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Moby Dick

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El gran clàssic de Herman Melville en què la caça d'un catxalot es converteix en una metàfora de la condició humana.

Ismael és un jove mariner que relata la història de l'expedició del vaixell Pequod. Sota el comandament del pertorbat capità Ahab, la tripulació va a la recerca d'una ferotge i gegantina balena blanca, Moby Dick, que regna a les profunditats de l'oceà Pacífic i que ha posat fi a la vida de nombrosos pescadors i mariners. El mateix Ahab ha estat una de les seves víctimes. Ple d'odi, el capità jura venjança.

Herman Melville descriu magistralment el periple a la recerca de Moby Dick, el personatge principal duna història d'aventures fascinant. Una obra mestra de la literatura universal.

Reseñes:
«Misteriosa. Monstruosa. Èpica. Gairebé dos segles després, l'obra mestra de Herman Melville segueix plena de veritats universals».
Esquire

«Crec que el llibre que vaig acabar amb el pensament intrusiu tan de bò ho hagués escrit jo és Moby Dick».
William Faulkner

«És l'Everest de la literatura: enorme i aparentment insuperable, el seu pic nevat és tat esquiu com la mateixa cua de la gran Balena Blanca».
Philip Hoare, The Guardian

«Traduir Moby Dick ha estat una navegació apassionant».
Maria Antonia Oliver

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

30 people are currently reading
250 people want to read

About the author

Will Eisner

761 books534 followers
William Erwin Eisner was an American cartoonist, writer, and entrepreneur. He was one of the earliest cartoonists to work in the American comic book industry, and his series The Spirit (1940–1952) was noted for its experiments in content and form. In 1978, he popularized the term "graphic novel" with the publication of his book A Contract with God. He was an early contributor to formal comics studies with his book Comics and Sequential Art (1985). The Eisner Award was named in his honor and is given to recognize achievements each year in the comics medium; he was one of the three inaugural inductees to the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame.

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5 stars
63 (17%)
4 stars
91 (25%)
3 stars
155 (44%)
2 stars
36 (10%)
1 star
7 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
Profile Image for Jon Nakapalau.
6,488 reviews1,022 followers
November 4, 2024
Eisner was a genius - he proves it again with this haunting adaptation. I am shocked by how little the new generation of comic fans know about Will Eisner 'you mean the guy the award is named after' is the most typical response I get. One could argue (strongly) that WE is one of the founding fathers of the GN; apart from all his other contributions.
Profile Image for irene.
117 reviews4 followers
May 10, 2025
poques coses m’han apassionat tant com ho ha fet aquest llibre. ets monumental, melville. impossible no estimar-te
Profile Image for Joan Roure.
Author 4 books197 followers
January 16, 2025
Després de molts anys i de molta procrastinació, llegeixo per fi aquesta gran obra de la literatura universal, en una traducció de deu a més a més, i penso que en el moment més adient que ho podia fer. ¿Què puc dir que no s'hagi dit ja?, doncs que he gaudit al màxim de principi a fi; que les pors i els prejudicis que tenia han quedat ben enterrats; que a part de la història magnífica que conté l'obra, plena de personatges i moments que es quedaran per sempre gravats en la meua memòria, sí, fins i tot m'han interessat els circumloquis enciclopèdics sobre l'anatomia dels cetacis, el saber no ocupa lloc!
Melville fa una constant demostració de virtuosisme i d'habilitats narratives mentre exposa les pors, obsessions i desitjos, de vegades incoherents i suïcides, dels éssers humans. En fi, diuen que hi ha llibres que d'alguna manera et canvien, puc dir que Moby Dick ho ha fet.

«—En el meu bot no hi vull ningú —deia Starbuck— que no tingui por a la balena.
Amb això semblava voler indicar, no solament que el coratge més fiable i útil és el que prové de l'estimació clara del perill afrontat, sinó que un home sense por és un camarada molt més perillós que un covard.»
Profile Image for Tobias Langhoff.
138 reviews64 followers
March 6, 2017
Well. Moby-Dick is one of my favorite books (here's my review), and Will Eisner is one of my favorite cartoonists, but this adaptation is really just a super short summary of the main storyline. Clocking in at 30 pages of comic panels, a third of those devoted to the final chase (which is a short part of the original book), this doesn't even serve as Cliff's Notes to anything beyond the names of the main characters and a spoiler on how it ends. There's also a strange scene where Moby Dick clearly recognizes Ahab with an internal "thought bubble", which seemed like it anthropomorphized the whale to a degree not supported by the source material. The art is good though. I'm more excited about Chabouté's adaptation.
Profile Image for Sepide.
83 reviews1 follower
Read
May 19, 2024
خیلی دوسش داشتم
دلم میخواد دوباره بخونمش
Profile Image for Heydi Smith.
3,198 reviews9 followers
July 9, 2018
I will admit the only history I have with the epic novel Moby Dick is from my husband, who has tried to read it several times and felt strongly that it was over-explanatory and a drudge to get through. So, with that recommendation I have never read it. This adaptation was short and to the point. It hit the highlights that likely any sparks notes would hit and the illustrations were captivating.
Profile Image for A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol).
2,150 reviews1 follower
May 31, 2016
*Book source ~ Library

From Goodreads:
A rich, complex, highly symbolic narrative that explores the deepest reaches of our moral and metaphysical dilemma through the extraordinary tale of Captain Ahab's insane quest for the great white whale. One of America's greatest novels.

Ok, anyone not living under a rock, in a cave or with monks on a mountain top knows this is a book about a guy hunting the whale who took his leg. Or what I consider obsession. One man’s obsession to be precise and how he got himself and a bunch of guys killed because of it. Because he couldn’t take Elsa’s advice and let it go.



I’ll be the first to admit I couldn’t even read the novel. It bored me to tears when I tried. I ended up listening to the audio instead. Anyway, this graphic novel breaks that big ass book down quite nicely. The artwork is not my cup of tea, but it looks kinda old-timey as does the lettering. All-in-all not a bad adaptation.
Profile Image for Kitty Red-Eye.
730 reviews36 followers
November 8, 2017
*Shamefully the red-eyed kitten admits she has never read Moby Dick.*

So it's hard to really rate it - did this version do the original justice? I find it hard to believe, as it really feels too short, something no one can accuse the original book for being. But it did make me curious about the different characters, and Will Eisner is always worth it, so three stars, even if I am not really in a position to rate it.
Profile Image for Ahmad hosseini.
326 reviews73 followers
February 28, 2021
این کتاب طبق گفته مترجم خلاصه ای از کتاب اصلی موبی دیک است. کتاب دو زبانه است. ترجمه فارسی که واقعا افتضاح است و ترجمه کلمه به کلمه باعث شده است که داستان قابل فهم نباشد و به نوعی می توان گفت که از بین رفته است.
در خواندن داستان با متن انگلیسی هم چیز خاصی وجود نداشت و فقط سیری از حوادث بود که همین طور پشت سر هم آورده شده بود. نمی دانم آیا داستان اصلی موبی دیک همین است یا خلاصه کردن مترجم باعث شده است اینقدر سرد و بی روح باشد.
Profile Image for Jus.
587 reviews11 followers
May 29, 2025
“Moby Dick” Retold by Lew Sayre Schwartz. Based on the novel by Herman Melville. Illustrated by Dick Giordano, historical text by Steve Urbon. Colorist by Daniel Vozzo. A great adaptation!

“Killing a sixty-ton sperm whale that could destroy a boat with a flick of its massive tail was no easy talk. Whalemen of the early nineteenth century were not just hunters; they were also explorers—sailing on the uncharted sea in search of some of the largest creatures on earth. 

The most famous whale of all? 
Moby Dick.”

The book is divided into 4 sections:
1. Herman Melville: A biography
2. The illustrated Moby Dick Story
3. About Whales
4. A note about New Bedford

Interesting fact: “Ship, Acushnet, upon which Herman Melville sailed. The famed author of Moby Dick, shipped from New Bedford, Dec 30, 1840, for whaling data. Built in Mattapoisette, 1840. Similar to the ‘Charles W Morgan, in design, length: 104ft, beam about 27ft, 359 tons.”

“..1850, Herman told his publisher that at last he was halfway through writing a book about whaling voyage, based on his trip aboard the Acushnet, the book that was to become Moby Dick.”

“Moby Dick was published in 1851.”

I started reading the original book by Melville, it’s quite slow and heavy going. To have a better overview of it, why not try a short story version.

Main characters:
Ishmael and his friend Queequeg

The story starts in New Bedford, Massachusetts. They go on an adventure to Nantucket Harbour, to find a ship. They board the ship called the Pequod.

Captain Ahab is nowhere to be seen..

The owners of the ship likes Ishmael, but as Queequeg isn’t Christian, they object having him aboard.

“Queequeg takes aim and demonstrates his harpooning skills with swift precision, the main point sinks DEAD CENTER in the whale carved in the mainmast several yards away…A BULL’S EYE.”

“Did ye know that Ahab lost his leg to the Great White Whale called ‘Moby Dick’ and Ahab’s vowed for VENGEANCE?”

“Beware, lads, you ain’t just agoin’ whaling.. Ahab wants only ONE whale.. the great white they call MOBY DICK! Remember well.. some say Ahab’s a madman and the Pequod will never see Nantucket Harbor ever again.”

Pequod’s crew: brave men from all over the world.
Chief mate, Starbuck,
Second mate, Mr Stubb,
Third mate, Little Flask,
Harpooned: Tashtego, Gay Head Indian; Daggo, African of Gigantic size, Queequeg, Ishmael’s shipmate.

The mysterious Ahab “appears on the deck in the light of a full moon”.

Lookout for massive icebergs as well as whales…

“..the Pequod enters the southern latitudes to warm and clear waters…. a whale is spotted..”

Starbuck speaks his mind “I kill for oil, not vengeance..”

“There she blows!!”

“..lower boats into the water. 18 men..”

“The Sperm Whale, a mammal..not fish. Streamlined body, 60 feet in length. 40,000 times as large as that big bass you caught last summer. 500 gallons of liquid oil in top of head. Brain largest of any mammal. Could eat sardines by millions and still be hungry, Flukes, or tail, lie flat. Teeth under jaw only. Could swallow a horse in one gulp. Sometimes travels in schools of four or five hundred. Oil used in making soap. Dives half mile, or more, below surface of ocean for meals, like giant squid. Skin so thin it can be scrapped off with fingernail.”

Queequeg “selects his prey” and thrusts the harpoon “sharp blade goes deep and wounded creature quickly responds.. down it goes carrying the harpoon and its line into the deep.”

“..the whale runs for its life, carrying the boat miles from the ship. Talk about thrills… whalemen called this awesome experience a Nantucket Sleigh Ride.”

They look for their ship.. their boat has pulled… gallant giant performs its last rites…

“First is the crimson SPOUT indicating the battle is over. Head held high…the mighty whale spins in a circle. Fin out… it is dead.”

Whaling process:
1. “..stripping the whale blubber from the carcass..”
2. “With a sperm, they first extract the jawbone and teeth… the huge store of oil bailed from the whale’s hollow head. It will bring a fine price in the New Bedford market..”
3. “Blubber is stripped, cut into pieces..”
4. “Then into tryworks, boiled down into oil.”
5. “Dozens and dozens of barrels are filled with the oil and finally lowered and stored in the Pequod’s hold..”
6. “The bones are theirs overboard and the jaw saved for the huge teeth used to make scrimshaw.”
7. “…Ahab cuts into the whale’s digestives tract and finds AMBERGRIS.”
“Ambergris was once used to make fine perfumed and cost twice as much as its weight in gold.”

Queequeg falls very sick, fully recovers..

Sighting of a great white whale… “Ahab and Queequeg sink their harpoons deep into the vital spots…the whale circles the boat… Ahab’s line tangles and he’s yanked out of the boat like a puppet on a string.”

“Moby proceeds to destroy everything in his sight with either his huge tail or giant jaws, Moby takes his toll on the two boats. Once boats are smashed, Moby turns on the men in the water…making sure there are no survivors. Now he turns to the Pequod.”

Everyone dies except for one survivor, Ishmael.

“It is the whaler Rachel out of New Bedford, and they pull the lone Pequod survivor out of the sea and give Ishmael a working berth until the ship’s journey is completed.”

I enjoyed this story more than the original classic piece, it was straight to the point.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
3 reviews
August 24, 2011
This book is epic. Captain Ahab was hunting Moby Dick but became the hunted. the last to live was Ishmal.
Profile Image for Emily.
161 reviews
March 9, 2017
This made me want to read the real thing! Excellent book with gripping illustrations.
Profile Image for Paul Geary.
168 reviews
April 20, 2025
Another Audible book.

It felt like it was time to dive into a classic.

I opted for the version narrated by William Hootkins and he does a spectacular job of bringing the characters to life and delivering the dialogue in a way which will bring everything from awe to laughter.

The core story of Moby Dick, Ishmael, Ahab and everyone else is excellent. The fanaticism of Ahab, the concerns of his crew. The brutal reality of life at sea.

The other part of the book is the heavily detailed descriptions, while interesting to a point, does take some of the momentum out of the tale and as such the peak of the book is absolutely that last section.

More of a 3.5 than a true 4 however I remain pleased to have heard the tale.
Take ye the time to find a wordsmith narrator of your choosing, make fast your choice and embrace this here classic tale!!
Profile Image for Kathy Nealen.
1,282 reviews24 followers
August 12, 2018
Melville’s Moby Dick was required reading for my ninth grade English class. It was extraordinarily long and tedious; and, even worse, nearly totally lacking in female characters. I have not been able to summon the fortitude and patience necessary for a reread. So I was pleased to see this very short comic book adaptation. I enjoyed the summarized plot and colorful artwork; but, it was totally lacking in overarching themes and thankfully for me scarce on details of the whaling industry and the dissection of the whale.
Profile Image for Rex Hurst.
Author 22 books38 followers
December 8, 2021
When I first picked up this book I wondered how a person could take Melville's book and reduce it to thirty two pages, but Eisner manages to do a decent job of it, sticking only to the basic beats of the tale, the masterful artwork filling in the unspoken intensity of Ahab's obsession. This is the kids version and the author succeeds in taking a complex tale and adapting it to a new medium. I only bought this book since I'm an obsessive completionist and this helps to round out my Will Eisner collection.
2 reviews
October 2, 2017
I didn't like it because it was really hard for me to read because it has word from the King James version bible. but it was really small so I read it. I like how Ishmael and Queequeg became friends even though there different races. they kept each other's backs. Queequeg jump off the boat to save someone that fell overboard
Profile Image for Kelly.
676 reviews4 followers
December 3, 2018
Meh. I'm maybe a quarter of the way thru the audiobook of Moby Dick. I wanted a summary because sometimes it lags. (chapters of descriptions of whales....)
And I wanted to see some of Will Eisner's work.
Profile Image for Peyton.
1,728 reviews1 follower
May 13, 2019
I read this graphic novel because the original was overfilled with unnecessary information and I wanted to make sure that I understood the story correctly. If you want to get the gist of "Moby Dick", read a graphic novel format.
Profile Image for Mickey Bits.
847 reviews4 followers
December 19, 2020
A perfect introduction to the classic for young adults, reluctant readers, and even curious and/or interested adults. Will Eisner's artful renderings are a joy to read and look at. You notice something new each time you read it.
Profile Image for Paula GIRALDEZ.
5 reviews1 follower
June 22, 2025
Tremendo tostón. Todo lo que no quieres saber sobre la caza de las ballenas. 700 páginas persiguiendo a una pobre ballena sólo por que al capitán se le ha metido en los sesos que quiere acabar con ella.
Profile Image for Juliana Surcinelli.
3 reviews
November 7, 2025
muito mérito ao autor pela narrativa descritiva e detalhada de tudo, mas gente que historia chata, um monte de homem chato, os únicos personagens legais, o canibal e o moby Dick, praticamente nao aparecem. é um clássico super estimado.
Profile Image for Mohammad.
35 reviews2 followers
Read
December 30, 2023
نشر افق
ترجمه نوشین ابراهیمی
38 reviews
January 31, 2025
Such an artful retelling of the tale. I never read moby dick before, perhaps daunted by how old it was and that it was probably going to be a difficult read. This was epic!
Profile Image for Gary Detrick.
285 reviews4 followers
March 16, 2025
Finally Read This Old Classic

This year, I want to attempt to read some of the old classic material. This was the first of this year, and I'm finally glad I read it. The flow of the story was enjoyable, and I loved the old English conversations between the crew and the writing style. There were times I needed to re-read areas , as we are not used to that style of speech today.
Definitely a classic must read. Now, to choose my next classic. I don't know where to begin. I've read Jules V, HP Lovecraft, Shelly's Frankenstein, Poe, and HG wells.
Any
I'm open to suggestions?
Profile Image for Philip Carlson.
30 reviews
December 11, 2014
Moby Dick, by Will Eisner is the graphic novel retelling of the great white whale that sunk a whaling ship and created a legend. Through the illustrations and content of this book, the reader is taken along on an adventure as young Ishmael begins his voyage on the Peqoud, the whaling ship captained by the infamous Ahab. During this journey, the reader is introduced to other characters that make up the crew of the doomed ship and learn about Captain Ahab's obsession with the giant white whale who took his leg. The voice of the characters is true to that of historical sea faring vessels, and leaves the audience reading like a sailor as though he/she were part of the crew. The reader is taught about the process of whaling and the journey that is undertaken as the Pequod hunts for Moby Dick. Upon finding him, a great battle ensues as Captain Ahab and Moby Dick square off against each other to the death. Badly wounded and seeking revenge, Moby Dick scatters the whaling boats with his tail and rams the Pequod in a final attempt to rid himself of the pesky sailors. Upon the Peqoud's sinking, the sole survivor is young Ishmael, who is rescued by a nearby whaling ship and lives to tell about the great story of Moby Dick.
The illustrations and voice in this book leave the reader well engrossed in the battle between man and beast, and make it clear to follow along on this sea-going adventure. This retelling of Moby Dick is a true graphic novel in that it allows the reader to not only read about the adventure, but see the adventure as it unfolds as well. The graphics are colorfully presented in a sequence that is easy to follow along, and aligns very closely with the content as the reader progresses. Children of all ages will find this book to be cleverly written and enjoy joining Captain Ahab and Ishmael as they sail into the legends of history.
I believe this graphic novel is best implemented into an elementary setting as an introduction to graphic novels and legendary tales. The graphics and content of the book are appropriate for learners of all ages and abilities, and captures their attention only the way a story of this magnitude can. The book could also be used as a comparison piece to see how well a children's book such as this aligns with the original telling of Moby Dick by Herman Melville. Comparing and contrasting the two pieces would serve an even wider audience and range of ages.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews

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