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The P. Craig Russell Library of Opera Adaptations #2
The P. Craig Russell Library of Opera Adaptations, Vol. 2: Parsifal / Ariane and Bluebeard / I Pagliacci / Songs by Mahler
In this volume, Russell’s classic adaptations of Richard Wagner’s Parsifal from the legend of the Holy Grail, Ariane & Bluebeard by Maeterlinck and Dukas, “The Clowns” taken from I Pagliacci by Leoncavallo, as well as two songs by Mahler: “The Drinking Song of Earth’s Sorrow" and “Unto This World.”
129 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
90 people want to read
About the author
P. Craig Russell
514 books267 followersPhilip Craig Russell was the first mainstream comic book creator to come out as openly gay. Since 1972 his work has won multiple Kirby, Harvey, and Eisner Awards, and Cartoon Crossroads Columbus presented him the Master Cartoonist Award in 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 25, 2025
Contains shorter opera adaptations.
The two best for me were Ariane & Bluebeard and The Clowns from I Pagliacci. I enjoyed the short Mahler pieces “The Drinking Song of Earth’s Sorrow" and “Unto This World.”
I've read his Parsifal a few times, but I still don't really understand it. Its drawn by P. Craig Russell but not scripted by him. I wonder if he would approach the material differently. There's still some really fantastic art here.
Fantastic stuff. I think if read in isolation, it would be even better as it does pale in comparison to the first volume (The Magic Flute) in my mind.
The two best for me were Ariane & Bluebeard and The Clowns from I Pagliacci. I enjoyed the short Mahler pieces “The Drinking Song of Earth’s Sorrow" and “Unto This World.”
I've read his Parsifal a few times, but I still don't really understand it. Its drawn by P. Craig Russell but not scripted by him. I wonder if he would approach the material differently. There's still some really fantastic art here.
Fantastic stuff. I think if read in isolation, it would be even better as it does pale in comparison to the first volume (The Magic Flute) in my mind.
May 27, 2021
Disappointing read following The P. Craig Russell Library of Opera Adaptations, Vol. 1: The Magic Flute. Caption and artistic quality fluctuate and the stories feel rushed and disjointed. Except for maybe Ariane and Bluebeard, this installment in the series is worth skipping.
March 20, 2018
I know nothing about opera. Nada. Zilch. Never been to one and, to broadcast my ignorance, know virtually nothing about them. However, I've read A LOT of comics and I think that I know a little something about storytelling, and I know that P Craig Russell is one of the grand masters.
The saga of Parsifal draws on Christian and Arthurian myths to tell of a hero's temptation and salvation. PCR fills the pages with imaginative, colorful landscapes, foliage and structures. I imagine that this was one of his earlier works, because the storytelling is solid, but not nearly as lyrical and elegant as his more recent work, and his figures are inconsistent (although still recognizable).
Two songs by Gustav Mahler are adapted next, and these two short pieces show some of Russell's range, as "The Drinking Song of Earth's Sorrow" showcases his ability to illustrate anything from a classic hero to a exhausted street corner, from a Japanese pagoda to a neon Vegas avenue. "Unto this World" is a lush piece done in what appears to be colored pencils, giving each image a soft, beautiful glow.
"Ariane and Bluebeard" is an interesting tale of the exiled/forgotten/murdered wives of fairy tales. The new bride, Ariane, sets out into the depths of the castle to rescue and redeem the exiled brides. Russell's art gives weight, beauty and majesty to a story that may not have otherwise survived the translation to a more straightforward narrative style.
Finally, I'd be remiss if I did not give some credit to Galen Showman for his excellent assist on the final adaptation, "The Clowns" from "I Pagliacci." Working from PCR's layouts (and under his inks), Showman penciled some of the most emotive characters in the entire volume, and his lettering truly carried the tale (I'm not sure who lettered the previous stories and the style is similar enough that it could have been Showman as well, but the changes in font and balloon shape in Tonio's prologue during "the Clowns" is one of the few times that I've noticed lettering in a good way!). And it's a damn creepy story.
Well worth it.
The saga of Parsifal draws on Christian and Arthurian myths to tell of a hero's temptation and salvation. PCR fills the pages with imaginative, colorful landscapes, foliage and structures. I imagine that this was one of his earlier works, because the storytelling is solid, but not nearly as lyrical and elegant as his more recent work, and his figures are inconsistent (although still recognizable).
Two songs by Gustav Mahler are adapted next, and these two short pieces show some of Russell's range, as "The Drinking Song of Earth's Sorrow" showcases his ability to illustrate anything from a classic hero to a exhausted street corner, from a Japanese pagoda to a neon Vegas avenue. "Unto this World" is a lush piece done in what appears to be colored pencils, giving each image a soft, beautiful glow.
"Ariane and Bluebeard" is an interesting tale of the exiled/forgotten/murdered wives of fairy tales. The new bride, Ariane, sets out into the depths of the castle to rescue and redeem the exiled brides. Russell's art gives weight, beauty and majesty to a story that may not have otherwise survived the translation to a more straightforward narrative style.
Finally, I'd be remiss if I did not give some credit to Galen Showman for his excellent assist on the final adaptation, "The Clowns" from "I Pagliacci." Working from PCR's layouts (and under his inks), Showman penciled some of the most emotive characters in the entire volume, and his lettering truly carried the tale (I'm not sure who lettered the previous stories and the style is similar enough that it could have been Showman as well, but the changes in font and balloon shape in Tonio's prologue during "the Clowns" is one of the few times that I've noticed lettering in a good way!). And it's a damn creepy story.
Well worth it.
April 17, 2020
The Mahler songs were the high point of these renderings. I was confused by the others, except for Pagliacci, which is basically just It the Clown meets Maury. The artist was great, but whoever is adapting these librettos for graphic novels needs to seriously chunk the dialogue and flesh things out more. I struggled comprehending events and order.
February 4, 2025
Artwork is a 10/10.
Not sure how I feel about Ariane and Bluebeard… too esoteric perhaps.
The others are easier to follow IMO.
Now I need to catch up on the actual operas!
Not sure how I feel about Ariane and Bluebeard… too esoteric perhaps.
The others are easier to follow IMO.
Now I need to catch up on the actual operas!
February 10, 2013
P. Craig Russell takes risks and you can tell when one of his books is a labor of love.
He does both in this adaptation of an Opera... who knew you could sell Opera to comic book fans? Well, apparently P. Craig Russell did and he gives us fans a beautiful book with fantastic art.
I don't think I've ever been dissapointed in one of the books he's adapted, and I'll continue to be a fan of his for as long as he keeps em coming or for as long as I'm still around. Whicever comes first, place your bets folks.
He also takes risks with his "Night Music" graphic novels, but that's a review for another day.
He does both in this adaptation of an Opera... who knew you could sell Opera to comic book fans? Well, apparently P. Craig Russell did and he gives us fans a beautiful book with fantastic art.
I don't think I've ever been dissapointed in one of the books he's adapted, and I'll continue to be a fan of his for as long as he keeps em coming or for as long as I'm still around. Whicever comes first, place your bets folks.
He also takes risks with his "Night Music" graphic novels, but that's a review for another day.
May 20, 2024
Not as good as the first volume, the stories are shorter, and the art isn't as baroque, but it's still strong work.
April 13, 2009
I really liked what he did with the Ring Cycle, but these just didn't quite live up to it. I Pagliacci was good, though.
December 1, 2017
Great art, as usual. Horrible adaptation of Parsifal. It was trying too hard with the literary and flowery prose. Patrick C. Mason doesn't understand how to adapt to the graphic novel medium. Other stories are much easier to read and follow along.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews