What do you think?
Rate this book
The Red Badge of Courage: A Graphic Novel Adaptation of Stephen Crane's Classic
A powerful graphic novel adaptation of the classic and genre-defining war novel The Red Badge of Courage, which has been continuously in print since 1894, available simultaneously in hardcover and paperback
Steve Cuzor's stark yet detailed artwork perfectly capture the realistic prose of the original novel, presenting a lushly illustrated, unflinching depiction of war through the eyes of a young, inexperienced soldier. By illustrating the story, Cuzor pulls readers into the midst of the action, making Henry Fleming’s experience feel all the more visceral.
Literary aficionados and students alike will find another layer of this classic story to appreciate in this new adaptation of Crane’s magnum opus.
Written by Stephen Crane when he was just 24, The Red Badge of Courage is a Civil War story that captured the imaginations of readers worldwide and made its author an overnight literary icon. A groundbreaking and realistic examination of the psychological effects of war, the novel draws from firsthand accounts and research. Crane’s depiction of his main character, Henry Fleming, and his internal monologue, ring so true that many readers mistook Crane for a veteran himself.
The realistic prose and visceral descriptions of battle that Crane used marked the first shift away from uncritical patriotism in war literature. It would take until at least the 1920s and the wake of the horror of the First World War for the rest of the genre to catch up. In the years following its publication, The Red Badge of Courage was hailed by Crane scholar Henry Wertheim as “unquestionably the most realistic novel about the American Civil War,” and Ernest Hemingway called the novel an “American classic.”
Steve Cuzor's stark yet detailed artwork perfectly capture the realistic prose of the original novel, presenting a lushly illustrated, unflinching depiction of war through the eyes of a young, inexperienced soldier. By illustrating the story, Cuzor pulls readers into the midst of the action, making Henry Fleming’s experience feel all the more visceral.
Literary aficionados and students alike will find another layer of this classic story to appreciate in this new adaptation of Crane’s magnum opus.
Written by Stephen Crane when he was just 24, The Red Badge of Courage is a Civil War story that captured the imaginations of readers worldwide and made its author an overnight literary icon. A groundbreaking and realistic examination of the psychological effects of war, the novel draws from firsthand accounts and research. Crane’s depiction of his main character, Henry Fleming, and his internal monologue, ring so true that many readers mistook Crane for a veteran himself.
The realistic prose and visceral descriptions of battle that Crane used marked the first shift away from uncritical patriotism in war literature. It would take until at least the 1920s and the wake of the horror of the First World War for the rest of the genre to catch up. In the years following its publication, The Red Badge of Courage was hailed by Crane scholar Henry Wertheim as “unquestionably the most realistic novel about the American Civil War,” and Ernest Hemingway called the novel an “American classic.”
Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2025
7 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Crane
1,434 books1,015 followersStephen Crane (1871-1900) was an American novelist, poet and journalist, best known for the novel, The Red Badge of Courage. That work introduced the reading world to Crane's striking prose, a mix of impressionism, naturalism and symbolism. He died at age 28 in Badenweiler, Baden, Germany.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 25, 2024
War stories have a unique ability to captivate, as they reveal human behavior in its rawest form—under extreme conditions, where true human nature is exposed.
I’m always struck by how many war narratives portray the eagerness of youth to join the fight, only for them to quickly realize that war is nothing like the adventure they imagined. This book captures that transition in a profound way.
It's fascinating, and a bit unsettling, to see how willingly people throw themselves into war’s grinding machine, as if the prospect of losing their lives offers some kind of strange relief.
Steve Cuzor’s illustrations and coloring truly bring the story to life. The artwork immerses you in the narrative, making you feel the intensity and chaos of the battlefield.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a powerful story about the nature of war.
I’m always struck by how many war narratives portray the eagerness of youth to join the fight, only for them to quickly realize that war is nothing like the adventure they imagined. This book captures that transition in a profound way.
It's fascinating, and a bit unsettling, to see how willingly people throw themselves into war’s grinding machine, as if the prospect of losing their lives offers some kind of strange relief.
Steve Cuzor’s illustrations and coloring truly bring the story to life. The artwork immerses you in the narrative, making you feel the intensity and chaos of the battlefield.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a powerful story about the nature of war.
November 18, 2025
A visually impressive adaptation of the classic novel!
The script though, feels a little shallow, perhaps missing the meat of the novel's language and soul. Of course, it's been thirty-five years since I've read the original novel, so I could be misremembering, but I flipped through my copy of the book just now and the atmosphere just feels different. Part of this disconnect could be that this adaptation originated in France and has been translated back into English from whatever version of the novel the French author might have been working from.
Still, the gist of the book is here, and this adaptation may entice some readers to seek out the original, which would be a good thing.
The script though, feels a little shallow, perhaps missing the meat of the novel's language and soul. Of course, it's been thirty-five years since I've read the original novel, so I could be misremembering, but I flipped through my copy of the book just now and the atmosphere just feels different. Part of this disconnect could be that this adaptation originated in France and has been translated back into English from whatever version of the novel the French author might have been working from.
Still, the gist of the book is here, and this adaptation may entice some readers to seek out the original, which would be a good thing.
December 5, 2024
Certains passages diffèrent du roman ou sont bien moins creusés, normal pour une bande dessinée. Les dessins sont top, vraiment stylés: les troupes, la confusion de la bataille, la fumée, le chaos, tout ceci est très bien rendu malgré des visages manquant parfois d'expression.
November 15, 2024
3.75 stars Steve Cuzor’s graphic adaptation of The Red Badge of Courage is a complex yet skillfully told rendition of Stephen Crane’s classic. The detailed artwork brings depth to the story’s emotional struggles and the chaos of battle. However, the adaptation’s layered storytelling might be challenging for new readers. Having prior knowledge of the original novel could help readers appreciate the nuances in Cuzor’s approach, allowing them to fully enjoy this visually intense take on Henry Fleming's journey.
May 19, 2024
D'abord rebutée par les pages monochromes avec légères variantes de teinte, je me suis laissée prendre au scénario qui décrit bien les différentes étapes par lesquelles passe le jeune Henry Fleming : l'excitation à combattre, la peur, la désertion, le courage, la solidarité, l'absurdité... Une belle composition pour le pacifisme, pas toujours facile à suivre (dessin des personnages)
August 28, 2025
2.5 ⭐️ Cette bande dessinée est une adaptation du roman « The red badge of courage ». Je ne l’ai pas lu, je ne peux donc pas vous en faire la comparaison.
J’ai trouvé les dessins très bien réalisés : très expressifs, remplis de détails, ils nous plongent directement dans l’ambiance de la guerre de Sécession et retranscrivent parfaitement la peur, la fatigue et la confusion des soldats.
En revanche, je dois bien avouer que je n’ai pas été totalement emballée par le récit. Il n’était pas assez étoffé, ce qui m’a un peu laissée sur ma faim, même si les messages transmis restent forts et marquants.
On y découvre à quel point il est impossible de savoir à l’avance comment on réagirait face à une guerre, ni même de prévoir les changements qu’elle provoquerait en nous. On y voit aussi toute la dureté de la hiérarchie sociale et militaire : la facilité avec laquelle les dirigeants envoient les autres mourir à leur place, tandis qu’eux restent à l’abri. Et le triste sort des paysans volontaires, encore moins considérés que les soldats, envoyés en première ligne malgré leur manque d’expérience.
Bref, une BD intéressante et très belle visuellement, mais qui aurait mérité, selon moi, davantage de pages et de développement.
J’ai trouvé les dessins très bien réalisés : très expressifs, remplis de détails, ils nous plongent directement dans l’ambiance de la guerre de Sécession et retranscrivent parfaitement la peur, la fatigue et la confusion des soldats.
En revanche, je dois bien avouer que je n’ai pas été totalement emballée par le récit. Il n’était pas assez étoffé, ce qui m’a un peu laissée sur ma faim, même si les messages transmis restent forts et marquants.
On y découvre à quel point il est impossible de savoir à l’avance comment on réagirait face à une guerre, ni même de prévoir les changements qu’elle provoquerait en nous. On y voit aussi toute la dureté de la hiérarchie sociale et militaire : la facilité avec laquelle les dirigeants envoient les autres mourir à leur place, tandis qu’eux restent à l’abri. Et le triste sort des paysans volontaires, encore moins considérés que les soldats, envoyés en première ligne malgré leur manque d’expérience.
Bref, une BD intéressante et très belle visuellement, mais qui aurait mérité, selon moi, davantage de pages et de développement.
September 13, 2025
Henry Fleming est un jeune soldat qui s'est engagé, contre l'avis de sa mère, dans l'armée nordiste alors que la terrible Guerre de Sécession fait rage. Cet acte nous laisse l'image d'un garçon courageux mais la réalité est toute autre lorsque celui-ci passe pour la première fois l'épreuve du feu. Dans la panique des combats, il fuit mais il surprendra le lecteur par la suite.
Le scénario de Cuzor est original dans sa perspective de première ligne au plus près des combats. Tout est confus, les soldats ne comprennent pas ce qu'il se passe sur le terrain, ils ne comprennent pas non plus ce que les officiers font, et ils ont un fort sentiment d'injustice. Tout ce que l'on voit ce sont des soldats qui se tirent dessus et qui meurent pour accomplir des objectifs dont ils ne comprennent pas le sens. Cela mène le lecteur à se questionner sur comment il réagirait s'il se trouvait dans les mêmes circonstances.
Servi par un beau dessin sans couleurs, le récit de Cuzor est un plongeon dans les combats de la Guerre de Sécession. Un regard réaliste sur la férocité des combats et sur la place du soldat au milieu de la tourmente.
Le scénario de Cuzor est original dans sa perspective de première ligne au plus près des combats. Tout est confus, les soldats ne comprennent pas ce qu'il se passe sur le terrain, ils ne comprennent pas non plus ce que les officiers font, et ils ont un fort sentiment d'injustice. Tout ce que l'on voit ce sont des soldats qui se tirent dessus et qui meurent pour accomplir des objectifs dont ils ne comprennent pas le sens. Cela mène le lecteur à se questionner sur comment il réagirait s'il se trouvait dans les mêmes circonstances.
Servi par un beau dessin sans couleurs, le récit de Cuzor est un plongeon dans les combats de la Guerre de Sécession. Un regard réaliste sur la férocité des combats et sur la place du soldat au milieu de la tourmente.
February 10, 2025
Adaptação para Novela Gráfica da obra “The Red Badge of Courage” (1895) de Stephen Crane que relata a experiência de um jovem recruta voluntário unionista numa batalha particularmente dura durante a Guerra de Secessão nos EUA. O autor retrata a dureza, a raiva, a violência e o sofrimento dos soldados, de ambos os lados do conflito, que são verdadeiramente carne para canhão (nesta e infelizmente em todas as guerras) e faz ressaltar o contraste com as condições das hierarquias mais elevadas. É um forte libelo contra a guerra.
A arte gráfica é de grande qualidade e a cor, quase sempre num único tom conforme as circunstâncias, acentua a densidade da obra.
A edição da Ala dos Livros é de excelente qualidade.
Classificação: 8 / 10
A arte gráfica é de grande qualidade e a cor, quase sempre num único tom conforme as circunstâncias, acentua a densidade da obra.
A edição da Ala dos Livros é de excelente qualidade.
Classificação: 8 / 10
January 13, 2025
Este livro é bastante bom, uma reinterpretação de uma obra pioneira do modernismo americano, mas talvez por não ser um tema que me diga muito, não conseguiu gerar em mim um verdadeiro ingresso interesse.
No entanto, os desenhos são bastante bons. Uma boa adaptação que vale a pena conhecer.
No entanto, os desenhos são bastante bons. Uma boa adaptação que vale a pena conhecer.
August 18, 2024
L'art est superbe et l'histoire est puissante, loin de la fétichisation de la Guerre de Sécession.
October 6, 2024
3,5 *
Verstripping van 'The red badge of courage' van Stephen Crane
Verstripping van 'The red badge of courage' van Stephen Crane
November 16, 2024
Uma adaptação interessante do romance de Stephen Crane. Ao ler o trabalho de Steve Cuzor, veio-me á memória o filme de 1951 John Huston baseado nesta obra literária.
July 16, 2025
[BD] Super BD avec beaucoup de dynamisme je me suis pas ennuyée. C'est pas une BD très colorée les traits sont plus sombres
March 17, 2025
My thanks to NetGalley and Abrams ComicArts for an advance copy of graphic novel retelling of a story about a young boy with dreams of finding glory in battle, and the reality that quickly overtakes him, making him more than he thought he would be.
Back in the day when one could get three comics for a dollar if one dug deep enough I found a bunch of old Classics Illustrated comics. They were ripped a bit, some covers were hanging on for dear life, but I was still interested. Even though I was a huge reader, literature that wasn't genre related was not my thing. Not fiction, and especially not stories that were older than my parents. This to me seemed like a cheat, a Cliff Notes version to stay ahead of classes in school, and told in a graphic style I was familiar with. To my surprise I enjoyed them. The art was a little simple, and my gosh there were a lot of words per panel. However I was hooked, and really wanted to see more classics in this style. A few years later, First Comics started a new run of Classics Illustrated, with hot comic artists doing classic stories. The art was more the focus, at least that is how I remember it, but they were still very good, and something I enjoyed. I wondered why at the time why the big publishers never did there own versions of Graphic Classics or something. Comics are a good gateway to stories, not being daunting like a big book on a shelf. Even fun, in a way. It has taken some time, but finally publishers have caught up. This story might be the most timely, asking questions about what makes a man, what is the sense of war, and the feelings of the elites toward their "peasant" soldiers. Questions that Steven Crane posed years ago in The Red Badge of Courage: A Graphic Novel Adaptation of Stephen Crane’s Classic, illustrated by Steve Cuzor, and in a time of forever wars and questions about masculinity, seems even more important today.
Henry Fleming has done something that most young men do, ignored his mother and done something that made sense at the time, but was probably not the best of ideas. The time is the Civil War, and Fleming as joined the Union Army, the 304th New York Infantry, and is worried about what might happen during his first encounter with the traitorous Rebels. Along with Fleming is a fellow soldier from his hometown Jim Conklin, who in a fit of honesty admits that if others break and run, he would run with them. Fleming and his companions are sent to combat for the first time, meeting a line of Rebel turncoats advancing, and beating them back. The Confederates attack again, and Fleming fearing the worst runs. Retreating to the rear Fleming finds his commanding officers discussing their victory, and Fleming feels worse for running away. As Fleming wanders among the rear, he finds a group of wounded soldiers, along with his friend Jim Conklin who dies of a wound. Eventually Fleming returns to his troops, with a scalp wound that looks bad enough that others think it received it in combat. Just in time for another day at war.
Stephen Crane was ahead of other writers in looking at war, not as a glorious battle of the righteous against the wicked, not at the tactics used by the victors over the losers, but as a place of mud, blood, broken bodies, and shattered dreams. Crane exposed the ideas of the officers detesting their peasant armies, promising a box of cigars for victory, a victory carved our of human flesh. The illustrator Cuzor does a very good job of conveying all this, along with the inner voice of Fleming, the inner voice that tries to keep Fleming alive. The story still holds up, as most classics do, and still seems raw and upfront in its discussion and showing of war. The art is really good, the characters are all clear, and one knows who they are. The battles are scenes of chaos, with smoke, and shadows, and chaos. One never gets lost or confused, and one really gets a very small sense of how horrific it must have been.
An outstanding achievement conveying the ideas of the story, along with making an exciting read that holds readers from beginning to end. I hope more publishers look to this, and see that people want more from graphic novels than guys in capes punching things. I can't wait for more from both the illustrator Steve Cuzor and the publisher.
Back in the day when one could get three comics for a dollar if one dug deep enough I found a bunch of old Classics Illustrated comics. They were ripped a bit, some covers were hanging on for dear life, but I was still interested. Even though I was a huge reader, literature that wasn't genre related was not my thing. Not fiction, and especially not stories that were older than my parents. This to me seemed like a cheat, a Cliff Notes version to stay ahead of classes in school, and told in a graphic style I was familiar with. To my surprise I enjoyed them. The art was a little simple, and my gosh there were a lot of words per panel. However I was hooked, and really wanted to see more classics in this style. A few years later, First Comics started a new run of Classics Illustrated, with hot comic artists doing classic stories. The art was more the focus, at least that is how I remember it, but they were still very good, and something I enjoyed. I wondered why at the time why the big publishers never did there own versions of Graphic Classics or something. Comics are a good gateway to stories, not being daunting like a big book on a shelf. Even fun, in a way. It has taken some time, but finally publishers have caught up. This story might be the most timely, asking questions about what makes a man, what is the sense of war, and the feelings of the elites toward their "peasant" soldiers. Questions that Steven Crane posed years ago in The Red Badge of Courage: A Graphic Novel Adaptation of Stephen Crane’s Classic, illustrated by Steve Cuzor, and in a time of forever wars and questions about masculinity, seems even more important today.
Henry Fleming has done something that most young men do, ignored his mother and done something that made sense at the time, but was probably not the best of ideas. The time is the Civil War, and Fleming as joined the Union Army, the 304th New York Infantry, and is worried about what might happen during his first encounter with the traitorous Rebels. Along with Fleming is a fellow soldier from his hometown Jim Conklin, who in a fit of honesty admits that if others break and run, he would run with them. Fleming and his companions are sent to combat for the first time, meeting a line of Rebel turncoats advancing, and beating them back. The Confederates attack again, and Fleming fearing the worst runs. Retreating to the rear Fleming finds his commanding officers discussing their victory, and Fleming feels worse for running away. As Fleming wanders among the rear, he finds a group of wounded soldiers, along with his friend Jim Conklin who dies of a wound. Eventually Fleming returns to his troops, with a scalp wound that looks bad enough that others think it received it in combat. Just in time for another day at war.
Stephen Crane was ahead of other writers in looking at war, not as a glorious battle of the righteous against the wicked, not at the tactics used by the victors over the losers, but as a place of mud, blood, broken bodies, and shattered dreams. Crane exposed the ideas of the officers detesting their peasant armies, promising a box of cigars for victory, a victory carved our of human flesh. The illustrator Cuzor does a very good job of conveying all this, along with the inner voice of Fleming, the inner voice that tries to keep Fleming alive. The story still holds up, as most classics do, and still seems raw and upfront in its discussion and showing of war. The art is really good, the characters are all clear, and one knows who they are. The battles are scenes of chaos, with smoke, and shadows, and chaos. One never gets lost or confused, and one really gets a very small sense of how horrific it must have been.
An outstanding achievement conveying the ideas of the story, along with making an exciting read that holds readers from beginning to end. I hope more publishers look to this, and see that people want more from graphic novels than guys in capes punching things. I can't wait for more from both the illustrator Steve Cuzor and the publisher.
December 8, 2024
For this review and more, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com
Thanks to NetGalley and Abrams ComicArts for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Red Badge of Courage is one of those classic books that I never got around to reading when I was younger. One of the reasons I stayed away is because I knew it was about war, which I do not enjoy reading about. However, I decided to give this graphic novel a try.
Set during the heart of the United States’ Civil War in the 1860s, the book is a stark look at the conditions men were forced to fight in. The artwork conveys the utter demoralizing and awful conditions found as troops marched to their next battle. The battlefield conditions were horrendous, and the casualties were high for both sides.
Henry Fleming, the protagonist of the story, is not much more than a kid when he decides to join the union army instead of being drafted. He soon finds, however, that his idea of battlefield glory is replaced by utter despair and fear and cowardice.
I appreciated how the artwork showed some of the many layers to the story with the depictions of Henry Fleming and his battalion. The scenes of battle are bleak, and Henry’s struggles are shown not just with words, but with the excellent artwork of illustrator Steve Cuzor.
I’m not sure how many teens would pick this graphic novel up of their own volition, but I’ve found that reluctant readers can and will gravitate towards books with pictures quite readily, no matter the subject. Would recommend to anyone who, like me, was afraid of tackling a classic about the war machine.
I appreciated the notes at the end that talks more about the life of Stephen Crane, whose life was all too short.
Thanks to NetGalley and Abrams ComicArts for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Red Badge of Courage is one of those classic books that I never got around to reading when I was younger. One of the reasons I stayed away is because I knew it was about war, which I do not enjoy reading about. However, I decided to give this graphic novel a try.
Set during the heart of the United States’ Civil War in the 1860s, the book is a stark look at the conditions men were forced to fight in. The artwork conveys the utter demoralizing and awful conditions found as troops marched to their next battle. The battlefield conditions were horrendous, and the casualties were high for both sides.
Henry Fleming, the protagonist of the story, is not much more than a kid when he decides to join the union army instead of being drafted. He soon finds, however, that his idea of battlefield glory is replaced by utter despair and fear and cowardice.
I appreciated how the artwork showed some of the many layers to the story with the depictions of Henry Fleming and his battalion. The scenes of battle are bleak, and Henry’s struggles are shown not just with words, but with the excellent artwork of illustrator Steve Cuzor.
I’m not sure how many teens would pick this graphic novel up of their own volition, but I’ve found that reluctant readers can and will gravitate towards books with pictures quite readily, no matter the subject. Would recommend to anyone who, like me, was afraid of tackling a classic about the war machine.
I appreciated the notes at the end that talks more about the life of Stephen Crane, whose life was all too short.
February 20, 2025
How did you write a war comic about a man's fear of blood (in the most dumbed-down sense) and decide to make the art dull? A bright splash of red would have brought so much life to the pages. As someone who is not a history buff, I can't recognize the Union soldiers versus the Confederate, a colored variation of the uniform would have made distinction way easier.
The story was bland, his emotion was not conveyed well through the art or the dialogue. After talking with some other librarians, it sounds like Cuzor did not have much to go off in the original work anyway. Big disappointment.
The story was bland, his emotion was not conveyed well through the art or the dialogue. After talking with some other librarians, it sounds like Cuzor did not have much to go off in the original work anyway. Big disappointment.
November 25, 2024
A great graphic novel on a classic novel. The artwork was well-done and the story was maintained to be able to follow the plot. The novel was full of action as well as an introspective look into a person’s character and soul. A great read!
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 10, 2025
The illustrations were good, but the story just felt like it had no emotion.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews