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The Phantom of the Opera
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the iconic gothic romance, is retold with all the spectacle its legend demands in this devoted graphic novel adaptation that marries stunning artwork with Gaston Leroux’s haunting prose.
Everyone has heard the whispered tales of the phantom who lives beneath the opera house, the mysterious trickster behind all the little mishaps and lost things. But no one has ever seen the monster . . . until now. When the promise of blossoming love lures him out from his intricately constructed hideaways in the labyrinthine building’s walls and cellars, a hideously disfigured artist trains the lovely Christine to be the opera’s next star for a steep price. Does she choose her newfound success or her beloved Count Raoul? This doomed love triangle threatens to combust when a tragic death, a series of betrayals, and increasingly dangerous accidents cast the players of The Palais Garnier into a heart-wrenching horror story that will echo through the ages.
Everyone has heard the whispered tales of the phantom who lives beneath the opera house, the mysterious trickster behind all the little mishaps and lost things. But no one has ever seen the monster . . . until now. When the promise of blossoming love lures him out from his intricately constructed hideaways in the labyrinthine building’s walls and cellars, a hideously disfigured artist trains the lovely Christine to be the opera’s next star for a steep price. Does she choose her newfound success or her beloved Count Raoul? This doomed love triangle threatens to combust when a tragic death, a series of betrayals, and increasingly dangerous accidents cast the players of The Palais Garnier into a heart-wrenching horror story that will echo through the ages.
128 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
December 20, 2020
This is a graphic novel adaptation for Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera. In just over 100 pages Tomi managed to adapt and covert the original story pretty religiously. The dark colour palette and eerie illustration style also provided the perfect match for this Gothic story-line. Small portions could prove difficult to follow if you were not well-versed in particulars of the original, but this still remained a brilliant illustrative rendering of one of my favourite classics.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Varga Tomi, and the publisher, A Wave Blue World, for this opportunity.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Varga Tomi, and the publisher, A Wave Blue World, for this opportunity.
September 6, 2020
Everything that is underground belongs to him!Apologies in advance for making this review more about my first and favourite musical than the graphic novel I just read. It’s just brought back so many wonderful memories!
I first saw The Phantom of the Opera in 1992. My school’s music classes were going on an interstate excursion to see the musical and a few of us who weren’t studying music as an elective managed to find a way to tag along. I finally understood why my Nan loved musicals so much.
I was already quite familiar with the Angel of Music because when I stayed with my grandparents my Nan and I would listen to it on repeat (on cassette) while we played cards late at night. My Pop would be trying to sleep in the next room but every time a new song began Nan and I would get up and dance around the room. Poor Pop … Saint that he was, he never once complained. You would have loved my grandparents!
As an adult I got to see Phantom again, this time with my mother in 2008. Mum fell in love with it as well and although Nan had died a couple of years beforehand we’re pretty sure she was there too. We had seats directly in front of the orchestra so it was an even bigger buzz when the chandelier flew over our heads!
Although I haven’t read the book (yet!) the graphic novel included many of my favourite scenes from the musical. The Phantom’s face was more skeletal than I had been expecting but it worked. I wasn’t so sure about his red eyes. I expect the detail of some of the darker scenes will be more vivid in print.
Some of the fonts, particularly those used in the letters, were quite difficult to read in the ARC. Hopefully the higher resolution of the published version will render these more legible.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, A Wave Blue World and Diamond Book Distributors for the opportunity to read this graphic novel. I’m rounding up from 3.5 stars.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
September 30, 2020
This is a unique graphic novel take on The Phantom of the Opera.
I love seeing new takes on old classics, so this one is a real winner for me. I really enjoyed seeing this take if I'm being honest. It felt like a new and fun way to bring the classic back to life.
The illustrations are dark and spooky which is also really interesting. It's a style I haven't seen much of. The pictures are a little creepy (the people, anyways) but that's something that is easy to get over.
Three out of five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
I love seeing new takes on old classics, so this one is a real winner for me. I really enjoyed seeing this take if I'm being honest. It felt like a new and fun way to bring the classic back to life.
The illustrations are dark and spooky which is also really interesting. It's a style I haven't seen much of. The pictures are a little creepy (the people, anyways) but that's something that is easy to get over.
Three out of five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
September 6, 2020
I should premise this by saying, I adore The Phantom of the Opera. The book, the musical, the music, and the storyline. So when I saw this, I had to start reading it immediately. And then devoured it as fast as I could. The art is so gothic and amazing that it really brought a different feeling to the story. And that feeling was even darker and more morose than the book/musical, but I loved it!!
The Phantom/Ghost is especially a wonderful character and I so felt for him. I also felt like Christine had a new level of humanity and feeling, which added to her character. It’s extremely concise but still holds the story quite well. But seriously, I’ve got to compliment the drawings again because they were just so vivid and the Phantom looked so amazing. I very much liked this version of him although he is not usually so grotesque.
If you like The Phantom of the Opera at all or if you were ever interested in reading it, but worried it was too long or too much, do yourself a favor and pick up this graphic novel. It does well to uphold the feel and story of the book, but also brings its own characteristics to be admired.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and A Wave Blue World Inc for allowing me to read this graphic novel for my honest and unbiased opinion.
The Phantom/Ghost is especially a wonderful character and I so felt for him. I also felt like Christine had a new level of humanity and feeling, which added to her character. It’s extremely concise but still holds the story quite well. But seriously, I’ve got to compliment the drawings again because they were just so vivid and the Phantom looked so amazing. I very much liked this version of him although he is not usually so grotesque.
If you like The Phantom of the Opera at all or if you were ever interested in reading it, but worried it was too long or too much, do yourself a favor and pick up this graphic novel. It does well to uphold the feel and story of the book, but also brings its own characteristics to be admired.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and A Wave Blue World Inc for allowing me to read this graphic novel for my honest and unbiased opinion.
September 6, 2020
I am enamored by this graphic novel. The artwork is amazing along with the coloring, perfect.
The characters jump off the page. The plot true to form. You have got to check this out.
Thanks to NetGalley, A Wave Blue World, and Varga Tomi for an ARC in return for an honest review.
The characters jump off the page. The plot true to form. You have got to check this out.
Thanks to NetGalley, A Wave Blue World, and Varga Tomi for an ARC in return for an honest review.
October 26, 2020
A faithful adaptation of the story with beautiful, timeless art. Some of the storytelling didn't come through but that could be due to the low rez copy that was provided to me.
Received a review copy from A Wave Blue World and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Received a review copy from A Wave Blue World and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
September 24, 2020
2.5 - 3 Stars
Unpopular opinion time. I didn’t super care for this graphic novel adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s Phantom of the Opera. The graphics were a little too dark, and I mean shade-wise, and felt very busy. And I didn’t really feel like any of the art really lent itself to me wanting to spend a lot of time looking at the graphics. It’s also really hard to take the source material and take it down to roughly 100 pages. A lot of things are glossed over and sometimes it feels like there are pages missing because the story will go from A to Z with nothing in between. At least, that’s how it felt to me. Part of the reason I love the PotO story is that I feel like you can really empathize for the Phantom and feel for him, even if he is doing some messed up stuff. I don’t feel like this graphic novel had any intention of making the Phantom any sort of empathetic character and that was a huge miss, in my opinion.
Received via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Unpopular opinion time. I didn’t super care for this graphic novel adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s Phantom of the Opera. The graphics were a little too dark, and I mean shade-wise, and felt very busy. And I didn’t really feel like any of the art really lent itself to me wanting to spend a lot of time looking at the graphics. It’s also really hard to take the source material and take it down to roughly 100 pages. A lot of things are glossed over and sometimes it feels like there are pages missing because the story will go from A to Z with nothing in between. At least, that’s how it felt to me. Part of the reason I love the PotO story is that I feel like you can really empathize for the Phantom and feel for him, even if he is doing some messed up stuff. I don’t feel like this graphic novel had any intention of making the Phantom any sort of empathetic character and that was a huge miss, in my opinion.
Received via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
January 25, 2021
He lives beneath the opera house, demands a monthly stipend, and box 5 MUST be kept available for his use. His identity is a secret; he has not been seen. Until he sees Christine Daae, hears the promise in her voice. He will train her … for a price. And is that price too steep if it comes at the cost of her childhood friend and love Raoul?
I have to confess I have not read the original novel. I seriously need to. I have seen the theatrical production five (or six?) times. I’m completely enchanted with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s creation and so wish I had got to see Sarah Brightman & Michael Crawford perform it live. I get goosebumps every time I hear the opening organ notes of Phantom of the Opera. Just writing about those goosebumps and I pulled up Sarah Brightman & Antonio Banderas rendition to listen to as I write this review. I have a Phantom mask signed by Franc D’Ambrosio. I inhaled the novel Phantom that (in my mind) magnificently details how the Phantom became the Phantom. Yes, I need to read the original novel. Soon.
So, taking into account my all-consuming love for the theatrical version, I opened this graphic adaptation with hesitation. Would it hold up to my high regard for the imagery of the play? Would I get those goosebumps and all the feels? Yes … and yes. The page featuring the fallen chandelier made me gasp. The Phantom’s disfigurement and ugliness (both in features & personality) was captured perfectly. The scenes between Raoul and Christine made me yearn for the success of their love. The wedding dress? Oh. My. God.
Initially, some of the artwork gave me pause. In some images, like those bonus panels at the end, Varga Tomi has Christine’s face looking young and gorgeous. But some of the panels within the story, her face just doesn’t “feel right.” It almost takes on a bit of the Phantom-creepiness. On a second pass, I realized that the images that disturbed me were when she was deep under the Phantom’s spell. And this just wowed me further. Talk about using the medium to help convey the full story.
Maybe I’m biased…maybe I’m not. I thought this was a wonderful adaptation. And I think this adaptation is going to be the thing that finally pushes me to read a translation of the original story.
I have to confess I have not read the original novel. I seriously need to. I have seen the theatrical production five (or six?) times. I’m completely enchanted with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s creation and so wish I had got to see Sarah Brightman & Michael Crawford perform it live. I get goosebumps every time I hear the opening organ notes of Phantom of the Opera. Just writing about those goosebumps and I pulled up Sarah Brightman & Antonio Banderas rendition to listen to as I write this review. I have a Phantom mask signed by Franc D’Ambrosio. I inhaled the novel Phantom that (in my mind) magnificently details how the Phantom became the Phantom. Yes, I need to read the original novel. Soon.
So, taking into account my all-consuming love for the theatrical version, I opened this graphic adaptation with hesitation. Would it hold up to my high regard for the imagery of the play? Would I get those goosebumps and all the feels? Yes … and yes. The page featuring the fallen chandelier made me gasp. The Phantom’s disfigurement and ugliness (both in features & personality) was captured perfectly. The scenes between Raoul and Christine made me yearn for the success of their love. The wedding dress? Oh. My. God.
Initially, some of the artwork gave me pause. In some images, like those bonus panels at the end, Varga Tomi has Christine’s face looking young and gorgeous. But some of the panels within the story, her face just doesn’t “feel right.” It almost takes on a bit of the Phantom-creepiness. On a second pass, I realized that the images that disturbed me were when she was deep under the Phantom’s spell. And this just wowed me further. Talk about using the medium to help convey the full story.
Maybe I’m biased…maybe I’m not. I thought this was a wonderful adaptation. And I think this adaptation is going to be the thing that finally pushes me to read a translation of the original story.
September 2, 2020
The design and artwork of this graphic novel is absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, on my phone the formatting isn't the best, so it made some of the images quite difficult to read but I'm sure in print or a reader it reaches its fun potential! The story was faithful to the original material and had excellent pacing throughout - a must for graphic novel lovers!
*I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
*I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
October 19, 2020
I think this is one of those times when I add a classic into the “Did not like” list. I have to say that the only reference I had of this was the movie in which Gerard Butler starts so I kind of knew beforehand it was going to be filled with drama.
That being said, this adaptation wasn’t bad but it didn’t particularly move me either. I think that the purpose of the Phantom of the Opera is that you empathize with that poor Erik, who had the talent to become a magnificent artist, but whose face was so marred, he hated himself. And well, truth is, I couldn’t even feel pity for him.
You have to know that I tend to like “kind monsters” characters because they never asked to be one (for example, Frankenstein is my favorite classic because of its Creature). But, I felt like in this case, we only saw his bad side. He manipulates Christine –the woman he’s in love with- in several ways and I just can’t stand that.
The art style isn’t my favorite either but I’m sure a lot of people would find it perfect for the gothic ambiance of the novel. Last but not least, if you’re looking for a fast read, I’m sure you can read it in one sitting.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
That being said, this adaptation wasn’t bad but it didn’t particularly move me either. I think that the purpose of the Phantom of the Opera is that you empathize with that poor Erik, who had the talent to become a magnificent artist, but whose face was so marred, he hated himself. And well, truth is, I couldn’t even feel pity for him.
You have to know that I tend to like “kind monsters” characters because they never asked to be one (for example, Frankenstein is my favorite classic because of its Creature). But, I felt like in this case, we only saw his bad side. He manipulates Christine –the woman he’s in love with- in several ways and I just can’t stand that.
The art style isn’t my favorite either but I’m sure a lot of people would find it perfect for the gothic ambiance of the novel. Last but not least, if you’re looking for a fast read, I’m sure you can read it in one sitting.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
November 29, 2020
thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
as someone who has not read the original story but has seen the musical live, i enjoyed every second of this graphic novel. starting with how adequately the art and the colors selected fit the story, tomi did an excellent job at recreating the gothic environment of the tale. also, the author kept the book concise and did not extend on scenes that were not significant, this made the reading experience more entertaining than many adaptations i have read before. lastly, i recommend this to anyone who is a fan of, either the book or the musical.
as someone who has not read the original story but has seen the musical live, i enjoyed every second of this graphic novel. starting with how adequately the art and the colors selected fit the story, tomi did an excellent job at recreating the gothic environment of the tale. also, the author kept the book concise and did not extend on scenes that were not significant, this made the reading experience more entertaining than many adaptations i have read before. lastly, i recommend this to anyone who is a fan of, either the book or the musical.
September 28, 2020
A stunning adaptation of The phantom of the Opera
Key words: graphic novel, horror, mystery, fiction, ghost, historical, romance
This graphic novel is an adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s book. The phantom of the Opera is considered as a classic of the French literature. It is also a musical for those of you who want to discover the story in different versions. I haven’t read the book or seen the musical yet. Therefore, this is without knowing the story that I read this comic. I cannot say if this is a good adaptation or not but I can tell you that the drawings were amazing. They were very details and full of emotions. The style is sort of gothic, with a dark palette of colour that matches very well the story. The story was nicely told and almost everything was clear, they were a few moments of confusion but by reading a bit more I understood everything that was happening. It is not especially difficult to read but because of the detailed drawing and the story, it is not one of the easiest either. I recommend this graphic novel to anyone interested in The phantom of the Opera.
3.5/5
Thank you Netgalley for this eArc in exchange of my honest opinion.
Key words: graphic novel, horror, mystery, fiction, ghost, historical, romance
This graphic novel is an adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s book. The phantom of the Opera is considered as a classic of the French literature. It is also a musical for those of you who want to discover the story in different versions. I haven’t read the book or seen the musical yet. Therefore, this is without knowing the story that I read this comic. I cannot say if this is a good adaptation or not but I can tell you that the drawings were amazing. They were very details and full of emotions. The style is sort of gothic, with a dark palette of colour that matches very well the story. The story was nicely told and almost everything was clear, they were a few moments of confusion but by reading a bit more I understood everything that was happening. It is not especially difficult to read but because of the detailed drawing and the story, it is not one of the easiest either. I recommend this graphic novel to anyone interested in The phantom of the Opera.
3.5/5
Thank you Netgalley for this eArc in exchange of my honest opinion.
October 7, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
This was such an unique view on this classic! Although I've never read the novel, I'm a huge fan of the musical and whole concept of Phantom, and Tomi's dark, intricate and beautiful artwork made this graphic novel shine. In terms of plot, I don't think the graphic novel would be a starting point for those who doesn't know anything about what happens, since some scenes of the original piece were cut off or implied for the reader, which may be a let down for some people, and made the plot flew much faster, but not specifically in a good way. If you're familiar with Phantom and enjoy this amazing story, this is a must-read.
This was such an unique view on this classic! Although I've never read the novel, I'm a huge fan of the musical and whole concept of Phantom, and Tomi's dark, intricate and beautiful artwork made this graphic novel shine. In terms of plot, I don't think the graphic novel would be a starting point for those who doesn't know anything about what happens, since some scenes of the original piece were cut off or implied for the reader, which may be a let down for some people, and made the plot flew much faster, but not specifically in a good way. If you're familiar with Phantom and enjoy this amazing story, this is a must-read.
October 3, 2020
I was provided a digital ARC by the publisher! Thank you, A Wave Blue World and Letter Better.
Of course I am Phantom trash (thank you, Ramin and Sierra), and I’ve read the original novel. Not a big shocker to know the novel and the musical are very different. I liked that this graphic novel stayed true to the book. I loved how creepy Erik looked as well. Being true to the book, too, it really paints Raoul as a naive young man and Christine as a emotionally tortured young woman. But there is also kindness in the latter, and all that she lavishes onto Erik in order to make him free her.
While the art style wasn’t my absolute favorite, I really think the artist did a great job capturing the details of the time period from the Opera house itself to the dress and fashion of the day.
Of course I am Phantom trash (thank you, Ramin and Sierra), and I’ve read the original novel. Not a big shocker to know the novel and the musical are very different. I liked that this graphic novel stayed true to the book. I loved how creepy Erik looked as well. Being true to the book, too, it really paints Raoul as a naive young man and Christine as a emotionally tortured young woman. But there is also kindness in the latter, and all that she lavishes onto Erik in order to make him free her.
While the art style wasn’t my absolute favorite, I really think the artist did a great job capturing the details of the time period from the Opera house itself to the dress and fashion of the day.
October 17, 2020
I havn't read The Phantom of the Opera so I can't tell how good this adaptation is. What I can say is - it's really confusing. And not in a good way. The dialogue is taken straight from the book, but there's a lot of description and events missing.
The art is ok, nothing exceptional.
It seems like this is mostly geared towards the fans of the book or the musical, but then again - they could be disappointed that a lot of the story is missing.
Review copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The art is ok, nothing exceptional.
It seems like this is mostly geared towards the fans of the book or the musical, but then again - they could be disappointed that a lot of the story is missing.
Review copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2020
This is a graphic adaptation of the well known novel by Gaston Leroux. It follows soprano Christine Daaé and her strange relationship with the Opera Ghost.
The illustrations were eerie and dark which suited the story perfectly. Also, the illustrator didn't hold back when drawing Erik. He didn't make him only slightly disfigured as in other adaptations. Erik was hideous which was the whole point.
The illustrations really matched the Victorian era, the speech bubbles came of as natural, and the plot wasn't rushed.
Needless to say, it was a great adaption and it really did the story justice.
The illustrations were eerie and dark which suited the story perfectly. Also, the illustrator didn't hold back when drawing Erik. He didn't make him only slightly disfigured as in other adaptations. Erik was hideous which was the whole point.
The illustrations really matched the Victorian era, the speech bubbles came of as natural, and the plot wasn't rushed.
Needless to say, it was a great adaption and it really did the story justice.
November 13, 2020
2 stars. I was not a fan of the art in this one, but I am interested in reading the novel. Review to come.
September 21, 2020
Thank you to netgalley for approving me for an early copy of this in exchange for an honest review
This graphic novel captures the story of The Phantom of the Opera well enough but it just took me some time to actually get through it. The art style of it was very well done for a classic.
I'm glad the art is nothing super modern looking because it definitely would not have been the same.
The physical book for this is probably going to be gorgeous based off of what I've seen but one thing that kept making me put this done was the style of the text bubbles. It just felt too scattered to me and this being a classic its not easy to transfer everything the characters are saying especially since the speech was not changed to anything more modern.
over all my favorite thing about this was definitely the visuals it is a very pretty graphic novel.
This graphic novel captures the story of The Phantom of the Opera well enough but it just took me some time to actually get through it. The art style of it was very well done for a classic.
I'm glad the art is nothing super modern looking because it definitely would not have been the same.
The physical book for this is probably going to be gorgeous based off of what I've seen but one thing that kept making me put this done was the style of the text bubbles. It just felt too scattered to me and this being a classic its not easy to transfer everything the characters are saying especially since the speech was not changed to anything more modern.
over all my favorite thing about this was definitely the visuals it is a very pretty graphic novel.
October 5, 2020
3 1/2 Stars.
The story was interesting and the illustrations are beautiful. I faced hard time getting through first few pages, that's the reason I have deducted the half star.
Overall, if you are looking for an emotional roller coaster short Graphic novel with a Happy ending , this will be it.
The story was interesting and the illustrations are beautiful. I faced hard time getting through first few pages, that's the reason I have deducted the half star.
Overall, if you are looking for an emotional roller coaster short Graphic novel with a Happy ending , this will be it.
October 5, 2020
English Review Below.
هذا تقييم القصة المصورة لهذه الرواية الكلاسيكية وليس تقييم الرواية نفسها، فرغم أن القصة المصورة لم تعجبني إلا أنها شجعتني لأقرأ هذه الرواية الكلاسيكية بنفسي في وقت ما. أسلوب الرسم لم يعجبني جدا والنسخة التي حصلت عليها من موقع نيتغالي لم تكن الأفضل ولم أتمكن من قراءة الكثير من الكلام، وبالطبع هذه القصة معقدة وتفاصيلها كثيرة ولم يفلح الرسام في إظهار تعقيدات الشخصيات في هذه الرواية المصورة.
هذه رواية رومانسية قوطية عن مغنية أوبرا و"الشبح" الذي يقع في حبها، وتعقيدات علاقتهما وشخصياتهما. أنا متشوقة لقراءة الرواية نفسها لأنني أتوقع أنها ستعجبني.
This is a review of the graphic novel adaptation, not the classic itself. This is my first venture into this classic, and I'm more intrigued now to read it fully. But the adaptation wasn't good enough for me.
I got an ARC copy from Netgalley and that wasn't of good quality, the text wasn't clear and the colors weren't great, and the art style itself wasn't what I preferred, also it was so hasty and unless you've actually read the full novel, you were left wondering or at least half-guessing a lot of the plot points.
It's a Gothic romance of an opera singer and the "ghost" who falls in love with her, and the complications of his and her characters. Sadly, these complications were surface level in the graphic novel, but I'm more intrigued now to read it.
هذا تقييم القصة المصورة لهذه الرواية الكلاسيكية وليس تقييم الرواية نفسها، فرغم أن القصة المصورة لم تعجبني إلا أنها شجعتني لأقرأ هذه الرواية الكلاسيكية بنفسي في وقت ما. أسلوب الرسم لم يعجبني جدا والنسخة التي حصلت عليها من موقع نيتغالي لم تكن الأفضل ولم أتمكن من قراءة الكثير من الكلام، وبالطبع هذه القصة معقدة وتفاصيلها كثيرة ولم يفلح الرسام في إظهار تعقيدات الشخصيات في هذه الرواية المصورة.
هذه رواية رومانسية قوطية عن مغنية أوبرا و"الشبح" الذي يقع في حبها، وتعقيدات علاقتهما وشخصياتهما. أنا متشوقة لقراءة الرواية نفسها لأنني أتوقع أنها ستعجبني.
This is a review of the graphic novel adaptation, not the classic itself. This is my first venture into this classic, and I'm more intrigued now to read it fully. But the adaptation wasn't good enough for me.
I got an ARC copy from Netgalley and that wasn't of good quality, the text wasn't clear and the colors weren't great, and the art style itself wasn't what I preferred, also it was so hasty and unless you've actually read the full novel, you were left wondering or at least half-guessing a lot of the plot points.
It's a Gothic romance of an opera singer and the "ghost" who falls in love with her, and the complications of his and her characters. Sadly, these complications were surface level in the graphic novel, but I'm more intrigued now to read it.
September 30, 2020
I was provided an advance copy of this work by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
This is a wholly unimpressive adaptation of a complex, decadent work from the literary canon. Much of the original story is lost in an attempt to condense the story into a hundred or so page graphic novel, meaning that anyone unfamiliar with Leroux’s original story will likely be extremely confused. Original dialogue is lifted from the novel, but without the context of the rest of Leroux’s descriptive prose, it loses all of its storytelling effect. (Even I, who has both seen the musical adaptation and read the novel, was beyond confused for most of this version.)
The art style is archaic, a leftover of the cheap, pulpy Marvel style from the 80s — which means that much of the detail of the illustrations is lost in reducing the size of the page to fit into a graphic novel format. It almost doesn’t feel professional, like linework that was never given a final copy.
Ultimately, this feels like a rushed project that condenses quite a lot of material into a very small number of pages. It might be ideal for a young reader who knows the musical or wants to read the book but is too intimidated, but perhaps not much else, as a lot of the glamor and impact of the story is lost.
This is a wholly unimpressive adaptation of a complex, decadent work from the literary canon. Much of the original story is lost in an attempt to condense the story into a hundred or so page graphic novel, meaning that anyone unfamiliar with Leroux’s original story will likely be extremely confused. Original dialogue is lifted from the novel, but without the context of the rest of Leroux’s descriptive prose, it loses all of its storytelling effect. (Even I, who has both seen the musical adaptation and read the novel, was beyond confused for most of this version.)
The art style is archaic, a leftover of the cheap, pulpy Marvel style from the 80s — which means that much of the detail of the illustrations is lost in reducing the size of the page to fit into a graphic novel format. It almost doesn’t feel professional, like linework that was never given a final copy.
Ultimately, this feels like a rushed project that condenses quite a lot of material into a very small number of pages. It might be ideal for a young reader who knows the musical or wants to read the book but is too intimidated, but perhaps not much else, as a lot of the glamor and impact of the story is lost.
February 23, 2021
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Let me preface by saying that I have never seen any of the other renditions, and the graphic novel was my first experience of reading the classic. Hence, I did not have anything to benchmark my expectations. Having that said, I enjoyed the story and the graphic novel representation.
Firstly, the creators did an excellent job in the graphic novel. I was in awe at the level of details added in each background panel. Some of the imagery took my breath away and gave the book a perfect gothic feel. The Phantom is genuinely eerie and repulsive, yet there are scenes where you feel sorry for him. The scenes where the Chandelier falls or when Christine disappears after her performance was breath-taking!
Similarly, I loved the plot as well. I am a sucker for gothic romance, and this is probably one of the earliest stories in the genre. Erik is one of the most complex characters, where hate him, yet part of you roots for him for what he has gone through.
However, there were a few minor things that felt disconnected. For one thing, I thought the romance seemed off. I don’t blame the illustrators per se (as it could have been a translation from the original storylines). But, I didn’t feel the romance between Raoul and Christine. Moreover, I was rooting for the Phantom as I thought he was the most mesmerizing character. Also, I thought that the font text could have been better, as soon bubbles felt small to read.
Apart from that, this was a delightful graphic novel to read. I would love to see the musical the next time I visit New York. Overall, I recommend “The Phantom of the Opera: The Graphic Novel” even if you haven’t seen the musical.
September 30, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors for kindly providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.
I don’t think the story to this graphic novel is going to be a big secret to anyone, it has been well established in cultural awareness for a number of decades, probably with thanks to the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical and various film adaptations. Yet I’m willing to bet that not many people have actually read the original story. It is always my hope that when someone picks up a graphic novel, or any other kind of adaptation of a classic novel, they feel inspired to go and check out the original source. That is not to lessen the value of this graphic novel, because in its own right it is a thing of beauty and tells the story very succinctly and effectively. The art work is so very dramatic and atmospheric- I wanted to just reach out and touch the sumptuous velvet curtains in the opera house and gaze in wonder at the glittering chandelier. Top marks for the illustration of the chandelier falling- I was waiting for it and it did not disappoint. Another thing which did not disappoint was the close up pictures of the emotions on the character’s faces- you saw the stress, the strains, the love, the jealousy etc very clearly. I also appreciated that the artist tried to do something different from the iconic image of the phantom that we know so well from the musical.
I would recommend this to people who enjoy the original book, to people who love the musical (and are maybe currently missing live theatre due to the pandemic), and to young adults/teenagers who are maybe looking for a gateway into reading classics. Not sure I’d recommend for very young readers- my four year old son caught sight of the phantom as I was reading this and found him very scary! Over all a very enjoyable experience.
I don’t think the story to this graphic novel is going to be a big secret to anyone, it has been well established in cultural awareness for a number of decades, probably with thanks to the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical and various film adaptations. Yet I’m willing to bet that not many people have actually read the original story. It is always my hope that when someone picks up a graphic novel, or any other kind of adaptation of a classic novel, they feel inspired to go and check out the original source. That is not to lessen the value of this graphic novel, because in its own right it is a thing of beauty and tells the story very succinctly and effectively. The art work is so very dramatic and atmospheric- I wanted to just reach out and touch the sumptuous velvet curtains in the opera house and gaze in wonder at the glittering chandelier. Top marks for the illustration of the chandelier falling- I was waiting for it and it did not disappoint. Another thing which did not disappoint was the close up pictures of the emotions on the character’s faces- you saw the stress, the strains, the love, the jealousy etc very clearly. I also appreciated that the artist tried to do something different from the iconic image of the phantom that we know so well from the musical.
I would recommend this to people who enjoy the original book, to people who love the musical (and are maybe currently missing live theatre due to the pandemic), and to young adults/teenagers who are maybe looking for a gateway into reading classics. Not sure I’d recommend for very young readers- my four year old son caught sight of the phantom as I was reading this and found him very scary! Over all a very enjoyable experience.
September 28, 2020
A graphic novel adaptation of the classic book by Leroux about a disfigured man who lives in the cellars of the Paris Opera House and becomes enchanted with the singer Christine Daaé. He at first convinces her he is her father’s ghost and trains her in singing, but later, as he gets more possessive, she finds out his true nature. It is then a challenge to outwit the Phantom so that Christine can marry the man she actually loves.
I have to confess I’ve never read the original, but from what I know of movie adaptations and the Broadway show, this seems like it’s got the gist of Leroux’s classic tale. The students at our school have a voracious appetite for graphic novels, and this is a great way to introduce such students to classic literature. There’s a kind of timelessness to this tale too featuring a fan who is a little obsessed and a man who was treated abysmally because of his looks. The art palette chosen makes the story feel antique and helps set the stage. Recommended to those looking to add more classics to their graphic novel collections or looking for an easier way to read the classics.
Notes on content [based on the ARC]: No language issues. No sexual content beyond a kiss. There are some hangings, the chandelier drop, one gun shot, and other violence threatened. Nothing is depicted overly gory or bloody.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have to confess I’ve never read the original, but from what I know of movie adaptations and the Broadway show, this seems like it’s got the gist of Leroux’s classic tale. The students at our school have a voracious appetite for graphic novels, and this is a great way to introduce such students to classic literature. There’s a kind of timelessness to this tale too featuring a fan who is a little obsessed and a man who was treated abysmally because of his looks. The art palette chosen makes the story feel antique and helps set the stage. Recommended to those looking to add more classics to their graphic novel collections or looking for an easier way to read the classics.
Notes on content [based on the ARC]: No language issues. No sexual content beyond a kiss. There are some hangings, the chandelier drop, one gun shot, and other violence threatened. Nothing is depicted overly gory or bloody.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2020
Pros: expressive artwork, faithful adaptation
Cons:
Christine Daae’s astounds the Paris opera house with her voice despite having no teacher. Even her old childhood friend Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny, is entranced. But she has a secret teacher, the opera ghost that’s terrorizing the theatre. The ghost is a jealous master, who demands Christine’s affections for himself.
This is an adaptation of the novel by Gaston Leroux. If you’re only familiar with the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical there are a fair number of differences. The general story is the same and Tomi’s adaptation hits all the necessary beats.
The art, though not my preferred style, fits the subject matter. The colours are subdued with a lot of dark shadows. Faces are very expressive. The author apparently did research for the book in Paris, and illustration of the opera house that begins chapter one is magnificent in its photo realism. The costumes and opera house are lavishly detailed. The ghost looks suitably horrifying with his red eyes and missing nose. The illustrations really bring home the horror of Christine’s position.
It’s a faithful adaptation of a great book.
Cons:
Christine Daae’s astounds the Paris opera house with her voice despite having no teacher. Even her old childhood friend Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny, is entranced. But she has a secret teacher, the opera ghost that’s terrorizing the theatre. The ghost is a jealous master, who demands Christine’s affections for himself.
This is an adaptation of the novel by Gaston Leroux. If you’re only familiar with the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical there are a fair number of differences. The general story is the same and Tomi’s adaptation hits all the necessary beats.
The art, though not my preferred style, fits the subject matter. The colours are subdued with a lot of dark shadows. Faces are very expressive. The author apparently did research for the book in Paris, and illustration of the opera house that begins chapter one is magnificent in its photo realism. The costumes and opera house are lavishly detailed. The ghost looks suitably horrifying with his red eyes and missing nose. The illustrations really bring home the horror of Christine’s position.
It’s a faithful adaptation of a great book.
December 17, 2023
Not a bad adaptation I just forgot how much I didn't like the original source material. ALW has brainwashed me to thinking his version is definitive, making it a more romantic tale. The original novel takes more gothic horror elements and waters down characterization so all of them seem so childish and silly. Christine is really a big flake and Raoul so toxic in the novel, and while this graphic novel upped the spook, the cuts they had to make to fit this format had the story taking additional or sometimes wider leaps and the story suffered overall. While I've seen this artist's work in TMNT it did work better here for the most part; there are still a few awkward frames where close-ups of the characters look weird. I don't regret picking this up however!
October 20, 2020
I want to preface this by saying I have yet to read the actual book Phantom of the Opera. I am just obsessed with the play/movie but plan to read the book soon.
This is a graphic novel adaptation of the original The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. In a little over 100 pages, Tomi depicts the dark, gothic imagery of the story with their uncanny illustrations.
I loved this darker version that seemed less romantic that the play/movie I adore so much. I think this was done well for such a short new take on the old classic! The art style drew me in so much!
This is a graphic novel adaptation of the original The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. In a little over 100 pages, Tomi depicts the dark, gothic imagery of the story with their uncanny illustrations.
I loved this darker version that seemed less romantic that the play/movie I adore so much. I think this was done well for such a short new take on the old classic! The art style drew me in so much!
September 14, 2020
I received a copy of The Phantom of the Opera in exchange for a fair and honest review.
No, your eyes are not deceiving you. This is really happening. There's a graphic novel adaptation of the classic novel, The Phantom of the Opera. Honestly, I almost find it more surprising that it's taken this long!
As a huge fan of The Phantom of the Opera, I knew that I had to give the graphic novel adaptation a try. Going into it, I obviously knew that some changes would arise, as is the case with any adaptation. There simply isn't enough time or space in a graphic novel to fit everything from a complete novel, especially not one such as The Phantom of the Opera.
On the whole, this gothic retelling is everything that I could have ever hoped for. The artwork is beautiful, the changes were made with precision and care. It kept true to the story, and to the core premise. Though with a twist here and there. The most notable twist being the decision to focus more on the horror elements of The Phantom of the Opera.
Oh, and that artwork! It's simply stunning. Every little detail, from the character designs to the backdrops, and everything in between. It all looked so rich and detailed, while leaning towards darker hues of reds. It all was a perfect fit for the time period and theme.
I'll admit some surprise on stylistic decisions made around the Phantom himself. He looks more like a ghoul in this telling...yet that also fits, in it's own way. Honestly, my only critique of the artwork is that I had trouble reading everything. That could just as likely have been a formatting issue for my ARC though, so I would be interested in hearing how it reads in printed format.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
No, your eyes are not deceiving you. This is really happening. There's a graphic novel adaptation of the classic novel, The Phantom of the Opera. Honestly, I almost find it more surprising that it's taken this long!
As a huge fan of The Phantom of the Opera, I knew that I had to give the graphic novel adaptation a try. Going into it, I obviously knew that some changes would arise, as is the case with any adaptation. There simply isn't enough time or space in a graphic novel to fit everything from a complete novel, especially not one such as The Phantom of the Opera.
On the whole, this gothic retelling is everything that I could have ever hoped for. The artwork is beautiful, the changes were made with precision and care. It kept true to the story, and to the core premise. Though with a twist here and there. The most notable twist being the decision to focus more on the horror elements of The Phantom of the Opera.
Oh, and that artwork! It's simply stunning. Every little detail, from the character designs to the backdrops, and everything in between. It all looked so rich and detailed, while leaning towards darker hues of reds. It all was a perfect fit for the time period and theme.
I'll admit some surprise on stylistic decisions made around the Phantom himself. He looks more like a ghoul in this telling...yet that also fits, in it's own way. Honestly, my only critique of the artwork is that I had trouble reading everything. That could just as likely have been a formatting issue for my ARC though, so I would be interested in hearing how it reads in printed format.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
September 19, 2020
I read the book ages ago (but don't remember it too well) and have seen multiple versions of the show, plus a few screen adaptations, so when I stumbled across this new graphic novel adaptation, I knew I had to give it a go.
I came away quite pleasantly surprised - despite being only 128 pages long, the author manages to fit in all salient plot points and it never reads hurried despite being somewhat condensed. The art is très Phantom - all gothic dark colours, opulent backgrounds and swirly detail. It's dramatic and gloomy and unsubtle, and thus perfectly suited to the tone of the story. Christine is blonde in this, which may take a bit of getting used to if you're used to the musical's version, which usually casts her brunette. (Personally I preferred it, because the first version I ever saw of Phantom was the 1990 miniseries with Charles Dance and Teri Polo, so blonde Christine was always the "original" to me.)
The story is nothing new, although I did have a giggle and an eyeroll or seven at Raoul's constant entitled whining. Good lord. Poor Christine, all her romantic choices are terrible.
All in all, a very worthy take on a classic. I can't believe it's the first time someone took this on in graphic novel format!
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
I came away quite pleasantly surprised - despite being only 128 pages long, the author manages to fit in all salient plot points and it never reads hurried despite being somewhat condensed. The art is très Phantom - all gothic dark colours, opulent backgrounds and swirly detail. It's dramatic and gloomy and unsubtle, and thus perfectly suited to the tone of the story. Christine is blonde in this, which may take a bit of getting used to if you're used to the musical's version, which usually casts her brunette. (Personally I preferred it, because the first version I ever saw of Phantom was the 1990 miniseries with Charles Dance and Teri Polo, so blonde Christine was always the "original" to me.)
The story is nothing new, although I did have a giggle and an eyeroll or seven at Raoul's constant entitled whining. Good lord. Poor Christine, all her romantic choices are terrible.
All in all, a very worthy take on a classic. I can't believe it's the first time someone took this on in graphic novel format!
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
September 29, 2020
A pretty faithful graphic novel adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s early 20th century novel. It runs through the story pretty quickly but the artwork is simply stunning. The depictions of the opera house are especially beautiful and I love the crypt creeperesque portrayal of the phantom.
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