Frankenstein

Frankenstein #1-3

by Marion Mousse (Adapter), Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Mary Shelley’s original novel, “Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus” is not only a masterwork of horror, but it’s also considered to be one of the earliest science fiction stories ever.  Even today, its themes of man exerting god-like powers in order to create life from death remain a passionately debated topic as modern science continues its experiments with cloning, DNA, and stem cells.  Marion Mousse brings the story of Dr. Victor Frankenstein and his tragic monster to frightening new life in this all-new comics adaptation, with dark and brooding artwork that appeals to today’s fans of cutting-edge graphic novels.  With the greater page length the CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED DELUXE provides, so much more of the original novel is part of the adaptation, which quite possibly makes this the best comics version yet.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fiction, Literature

144 pages, Hardcover

Published January 6, 2009

Reviews

[Μιχάλης Παπαχατζάκης · Rating 3 out of 5]

Καλή απόδοση και της ιστορίας του ομώνυμου μυθιστορήματος και του «γοτθικού» χαρακτήρα του. Τα σκούρα και σκοτεινά του καρέ κυριαρχούν απόλυτα, όμως σε σημείο κάποιες φορές να μην διακρίνεις ακριβώς τι δείχνει ή τι θέλει να δείξει το σκίτσο. Πολλά απ' αυτά είναι εκπληκτικά.
Ο γάλλος σκιτσογράφος αποδίδει ικανοποιητικά το δράμα του Δρα Φρανκενστάιν, αλλά περισσότερο του "πλάσματος" (τα εμβόλιμα καρέ που αυτό κατασκοπεύει από την τρύπα στον ξύλινο τοίχο την οικογένεια που του μαθαίνει -χωρίς εκείνη να το αντιλαμβάνεται- τι είναι οικογενειακή ευτυχία είναι εξαιρετικά). Ένα στοιχείο που υπονομεύει το έργο είναι οι καρτουνίστικες όψεις ορισμένων εκ των πρωταγωνιστών, με τα μεγάλα μάτια, αλλά και οι ίδιες οι εκφράσεις των ανθρώπων, τις οποίες πάντως προσπαθεί να τονίσει με ζουμ-καρέ. Το δυνατό όμως σημείο του σκιτσογράφου είναι οι τόποι και τα τοπία: το αμφιθέατρο του Ίνγκολσταντ, η απομονωμένη αγροικία στη Σκωτία, το μάυρο δάσος, το εσωτερικό του σπιτιού του τυφλού γέρου, η ταβέρνα και πολλά άλλα.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an entertaining read and I got it done in just one sitting, however, there were some parts that I felt were given too much importance and weren't really necessary. The art is pretty good, I loved their choice to use dark colors for this story, although there were times where I got a bit confused and didn't know what was going on at first, since some parts seemed like they were done in a bit of a rush.


More reviews on my blog: Lipstick and Mocha

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This adaptation of Frankenstein is a perfect example of how graphic novels can excite and prepare readers for their more complicated counterparts; particularly for more reluctant readers. A perfect addition to any middle/high school library or classroom.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hated Dr frankestiein but the setting and frankesteins monster I believe is one of my favorite most relatable characters I've read about.I'll write more on my blog soon.. I can't believe Mary Shelly wrote this at age 18.

[Alex · Rating 1 out of 5]

I completely understand that adaptation for a different medium yields a different story. However, I must question how changes to the story impact the adaptation and the story that is being told in the other medium. In places it seems like it added material without moving the story forward. In other places, it seemed slavish to the original material to a fault. It did not feel like it was approached purposefully.

For example, I don’t recall the novel being so thuddingly didactic about God versus science.

Further, finding a copy of Paradise Lost randomly dropped in the woods stretches plausibility painfully thin. This adaptation’s replacement of that with Doctor Frankenstein’s scientific notes breaks it beyond all repair.

I have to question the purpose of the addition of the titillating skinny-dipping scene: what did it add to the story being presented? Other than to shoehorn in a transition to the next scene, which was an adaptation of the scene from the film with the child tossing flowers into the lake. Why was this included? Because it was iconic? That scene fits the character of the dumb mute film version of the creature, but not the one presented by Shelley. This makes the graphic novel a Frankensteinian adaptation of the 1931 film and the book, and it’s not better for it.

I liked the addition of gore during the assembly of the creature and his bride, but they missed the opportunity to use one of the most ominous and tension-filled lines from the book: “I will be with you on your wedding night.”

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit that I have never read the book Frankenstein. I have seen movies, cartoon adaptations of it, but never read the actual book. I know the premise all too well. I just never actually sat down to read it. I still have not read it, but I decided to ease my way into it with the Papercutz graphic novel version of it. Like all the books in this series, the original story is mostly intact. There were parts here in there (Paradise Lost in place of the doctor's research notes) where liberties were taken but the graphic novel adaptation rang mostly true. The illustrations are a bit cartoony in that the characters all have big eyes. It's not my favorite illustration style, but it's one I recognize. Thankfully, most of the panels are dark. I was disappointed with the Brothers Grimm book in this series, because it felt a little too light...not Frankenstein. The artist did a good job capturing and conveying the emotional despair of this work, and I think it's an overall great way to get teenagers (or younger) interested in the classics. That is after all what the series is about, because each story always encourages the reader to go read the actual work now. That is something I plan to do, and am now one step closer!

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

totally forgot about the love plot between he and his adopted sister/cousin and how that was just arranged and regular at the time, reminded me how sad the story of frankenstein’s monster was. how he didn’t initially want to kill but was drove to it by loneliness. makes you blame frankenstein (the scientist) for what all happened. he should’ve never created life and then pushed it away. but it also begs the question of did victor have a choice? he was just trying to do what hasn’t been done before, which is something most people have had a desire to do. is it instead fate / human nature to blame? this graphic novel adds scenes in if i’m not mistaken

[Nacho · Rating 2 out of 5]

SM ha editado en España esta adaptación al comic del clásico de Shelley en lo que parece un intento de resucitar aquellas colecciones de Clásicos Ilustrados de los años 70 con una imagen más moderna. En principio, se trata de una buena idea y la adaptación resulta bastante vistosa. Sin embargo, a la larga, la narrativa es un poco precipitada y confusa y una idea que podía haber funcionado muy bien no termina de cuajar. Una lástima.

[Library of a Virgo Sun · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the creative story but I felt the pictures were sometimes a little too dark and difficult to make out at times. I didn't invest much in the characters because of the graphic novel style trying to paraphrase such a great story but I did enjoy refreshing this classic.

[Myra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent graphic novel, but I have a feeling that a lot of the details of the original have been lost. (While reading this, I determined that I have never actually read the book. It's now on the TBR list.)

[Annie Bear · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon

[Melissa]

I read the original in college and only vaguely remembered it. Reading a graphic novel adaptation made it a lot more quick and easy.

overall I feel pretty meh about it, but that's a function of the source material rather than a fault of this book. Dr. Frankenstein is just such a dick, and I hate that him being punished mostly just involves hurting people he cares about. I mean, that's certainly a way to torture someone, but I feel worse for the people who become collateral damage.