Cleopatra: with illustrated

by William B. Jones Jr.

Classics Illustrated is a comic book series featuring adaptations of literary classics such as Moby Dick, Hamlet, and The Iliad. Created by Albert Kanter, the series began publication in 1941 and finished its first run in 1971, producing 169 issues. Following the series' demise, various companies reprinted its titles.

The first five titles were published irregularly under the banner "Classic Comics Presents" while issues six and seven were published under the banner "Classic Comics Library" with a ten-cent cover price. Arabian Nights (issue 8), illustrated by Lillian Chestney, is the first issue to use the "Classics Comics" banner.

With the fourth issue, The Last of the Mohicans, in 1942, Kanter moved the operation to different offices and the corporate identity was changed to the Gilberton Company, Inc.. Reprints of previous titles began in 1943. Wartime paper shortages forced Kanter to reduce the 64-page format to 56 pages.

Genres: Comics

302 pages, Paperback

Published September 28, 2021

Reviews

[Osama Siddique · Rating 2 out of 5]

This H. Rider Haggard tale is told from the perspective of Prince Harmachis - descendant and heir of the ancient Pharaohs - and raised clandestinely to overthrow Queen Cleopatra and thus Greek and Roman rule through the Ptolemaic dynasties over Egypt. Smuggled into Cleopatra's court as an astrologer he is on the brink of taking the plot to its logical culmination by killing the Queen but realizes that he has fallen for her charms. Cleopatra discovers his treachery but invites him to join her in order to bridge the divides amongst her people. The plot is crushed and Harmachis is reduced to being her astrologer.

Enter Mark Antony. To raise funds to fight Mark Antony she prevails upon Hermachis who is the hereditary priest of the pyramids to reveal their secrets, promising to marry him and to use the treasure to oust Antony. However she betrays him, has him taken captive and seeks peace with Mark Antony. Anyone who thus squanders the sacred treasure is cursed by the curse of Menkau-ra and against this backdrop the more familiar story of Antony and Cleopatra unfolds. Through the aid of his loyal and doting cousin Charmion who is a spy acting as a courtier in the court, Hermachis manages to escape (though as she admits it was her who betrayed him in the first instance, also counseling the Queen to choose Antony, when she felt spurned by him on expressing her love). Feeling on a galley he escapes being thrown overboard. He went into seclusion and atonement as events elsewhere proceeded as to the Queen and Mark Antony.

Gaining fame as an ascetic of miraculous powers word reached Cleopatra who knew not his identity, sought his counsel and he counseled here to her doom. Reconciling Antony to her so that she does not reach an understanding with their foe Octavius he planned their end, meanwhile alienating support for them from within the kingdom. Playing a role in the betrayal of Antony's navy and cavalry Hermachis paved the way for Octavius. Antony flees thinking Cleopatra betrayed him, sends her that message and she then famously sends back message that she did not betray him and that she will be no more. Learning of that Mark Antony stabs himself to death. In response Cleopatra drinks a deadly draught. Charmion follows suit. As the story ends Hermachis awaits the verdict of the priests after confessing to the initial betrayal of the cause.

This is an interesting angle to approach the known story of Antony and Cleopatra. However, nothing outstanding. The art is ordinary mostly but good at times.