapted into a series of comics by America's HBO TV network and publisher IDW.

The comics are written by the show's creator Allan Ball and his scriptwriters and promise "the same erotically-charged romance, wry humour and intriguing mystery and suspense the show has become known for".

The depiction of Paquin's character Sookie Stackhouse has drawn mixed reactions.

LA-based Kiwi blogger Horiwood said he loved the way the cartoon Stackhouse looked more like Angelina Jolie than Paquin.

"I mean those lips are nugut (lippy) Maori girls' Jolie-esque lips not pencil-thin white Kiwi girls lips."

A blogger on unrealityshout.com thought the comic Sookie looked "cuter than her real-life version", while others commented that she looked "nothing like" the Kiwi Oscar-winner.

True Blood is an adaptation of the series of novels by Charlaine Harris. Set in the fictional Louisiana town of Bon Temps, True Blood is based around the lives of telepathic waitress Stackhouse and her vampire lover Bill Compton, played by bisexual Paquin's real-life fiance Stephen Moyer.

Stu Colson of Auckland comic store Heroes For Sale says TV show comic adaptations can be very successful and cites the big following for comics based on another vampire show, Buffy, as an example.

"I imagine True Blood will be similar to that," he says.

But he doubts the series will become particularly valuable to collectors, because there is already a lot of True Blood merchandise available.

The first issue will be launched at a San Diego comic fair in July and can be pre-ordered on the HBO website for US$4.99 ($7).