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Wonderland
Among the numerous curiosities that have gone unexplained in the classic tale Alice in Wonderland , perhaps the most perplexing might be who, exactly, is the “Maryann” that the White Rabbit mistakes Alice for at the beginning of the story? Lewis Carroll first made us ponder this and, years later, Walt Disney again made viewers wonder who Maryann might be in his classic feature length film based on Carroll’s book.
Now, the amazingly talented folks at SLG Publishing, through a licensing deal with Disney, have finally answered this age-old question. In their beautifully executed comic book series, WONDERLAND, readers experience Alice’s fantastic world as they’ve never seen it before. Writer Tommy Kovac’s Wonderland is missing Alice herself, but it’s still populated by the other characters that make the world such a curiously exciting place. The Queen of Hearts is present, barking orders to lop off people’s heads, as is the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter and the rest of Wonderland’s beloved cast. And there are some new faces, too, including the book’s main protagonist, the mysterious Maryann herself. All are beautifully illustrated by Wonderland’s artist, Sonny Liew.
The graphic novel will collect the six issues that comprised the Wonderland comic series in a beautiful, collectible, jacketed hardcover edition.
Now, the amazingly talented folks at SLG Publishing, through a licensing deal with Disney, have finally answered this age-old question. In their beautifully executed comic book series, WONDERLAND, readers experience Alice’s fantastic world as they’ve never seen it before. Writer Tommy Kovac’s Wonderland is missing Alice herself, but it’s still populated by the other characters that make the world such a curiously exciting place. The Queen of Hearts is present, barking orders to lop off people’s heads, as is the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter and the rest of Wonderland’s beloved cast. And there are some new faces, too, including the book’s main protagonist, the mysterious Maryann herself. All are beautifully illustrated by Wonderland’s artist, Sonny Liew.
The graphic novel will collect the six issues that comprised the Wonderland comic series in a beautiful, collectible, jacketed hardcover edition.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
March 3, 2013
Who is Mary Ann?
The White Rabbit's maid never appears in Carroll's book. This isn't exactly an alternate-viewpoint retelling of Alice and Wonderland so much as a postscript. Alice has disappeared, as she does at the end of the novel, but the shock waves of her tumultuous visit are still reverberating. Some denizens of Wonderland hope for her return, while others fear it.
And what was up with those sisters in the treacle well?
This was cute and clever and had a lot of potential that it never quite lived up to. It was fluffy, and I mean that in a volumetric as well as a stylistic sense. For all it's giddy ridiculousness, Alice in Wonderland is not fluff, and I was hoping for something similarly meaty from Kovac. I didn't get it. I enjoyed this, but don't expect it to be lingering in my memory now that it's over. However, I certainly wouldn't hesitate to pick up something else by this author when I want a quick, amusing read.
3.5
April 22, 2013
This contained incredibly whimsical artwork and about what you would assume you'd get from a prequel set in Wonderland, which is what this is supposed to be, except the story wasn't much fun at all. I expected confusion and befuddlement, but I didn't wish to feel like I wasn't paying enough attention or that I'd possibly skipped a page (which did actually happen quite often as the pages are really thick in the hardcover; that's possibly user error but still annoying nonetheless.)
This is a graphic novel you can read in about an hour and not something wordy and dense, so there's no reason for it not to feel coherent at all times: even when it's supposed to be silly.
The artwork was the only star, sadly, and the story was lackluster. And even though some sort of licensing deal was worked out with Disney, this didn't really feel like a part of their Wonderland at all. Not so far away like American McGee's Alice, but just, not the same. (I haven't yet read The Looking Glass Wars, which is why I brought up a video game and not a book as a comparison.)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is one of my favorite children's stories of all time (check out Alice I Have Been if you're at all interested in the semi-biographical backstory of the original tale [my spoiler-free review of that is here.]) It's just too bad this new entry into the mythos fell so short, because I usually enjoy seeing how someone new can reinterpret a classic tale. Retellings and re-imaginings are some of my favorite things to read and discover, but overall I was neither impressed nor entertained by this graphic novel, and if the artwork hadn't been so beautiful I might have even given this 1 star. I will search out the artist again, but most likely not the author.
This is a graphic novel you can read in about an hour and not something wordy and dense, so there's no reason for it not to feel coherent at all times: even when it's supposed to be silly.
The artwork was the only star, sadly, and the story was lackluster. And even though some sort of licensing deal was worked out with Disney, this didn't really feel like a part of their Wonderland at all. Not so far away like American McGee's Alice, but just, not the same. (I haven't yet read The Looking Glass Wars, which is why I brought up a video game and not a book as a comparison.)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is one of my favorite children's stories of all time (check out Alice I Have Been if you're at all interested in the semi-biographical backstory of the original tale [my spoiler-free review of that is here.]) It's just too bad this new entry into the mythos fell so short, because I usually enjoy seeing how someone new can reinterpret a classic tale. Retellings and re-imaginings are some of my favorite things to read and discover, but overall I was neither impressed nor entertained by this graphic novel, and if the artwork hadn't been so beautiful I might have even given this 1 star. I will search out the artist again, but most likely not the author.
February 22, 2009
It’s amazing how many artists, authors, filmmakers, poets, and creative personalities feel a need to put their own distinctive stamp on Alice’s Wonderland. From creative stage productions to creepy films to horrible television shows, there’s just something about Alice. She casts a spell over us. Lewis Carroll knew not what he wrought when he brought Wonderland into our world, and various Wonderland-related permutations have continued unabated ever since. The newest addition to the Alice oeuvre, however, doesn’t feature that white pinafored girl at all. Author Tommy Kovac and Sonny Liew had an entirely new spin in mind when they produced six single-issue comics simply entitled Wonderland. I ask you this: Who is the one character in the original story that is alluded to and but never seen? If you’ll cast your mind back it will come to you. Mary Ann. The White Rabbit at one point mistakes Alice for his own maid. So without further ado Kovac and Liew decided to tell her story, now collected in a single handsome volume for public consumption. Wonderland has its own missteps and shortcomings, but by and large it comes off as a pleasant ode to Carroll’s vision, with a fun storyline and art that stands up to its material.
Cast your mind back to the story of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. This is the tale of the maid, Mary Ann. Returning to the White Rabbit’s home, Mary Ann hears conflicting reports of an “Alice monster” that wreaked havoc throughout the kingdom in her absence. When a misunderstanding leads to the Queen of Hearts mistaking the White Rabbit as a traitor, it’s up to Mary Ann and the rabbit to escape not just the queen, but a Jabberwocky, a Cheshire Cat, and the sudden shocking appearance of the Queen of Spades. Worst of all, some of the local animalia are under the distinct impression that Mary Ann will fill Alice’s shoes (so to speak) and go against the monarchy. Quite a lot to deal with for a girl who feels more comfortable cleaning palaces than living in them.
When you think of Carroll-inspired comics, your mind goes one of two ways. Either you will start to imagine something like Brian Talbott’s jaw-droppingly lovely Alice in Sunderland (a must-purchase for any true Alice fan) or you will think of the various lamentable manga editions of the original story, utterly lacking in creativity or wit. Wonderland is different. Right from the start it throws you off with a girl dressed not unlike Alice but in what is clearly a maid’s attire. Then you notice that there’s a distinctive Disney-like smell to the enterprise, but to what extent does the book owe its characters’ personalities to Disney’s version of the tale? Well, there is look of each character right off the bat. The Cheshire Cat is the same purple and pink striped trickster from Disney’s film (sans the Sterling Holloway voice, of course). The caterpillar is now a butterfly, also per the movie. Really, everyone looks similar to their Disneyfied counterpart, but it’s not as if they are stills lifted from the movie. Artist Liew has given each one his own distinctive touch. They’ve been elongated, stretched, and manipulated. They wear the colors of Disney, but the flavor is distinctly different.
What’s more, as an artist Liew has a keen sense of how to produce a good comic. He’s received Eisner nominations before, and some may be best familiar with his work on the Flight anthologies. His panels constantly change angles and views of the action. He’s a real fan of the sudden silhouette, and there’s even a hint of manga about his surprised Mary Ann. The result is a lush, handsome hardcover volume, full of color and thick sturdy pages. One does wonder who inked and colored this book (it gives no indication) so we will just have to assume that that was Mr. Liew as well.
There is a bit of Disney influence beyond the look, however. Certainly it does not care to introduce many characters from the original story that did not make the movie’s cut. You will find no Griffin. No Mock Turtle. No Dodo. You do, however, get to see the Duchess and the Cook, neither of whom ever made the original cut. There is a Jabberwock, a strange cousin to Tenniel’s original. And the three little girls who lived at the bottom of a treacle well? They may be my favorite characters here, being that they are creepy as all get out.
Kovac’s writing isn’t particularly Carroll-esque, which is fine. It doesn’t have to be. He does make the occasional lunge for a Carroll-like sensibility, however. There is at least one original poem in this book that seems somewhat inspired by the original Alice, but Kovac is really at his best when he has characters making off-handed comments. For example, when the Queen of Spades commands Mary Ann to recite a poem her response is, “Oh, I never learnt anything fun or frivolous as a poem. But I could recite instructions on how to get hair-oil stains out of an antimacassar.” That kind of thing. I like Kovac best when he’s at his most peculiar. I would have liked him to pluck out more words like “antimacassar” and sprinkle them about the text too.
As for the story itself, it’s fine. The central point is whether or not Mary Ann would consent to ruling Wonderland if the other kings and queens were gone. She seemingly receives help from the never visualized Alice in this reluctant quest, which is more than a bit confusing. I appreciated that Alice, by this point, is now onto her Looking Glass adventure and has no need to return to Wonderland. Just the same, it’s not entirely realistic that Alice would even know who Mary Ann was, let alone aid her in any manner. That’s just one brief problem with the conclusion, however. By and large it holds together. The ending is a bit jumbled (throwing in a Cheshire Cat psychedelic experience is fairly unnecessary) but not too damaging.
On the back of the dust jacket for Wonderland there sits a quote from Carroll’s original text. “And what is the use of a book,” thought Alice “without pictures or conversation?” Clever jacks. They knew what they were up to. Altogether Wonderland acts as a rather good introduction to the proper Alice in Wonderland in addition to being a fun story in and of itself. As for the Disney-look of the piece, be so good as to remember that Dali himself had a hand in that particular version. The newest addition to the Alice oeuvre, and certainly worth a peek.
Ages 9 and up.
Cast your mind back to the story of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. This is the tale of the maid, Mary Ann. Returning to the White Rabbit’s home, Mary Ann hears conflicting reports of an “Alice monster” that wreaked havoc throughout the kingdom in her absence. When a misunderstanding leads to the Queen of Hearts mistaking the White Rabbit as a traitor, it’s up to Mary Ann and the rabbit to escape not just the queen, but a Jabberwocky, a Cheshire Cat, and the sudden shocking appearance of the Queen of Spades. Worst of all, some of the local animalia are under the distinct impression that Mary Ann will fill Alice’s shoes (so to speak) and go against the monarchy. Quite a lot to deal with for a girl who feels more comfortable cleaning palaces than living in them.
When you think of Carroll-inspired comics, your mind goes one of two ways. Either you will start to imagine something like Brian Talbott’s jaw-droppingly lovely Alice in Sunderland (a must-purchase for any true Alice fan) or you will think of the various lamentable manga editions of the original story, utterly lacking in creativity or wit. Wonderland is different. Right from the start it throws you off with a girl dressed not unlike Alice but in what is clearly a maid’s attire. Then you notice that there’s a distinctive Disney-like smell to the enterprise, but to what extent does the book owe its characters’ personalities to Disney’s version of the tale? Well, there is look of each character right off the bat. The Cheshire Cat is the same purple and pink striped trickster from Disney’s film (sans the Sterling Holloway voice, of course). The caterpillar is now a butterfly, also per the movie. Really, everyone looks similar to their Disneyfied counterpart, but it’s not as if they are stills lifted from the movie. Artist Liew has given each one his own distinctive touch. They’ve been elongated, stretched, and manipulated. They wear the colors of Disney, but the flavor is distinctly different.
What’s more, as an artist Liew has a keen sense of how to produce a good comic. He’s received Eisner nominations before, and some may be best familiar with his work on the Flight anthologies. His panels constantly change angles and views of the action. He’s a real fan of the sudden silhouette, and there’s even a hint of manga about his surprised Mary Ann. The result is a lush, handsome hardcover volume, full of color and thick sturdy pages. One does wonder who inked and colored this book (it gives no indication) so we will just have to assume that that was Mr. Liew as well.
There is a bit of Disney influence beyond the look, however. Certainly it does not care to introduce many characters from the original story that did not make the movie’s cut. You will find no Griffin. No Mock Turtle. No Dodo. You do, however, get to see the Duchess and the Cook, neither of whom ever made the original cut. There is a Jabberwock, a strange cousin to Tenniel’s original. And the three little girls who lived at the bottom of a treacle well? They may be my favorite characters here, being that they are creepy as all get out.
Kovac’s writing isn’t particularly Carroll-esque, which is fine. It doesn’t have to be. He does make the occasional lunge for a Carroll-like sensibility, however. There is at least one original poem in this book that seems somewhat inspired by the original Alice, but Kovac is really at his best when he has characters making off-handed comments. For example, when the Queen of Spades commands Mary Ann to recite a poem her response is, “Oh, I never learnt anything fun or frivolous as a poem. But I could recite instructions on how to get hair-oil stains out of an antimacassar.” That kind of thing. I like Kovac best when he’s at his most peculiar. I would have liked him to pluck out more words like “antimacassar” and sprinkle them about the text too.
As for the story itself, it’s fine. The central point is whether or not Mary Ann would consent to ruling Wonderland if the other kings and queens were gone. She seemingly receives help from the never visualized Alice in this reluctant quest, which is more than a bit confusing. I appreciated that Alice, by this point, is now onto her Looking Glass adventure and has no need to return to Wonderland. Just the same, it’s not entirely realistic that Alice would even know who Mary Ann was, let alone aid her in any manner. That’s just one brief problem with the conclusion, however. By and large it holds together. The ending is a bit jumbled (throwing in a Cheshire Cat psychedelic experience is fairly unnecessary) but not too damaging.
On the back of the dust jacket for Wonderland there sits a quote from Carroll’s original text. “And what is the use of a book,” thought Alice “without pictures or conversation?” Clever jacks. They knew what they were up to. Altogether Wonderland acts as a rather good introduction to the proper Alice in Wonderland in addition to being a fun story in and of itself. As for the Disney-look of the piece, be so good as to remember that Dali himself had a hand in that particular version. The newest addition to the Alice oeuvre, and certainly worth a peek.
Ages 9 and up.
December 27, 2017
Wonderfully illustrated graphic novel about Mary Ann, the White Rabbit’s house maid and house. A little lengthy and story not so great but the artwork is fantastic.
May 7, 2018
I love the idea of Mary Ann’s side of the story, since the White Rabbit’s insistence that Alice is in fact a housemaid named Mary Ann had always been one of the funniest moments in the story, in my opinion. But I guess I’m not a huge fan of graphic novels in general.
July 15, 2017
What I like about this book: the artwork is beautiful! Every page is so detailed and intriguing in its artistic style. However, the sad part is that this is the only part I liked. This graphic novel tells the story of the White Rabbit's maid, Maryann, who was absent in the original material of Alice's Adventure in Wonderland. There are many of the same characters in fact. And they say all the same sort of things they said in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
To me, this book basically seemed like a mashed up version of Alice in Wonderland with a less interesting main character whose only focus is wanting everything to be clean at all times. And when I say mashed up, I also mean that to convey the chaotic, hodgepodged ordering of this story. Everything seems to jump around, trying to make sure each of these familiar characters are shown. And the puns. I have nothing against puns, but the thing about them is that they can't be overused and they have to be well timed. Neither of these criteria are met in this book. And the over-usage of them, which would typically be attempting a comic effect, is not even comical; therefore the reaction they did get from me was annoyance.
It is true that Caroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is fond of word play and of chaos but it is of the witty, meaningful sort. The charm of Wonderland comes from the many layers Lewis Carroll weaved seamlessly into his story. On a final note, Maryann's dialect does not seem at all to suit her and I feel as though the tale is kind of derogatory and stereotypical towards people who do such jobs as work as house maids or cleaners.
Even though there are many of the same characters, the whole story has an entirely different feel to it and so I honestly would not even recommend this to someone who just wanted to see more Alice in Wonderland-esque adventures. Sadly, having to give this book 2 stars: the art is truly awesome, and it was at least a delight to look at each page closely and see all the details. However, the story was more of a collage of a moments that seemed to fall short of being what they aimed to be. Perhaps part of the disappointment may come too from it trying to be in the same timeline and world as Alice's adventure, so comparison between the two is inevitable.
To me, this book basically seemed like a mashed up version of Alice in Wonderland with a less interesting main character whose only focus is wanting everything to be clean at all times. And when I say mashed up, I also mean that to convey the chaotic, hodgepodged ordering of this story. Everything seems to jump around, trying to make sure each of these familiar characters are shown. And the puns. I have nothing against puns, but the thing about them is that they can't be overused and they have to be well timed. Neither of these criteria are met in this book. And the over-usage of them, which would typically be attempting a comic effect, is not even comical; therefore the reaction they did get from me was annoyance.
It is true that Caroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is fond of word play and of chaos but it is of the witty, meaningful sort. The charm of Wonderland comes from the many layers Lewis Carroll weaved seamlessly into his story. On a final note, Maryann's dialect does not seem at all to suit her and I feel as though the tale is kind of derogatory and stereotypical towards people who do such jobs as work as house maids or cleaners.
Even though there are many of the same characters, the whole story has an entirely different feel to it and so I honestly would not even recommend this to someone who just wanted to see more Alice in Wonderland-esque adventures. Sadly, having to give this book 2 stars: the art is truly awesome, and it was at least a delight to look at each page closely and see all the details. However, the story was more of a collage of a moments that seemed to fall short of being what they aimed to be. Perhaps part of the disappointment may come too from it trying to be in the same timeline and world as Alice's adventure, so comparison between the two is inevitable.
April 20, 2010
I ended up liking this a lot more than I thought. Wonderland tells the untold story of Mary-Ann, the White Rabbit's housemaid, who the Rabbit mistook Alice for in the original Alice in Wonderland book. This graphic novel expands on the mythology of Wonderland (far more successfully than the recent Alice In Wonderland movie directed by Tim Burton) including the fates of the other card queens and kings. Kovac gets the wacky characters, the world logic and the overall surreal aspects of Wonderland and Liew makes it all come to live with his fabulous illustrations. This book is a definite hidden gem.
November 13, 2010
This was an interesting take on the Alice in Wonderland tale. Instead of focusing on Alice it focused on Mary Anne - the White Rabbits house maid. A bit odd but it was nice to get a view of all the characters through anothers eyes.
I am torn about the art. The style itself is awesome, but I didn't like that the artists created the characters in the forms originally used by Disney in the animated cartoon movie. Granted this book is published by Disney Press which explains that but I think if the artists had had a bit more freedom it would have look better - and not like a cheesy remake.
Overall it was OK, but I am glad I got it from the library.
I am torn about the art. The style itself is awesome, but I didn't like that the artists created the characters in the forms originally used by Disney in the animated cartoon movie. Granted this book is published by Disney Press which explains that but I think if the artists had had a bit more freedom it would have look better - and not like a cheesy remake.
Overall it was OK, but I am glad I got it from the library.
September 18, 2020
This is a story of the white rabbit's maid, Maryann, which is who Alice was mistaken for briefly in Lewis Caroll's classic book. I had forgotten all about that reference. In this tale, Alice is referred to as the Alice monster. We see a number of characters from the original as well as meet new ones. The adventures are as ludicrous as Alice in Wonderland's but with a bit of a contemporary twist now and again (but not much). Alice isn't here, though, and that makes since since she was never a permanent resident. The Queen of Hearts is back to her "off with her/his head" rages again, of course, but at least one character has metamorphosed.
July 1, 2016
Rating: 4.5
I loved this sort of retelling of the original Alice in Wonderland. I always wondered who Mary-Ann was and I think her story was funny and right on the mark for Wonderland. I loved the ending and it kind of left me wanting another Wonderland book about Mary-Ann.
I loved this sort of retelling of the original Alice in Wonderland. I always wondered who Mary-Ann was and I think her story was funny and right on the mark for Wonderland. I loved the ending and it kind of left me wanting another Wonderland book about Mary-Ann.
May 14, 2019
That was...interesting.
December 28, 2019
The art is beautiful and the concept is interesting, but the story lacked spark for me.
October 20, 2009
Reason for Reading: Cybils Award nominee. I've also been meaning to read this since I first heard about it.
Summary: The book is set in Wonderland sometime not too long after Alice has left. Here we meet Mary Ann, the girl whom the White Rabbit mistakes Alice for when she first arrives. We find out Mary Ann is the White Rabbit's maid and follow her through an adventurous day where she uncovers the fiendish doings of the Queen of Hearts.
Comments: While the book does have its plot running through, I found the main focus to be on the characters. Kovac explores Wonderland and its famous inhabitants such as the Queen of Hearts and the Cheshire Cat in such great detail and in a more up close and personal way than the original book provides. It is great fun watching these characters come to life in this way. (Though I do question why Jabberwocky and Tweedledee & dum from the Through the Looking-glass have been placed in Wonderland.) Kovac has done a magnificent job of keeping the essence of Carroll's witty, off-the-wall sense of humour. Sonny Liew's illustrations are wonderful and wacky; based on the Disney images (since this book is published by Disney Press) they are instantly recognizable yet he changes them enough to take away the cuteness and there is actually an aura of creepiness to this Wonderland.
To thoroughly enjoy the book, one must know the original Alice in Wonderland story as many references are made to it and it's assumed you know who all these characters are. I don't think reading the original book is necessary, any version or the Disney movie would suffice. I'm not really sure why the book is recommended for ages 13+; my only guess would be the maturity to fully comprehend the humour and the underlying tones.
I really enjoyed the story. It was a quick afternoon read. The eventual ending for Mary Ann is quite unnerving. I've never been a fan of the Cheshire Cat and to see his true colours (in my mind) brought to life so well was a delight ... and slightly eerie. This is a book that just pulling it off the shelf and looking through it is going to make you want to take it home with you. I say it's worth it. I suggest the book would make a great gift for a young teen or tween girl who already knows the Alice in Wonderland story.
Summary: The book is set in Wonderland sometime not too long after Alice has left. Here we meet Mary Ann, the girl whom the White Rabbit mistakes Alice for when she first arrives. We find out Mary Ann is the White Rabbit's maid and follow her through an adventurous day where she uncovers the fiendish doings of the Queen of Hearts.
Comments: While the book does have its plot running through, I found the main focus to be on the characters. Kovac explores Wonderland and its famous inhabitants such as the Queen of Hearts and the Cheshire Cat in such great detail and in a more up close and personal way than the original book provides. It is great fun watching these characters come to life in this way. (Though I do question why Jabberwocky and Tweedledee & dum from the Through the Looking-glass have been placed in Wonderland.) Kovac has done a magnificent job of keeping the essence of Carroll's witty, off-the-wall sense of humour. Sonny Liew's illustrations are wonderful and wacky; based on the Disney images (since this book is published by Disney Press) they are instantly recognizable yet he changes them enough to take away the cuteness and there is actually an aura of creepiness to this Wonderland.
To thoroughly enjoy the book, one must know the original Alice in Wonderland story as many references are made to it and it's assumed you know who all these characters are. I don't think reading the original book is necessary, any version or the Disney movie would suffice. I'm not really sure why the book is recommended for ages 13+; my only guess would be the maturity to fully comprehend the humour and the underlying tones.
I really enjoyed the story. It was a quick afternoon read. The eventual ending for Mary Ann is quite unnerving. I've never been a fan of the Cheshire Cat and to see his true colours (in my mind) brought to life so well was a delight ... and slightly eerie. This is a book that just pulling it off the shelf and looking through it is going to make you want to take it home with you. I say it's worth it. I suggest the book would make a great gift for a young teen or tween girl who already knows the Alice in Wonderland story.
August 29, 2013
Wow! A fantastic spin on "Alice in Wonderland" (think along the lines of “Wicked”) told from the perspective of Mary Ann, the White Rabbit's maid. Sweet and charming, she also has a bit of an edge that draws you in immediately, and you want to follow her on the journey… if only to join her for the ride and see if she can hack it. One of the things I love about her is that she has some of the innocence of Alice, but is grittier and spunkier –not quite as clueless. (Maybe it’s the dark hair?) Quirky just the same, yet tons of fun—and she helps teach the reader a few things along the way.
Filled with humor, wit and adventure, this book blew me away with its originality, while still maintaining the integrity of the classic tale. Revisiting places like the Tea Party and the woods brings you back to the essence of the original, and yet, at the same time, it’s like you’re visiting for the very first time. Kovac pulls in obscure and integral characters who make this adventure what it is—a real wonderland—and the result is quite a trip!
The true gem, in my opinion, lies in the artwork—absolutely phenomenal. I'd recommend this book for the imagery alone; Liew brings these characters to life in a way that leaves you breathless and awed all at the same time. (My particular favorite: the Cheshire Cat, who is even more creepy than in the original, yet still displays a sincerity, and—dare I say—compassion, that reminds you why it’s good to be just a little bad sometimes.) Mary Ann, the Queen, and the butterfly are also standouts…expertly drawn to seize their most defining characteristics on every single page.
This book is FUN, it is funny, it is wild, it is endearing, it is captivating. Read it. Experience it. Fall in love with the adventure all over again…only this time, with a bit more gusto and imagination. (And, given that “Alice” is pretty creative already, that’s saying a lot!)
Filled with humor, wit and adventure, this book blew me away with its originality, while still maintaining the integrity of the classic tale. Revisiting places like the Tea Party and the woods brings you back to the essence of the original, and yet, at the same time, it’s like you’re visiting for the very first time. Kovac pulls in obscure and integral characters who make this adventure what it is—a real wonderland—and the result is quite a trip!
The true gem, in my opinion, lies in the artwork—absolutely phenomenal. I'd recommend this book for the imagery alone; Liew brings these characters to life in a way that leaves you breathless and awed all at the same time. (My particular favorite: the Cheshire Cat, who is even more creepy than in the original, yet still displays a sincerity, and—dare I say—compassion, that reminds you why it’s good to be just a little bad sometimes.) Mary Ann, the Queen, and the butterfly are also standouts…expertly drawn to seize their most defining characteristics on every single page.
This book is FUN, it is funny, it is wild, it is endearing, it is captivating. Read it. Experience it. Fall in love with the adventure all over again…only this time, with a bit more gusto and imagination. (And, given that “Alice” is pretty creative already, that’s saying a lot!)
April 9, 2012
Gabrielle Bolland
Graphic Novel
While reading Alice in Wonderland, have you ever wondered who Maryann really was? Well the graphic novel explains just that. Maryann is the White Rabbit’s maid, she explores Wonderland meeting the popular characters fans of Lewis Carroll will recognize. Even a few characters that weren’t ever mentioned, such as the Queens of Spades, Diamonds, and Clubs. They, along with the Queen of Hearts, love to have tea parties and gossip about the missing Queens. Poor Maryann is left to clean up all the mess and destruction. After the destruction of the White Rabbit’s house he is left boarding with Maryann until his is rebuilt. This is a fun graphic novel, the pictures are very colorful, I highly recommend reading it if you are a fan of Carroll!
Graphic Novel
While reading Alice in Wonderland, have you ever wondered who Maryann really was? Well the graphic novel explains just that. Maryann is the White Rabbit’s maid, she explores Wonderland meeting the popular characters fans of Lewis Carroll will recognize. Even a few characters that weren’t ever mentioned, such as the Queens of Spades, Diamonds, and Clubs. They, along with the Queen of Hearts, love to have tea parties and gossip about the missing Queens. Poor Maryann is left to clean up all the mess and destruction. After the destruction of the White Rabbit’s house he is left boarding with Maryann until his is rebuilt. This is a fun graphic novel, the pictures are very colorful, I highly recommend reading it if you are a fan of Carroll!
October 19, 2011
I wanted to like this more than I did. I didn't find it funny enough to make me laugh or quirky enough to keep me intrigued. The idea is sound--take a barely-mentioned character, Mary Ann, from Alice in Wonderland, and make her the center of a new story, set in the same wacky place with the same wacky characters. Yet it was dull, disjointed, and plodded along.
However, there is a saving grace. Sonny Liew was born to be an artist, and his illustrations (in lovely color) are a thing of beauty. It was because of the the artwork that I actually finished the book.
My younger son (10) thought it was alright, so your mileage may vary.
However, there is a saving grace. Sonny Liew was born to be an artist, and his illustrations (in lovely color) are a thing of beauty. It was because of the the artwork that I actually finished the book.
My younger son (10) thought it was alright, so your mileage may vary.
August 8, 2015
Seeing as how Alice in Wonderland is my all-time favorite story, I might be a little biased in my love for this book. But, biased or not, I absolutely loved this graphic novel, which tells the story of Mary Ann, the White Rabbit's maid. It is set after Alice had already left Wonderland and is completely clever and well put together. I loved how Carroll-like Kovac was able to make the story. And the artwork is simply fantastic. I borrowed this from the library, but when I was halfway through, I knew I needed to own it. I looked on Amazon and bought a copy for myself. This will be treasured on my shelves for many years to come.
May 8, 2017
It was interesting to see the after math from Alice and why the White Rabbit thought Alice was someone else since he does have a maid named Mary Ann. This story follows her going around to many of the same places Alice was in. It was a tad confusing why some stuff was going on and seemed to move quickly without explanation. I know this is Wonderland and it is usually unexplainable for some randomness but this was more confusing than strange.
January 9, 2015
this book honestly was amazing. I've been in a book funk for a few months now and I just couldn't pick up a book and finish it. my sister gave me this book and I started it and got like 5 pages in and didn't read it and then today I just picked it up and read it all and it was so good. it's amazing and it just shows how everyone has a purpose and everyone just kind of came together and really saved wonderland. this book was so good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2016
I have been obsessed with all things Alice in Wonderland since I was about three years old, so my review is probably biased. I had a ton of fun with this graph novel, the illustrations alone would warrant a five star rating for me. It's a very quick read, whimsical and colorful illustrations. A new take on the story, as it follows the White Rabbits's maid Mary-Ann's part in the story. It's worth a read if you are a fan of the original story.
January 16, 2012
Enjoyed mostly for the art. Sonny Liew I love you.
January 1, 2015
Beautiful artwork. Horrible storyline. Don't bother.
August 2, 2017
Can we all agree that it's time to call a moratorium on all retellings of "Alice In Wonderland," please? It's a notoriously hard series to get right (the Tim Burton-directed movies are absolutely atrocious computer-generated nightmares) and this graphic novel offering from writer Tommy Kovac and artist Sonny Liew, ostensibly a sequel to the original tale, doesn't fare a whole heck of a lot better. That said, it's some beautiful nonsense.
What makes "Alice In Wonderland" so hard to nail is that it treads a fine line between whimsy and profundity; stray too far in either direction and it becomes either too absurd or too dense. Kovak's "Wonderland" is guilty of falling into the former trap. The story - already choppy from being serialized over several issues - doesn't make much sense, the characters are pretty thinly written, and a big reveal in the climax feels like it was telegraphed from the very first few panels. Reading "Wonderland" is like stepping into someone else's dream, but not in a wondrous way; more like you suddenly find yourself in the middle of an illogical situation that you can't comprehend. On the plus side, Sonny Liew's artwork was beautifully quirky, which ended up being the only reason I stuck with reading the book to the disappointing end.
"Wonderland" is a lovely-looking but silly and disconnected graphic novel. It could of been worse, though: at least it doesn't have Johnny Depp hamming it up all over the place.
What makes "Alice In Wonderland" so hard to nail is that it treads a fine line between whimsy and profundity; stray too far in either direction and it becomes either too absurd or too dense. Kovak's "Wonderland" is guilty of falling into the former trap. The story - already choppy from being serialized over several issues - doesn't make much sense, the characters are pretty thinly written, and a big reveal in the climax feels like it was telegraphed from the very first few panels. Reading "Wonderland" is like stepping into someone else's dream, but not in a wondrous way; more like you suddenly find yourself in the middle of an illogical situation that you can't comprehend. On the plus side, Sonny Liew's artwork was beautifully quirky, which ended up being the only reason I stuck with reading the book to the disappointing end.
"Wonderland" is a lovely-looking but silly and disconnected graphic novel. It could of been worse, though: at least it doesn't have Johnny Depp hamming it up all over the place.
December 29, 2017
4.5 stars.
As an Alice in Wonderland fan, I found this book absolutely fascinating! What I found most fascinating was the world building for Wonderland that we got to see, I think the author did a great job of connecting a few dots without losing the Nonsince feeling that makes Wonderland so amazing. Though I will say that it did get a little bit TOO weird near the end.
The art style went very well with the book, though I did notice that most of the characters and settings were clearly designed after the classic Disney movie.
As an Alice in Wonderland fan, I found this book absolutely fascinating! What I found most fascinating was the world building for Wonderland that we got to see, I think the author did a great job of connecting a few dots without losing the Nonsince feeling that makes Wonderland so amazing. Though I will say that it did get a little bit TOO weird near the end.
The art style went very well with the book, though I did notice that most of the characters and settings were clearly designed after the classic Disney movie.
September 17, 2018
Thought it was an interesting concept to follow the Mary Ann character mentioned in Alice in Wonderland after Alice leaves Wonderland. Was very excited but felt it never lived up to the potential.
The artwork is awesome and defintely influenced by Disney's animated feature.
I felt the story was lacking. I never ended up caring about Mary Ann or her journey. I don't feel we really get to know her beyond her occupation as a maid.
A quick read and engaging illustrations. Wish the story had a little bit more depth to it.
The artwork is awesome and defintely influenced by Disney's animated feature.
I felt the story was lacking. I never ended up caring about Mary Ann or her journey. I don't feel we really get to know her beyond her occupation as a maid.
A quick read and engaging illustrations. Wish the story had a little bit more depth to it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2017
This is the story of life after Alice. The author set up the opportunity to do more with this world, but never fully realizes it. New characters are introduced, but they ultimately lack depth. And the end of the story gets confusing and not in a crazy wonderland sort of way.
This was a missed opportunity. The artwork matched the whimsical feel of wonderland and the use of perspective and paneling was nice. But the story fell flat. It felt mostly like a rehashing of the story we already know.
This was a missed opportunity. The artwork matched the whimsical feel of wonderland and the use of perspective and paneling was nice. But the story fell flat. It felt mostly like a rehashing of the story we already know.
December 17, 2017
A solid 4 stars!
I really enjoyed this book, because of the cute, sweet, and whimsical artwork. I liked how they brought the story more to this mysterious "Maryann". I love the classic story of Alice and the Wonderland so I liked being immersed in the world once again with quite a different storyline/turn of events that brought us more in the perspective of Maryann which was pretty awesome.
I would recommend.
I really enjoyed this book, because of the cute, sweet, and whimsical artwork. I liked how they brought the story more to this mysterious "Maryann". I love the classic story of Alice and the Wonderland so I liked being immersed in the world once again with quite a different storyline/turn of events that brought us more in the perspective of Maryann which was pretty awesome.
I would recommend.
November 19, 2018
I really enjoyed the illustrations, although the storyline was tremendously confusing at specific points. I loved the depiction of the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, and March Hare, as well as the addition of new characters like the Queen of Spaces and Sir Edward. Again, I felt like there were specific plot holes that confused me at times. Overall, I really enjoyed this retelling and how it somewhat combined the original storyline.
January 13, 2018
A very cute continuation on the story of Wonderland. Artwork is original yet harkens back to the classic Disney film. Readers will enjoy meeting new characters (including the other queens) as well as reuniting with old favorites like the Mad Hatter. The story stays true to both the animated film, and to Lewis Carroll's original imagining. Very enjoyable read!
May 21, 2021
This book was nice. It saw a short quaint little story that I quite enjoyed. There were a few spots that might have been considered plot holes but I just chocked it up to the story taking place in Wonderland. It was an original spinoff idea and I liked where they went with it. I didn’t find it at all predictable. I would recommend it!
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