Moby Dick

by Lance Stahlberg (Adaptor), Lalit Kumar Singh (Illustrator), Herman Melville

It was an obsession that would destroy them all...

On a cold December night, a young man called Ishmael rents a room at an inn in Massachusetts. He has come from Manhattan to the north-east of America to sign up for a whaling expedition.

Later that same night, as Ishmael is sleeping, a heavily tattooed man wielding a blade enters his room. This chance meeting is just the start of what will become the greatest adventure of his life.

The next day, Ishmael joins the crew of a ship known as the Pequod. He is approached by a man dressed in rags who warns him that, if he sails under the command of Captain Ahab, he may never come back. Undaunted, Ishmael returns early the next morning and leaves for the high seas.

For the crew of the Pequod, their voyage is one of monetary gain. For Captain Ahab, however, it is a mission driven by hatred, revenge, and his growing obsession with the greatest creature of the sea.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Classics, Comics, Fiction, Adventure, Young Adult

88 pages, Paperback

Published July 27, 2010

Reviews

[Jon M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, and you should read it. I didn't think it deserved 5 stars because of the ending. And if you don't mind, I'll completely spoil it for you.





--------------------------SPOILER----------------------------------------

The captain, Captain Ahab, of the ship, The Pequod, wanted revenge, desperately, on the whale, Moby Dick, for taking his leg years ago. After years of searching he finally finds Moby Dick and goes out to kill it in a row-boat. The whale goes under the ship, and when it comes back up, it completely destroys the whole Pequod. The captain throws the harpoon and it hits the whale, BUT, the rope on the end of it catches his throat and it drags him to the whale, suffocating him. The end.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like to consider this book Jaws except with a lot more blubber. If I can't even get through the abridged graphic novel of Moby Dick, God help me if I ever have the pleasure of being forced to read this.

[Apratim Mukherjee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a graphic adaptation of the Moby Dick,a classic considered in the literary world.The art work is brilliant but the book was finished in 88 pages.I think the book should have atleast been 150 pages long astechnically speaking,I have read the book but I think I have just dug in to Moby Dick.
I later realised that many features like the character traits of the crew,challenge made by Ahab to Moby Dick etc.were 'brutally' chopped out by the publishers.
The targeted readers for the books I think are children.So,I am giving it a three out of five.

[Giovanni Gelati · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a little bit perplexed and shocked to have seen that this graphic novel had gotten 126,000 ratings on Goodreads. I mean, I enjoyed it, but that would make this one heck of a popular graphic novel. What I came to discover though was that this was not just a rating for the graphic novel but also the book itself. I am sticking to the graphic novel, I enjoyed that much more. If you have read any of my previous posts on the Campfire graphic novels (if you haven’t, please feel free to browse the archives), you will find that I have to not just enjoy but embrace their mission statement; they really stick to it.
The graphic novel is nice enough to give in detail a bit about the author of the novel Moby Dick, Herman Melville, and give some interesting facts on his life and times. The artwork is fitting for the times and just right, both inviting and engaging. The dialogue is nice and seems to capture the essence and heart of the story. I am passing this onto my younger children to read so they can enjoy the novel when it is their time to read it. I think it will not only heighten their experience but take it to another level of understanding and appreciation.
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[Stephanie Gamache · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stahlberg, L., Kumar, S. L., & Melville, H. (2011). Moby Dick. New Dehli, India: Campfire.
Target Audience: Ages 8+

Ishmael has made a decision, he will sail in order to see the world, the “watery parts” that is. Not before long he meets Queequeg, a savage turned whale hunter, who decides to take Ishmael under his wing as they go on an unintentional adventure among the crew of the Pequod. Captain Ahab has different plans than just regular whale hunting much to the chagrin of his crew. He wishes to catch the king of whales, Moby Dick, but whether this is for the financial gain of the crew or to take care of a personal vendetta is hard to tell, though most can assume. Moby Dick may not have a surprising ending but it’s a story most cannot put down.

Campfire Classics graphic novel Moby Dick is an adaptation of Herman Melville critically acclaimed 1851 novel The Whale. Lance Stahlberg and illustrator Lalit Kumar Singh take a 544 page novel and turn it into an 84 page graphic novel that uses stunning comic style imagery and few words to tell the same compelling story. Stahlberg and Singh have created a shorter version of an otherwise daunting read and turned it into something young adults and adults can easily enjoy. While I have never personally read Melville’s novel this shortened version made it possible for me to learn what all the hype was about and to decide if I was ready to pick up the original. I am not; I still do not have a desire to read the classic.

[Kate Dostálová · Rating 4 out of 5]

Klasika v novém kabátu. Snad všichni aspoň z doslechu znají Moby Dicka, bílou velrybu. Komiksové zpracování je ideální pro ty, co chtějí mít trochu přehledu, ale třeba nemají čas na přečtení celé knihy. Izmael se shodou náhod setká s divochem Kvíkvegem. Tomu padne do oka a stanou se z nich přátelé, kteří se spolu vydají hledat velrybářskou loď, na které by mohli plout. Jednu takovou najdou, ale jeden námořník v přístavu je varuje před kapitánem lodi Achabem. I přes to se Izmael s Kvíkvegem přidají k velrybářské posádce na jeho lodi. Až pozdeji zjistí, že co se povídá o jejich novém kapitánovi je pravda. Kapitán má na mysli jediné: odplatu, pomstu a zášt vůči Moby Dickovi, který ho připravil o nohu. Ale Podle námořníků, kteři Moby Dicka viděli nebo o něm slyšeli myslí Moby Dick na to samé. Posádka je na širém moři a má příznivý vítr... ale je vážně příznivý?

[Kay Mcgriff · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, a confession. I tried to read the original Moby Dick by Herman Melville, but gave up about 1/3 of the way into it. I simply couldn't take any more of the overblown description. I stopped just after meeting Captain Ahab and deciding he was completely nuts. I still am not a fan of the story (seriously, who decided this one gets classics status?), but at least I could get through the graphic novel adaptation and learn what happened to the crazy Captain, Queehog, and our fearless narrator. The color illustrations enlivened the story, and the dialogue captured just enough feel of the writing to bring back nightmares. Hey, can I say I've read Moby Dick now?

[Mari Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant! A long and virtually unreadable (at least by me) classic, condensed into a beautifully and brilliantly illustrated graphic novel. The FIRST time I have ever finished Moby Dick! I am definiteley going to be picking up more of these Campfire Classics! Got this one at the Dundee Book Fair! Yeah Book Fair!

[Aj · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good in my opinion. I put this book in historical genre. This book is about this character named Ishmael who wants to go whaling and finds a job on captain Ahab's ship. On Ahab's ship Ishmael meets new people and goes on a journey to find the whale they call Moby Dick. When they find the whale Capitan Ahab yells "their she blows" and then the hunt begins to get the whale.

[Mike Raymond · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is pretty much like the regular Moby Dick book with the same story line except in the form of a comic. Personally I thought it was a pretty good book but sometimes hard to read because not all of the characters spoke clear English. If you liked the original book than you would probably like this as well.

[Jennifer Mangler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit that I've never read the original Moby Dick, though I know the basics of the story. I've always meant to read it, and maybe someday I will. When I saw a student reading this, I thought of this as a way of dipping my toe in the water. I enjoyed the story, though I think it could have been a bit longer. This version was intriguing enough to make me want to read the original.

[Jessica Hollo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting adaptation, made a compelling comic book. But knowing the orginal story well, I think it cut out too much to really care about the characters, or make effective drama. Good intro from young readers I guess?

[Nidhi Srivastava]

Haven't read the original so can't really say anything about this. Art is amazing though.

[lu.books07 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zase nic extra zvláštního a skvělého, ale příběh byl zajímavý a čtivý.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw the novel Moby Dick and started to read it, I was like, "NAH!" That is way too wordy and the language is arcane. But I'd read In the Heart of the Sea and have been intrigued by the story since. Because Melville actually traveled back to where the whale was with the captain, I really wanted to read Moby Dick. It was just sooo much.

This graphic novel has been on my TBR list for a while, and I finally sat down to read it. It is quick and easy to read. It's better if you know some of the whaling terms and how things worked back then, which I do from the other book and some research. I recommend this as a first step to anyone who has to read the original novel just so you know what it's about.

[Cathy Sheetz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tale of Ishmael, Queequeg and Captain Ahab on the sea with their emotions and sea creatures. This classic tale is told in cartoon style with short captions and speaking bubbles.

A graphic novel is a great way to make a story more accessible to struggling readers. This is adapted well by Lance Stahlberg. The only concerns are some of the harmful prejudices and stereotypes of the time of the author are preserved in the graphic novel, for example, Queequeg is referred to as a savage. This would be an appropriate book for a classroom library if discussion could happen around the terms used.

[Giulia · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Não me fale de blasfêmias. Atacaria o sol se ele me insultasse."

Escolhi ler a versão em quadrinhos de Moby Dick porque sinto que não teria paciência o suficiente para ler sobre caça às baleias por 648 páginas, embora muitos digam que é uma obra e tanto. Achei a arte bem bonita, muito parecida com artes de comic books e a história teve um bom ritmo.
Acho que por ter sido encurtada em 88 páginas, alguns fatores devem ter faltado que fizeram eu não me impactar tanto com o final. Esperava algo à mais... porém, para o que se propõe acho que fica de bom tamanho. Quem sabe algum dia vou ter coragem de ler a versão original..

[Maria Figueredo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Um livro péssimo, história fútil, uma verdadeira história pra homem hétero, branco e velho, não me impressiona que foi escrito a muitíssimos anos atrás. Livro muito cruel, pra que matar uma baleia aleatória que você denominou que era a tal Moby Dick? Como você vai culpar um animal irracional? Ela arrancou tua perna porque VOCÊ estava tentando matá-la, isso só prova o quão o Acab é péssimo, um verdadeiro homem a moda antiga: idiota, rude, preconceituoso e desrespeitoso.

[Annette Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great way to get the story without wading through pages of Ishmaels inner thoughts and philosophising. It cuts to the chase (almost literally) and is an exciting (if very truncated in this form) story. This isn't the version I read. I read the one by Rodriguez and Segesso but can't find it on goodreads.

[Alpi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I finally know about favorite book of Fone Bone.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess that I shouldn't be surprised by the ending, but I still am! I've never read the actual novel, so I'm grateful for this version of the story.

[Steve S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enough to understand the gist of the novel

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rtc

[Chevie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i first saw it in a movie as a prop and i immediately wanted to buy it, and honestly i dont regret anything. moby dick reanimated my love for reading and helped me discover it all over again.

[Fran Flowerz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A ganância que te move é a mesma que te mata

[Mickey Bits · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel adaptation of the classic novel is one among many. It's succinct and hits all of the main parts of the book. A good review for those needing a refresher, like me.

[Benja · Rating 5 out of 5]

¿Qué decir sobre esta novela que no se haya dicho ya? La historia del capitán Ahab que ha perdido una pierna en su combate particular contra la ballena blanca, Moby Dick, y que en su afán de venganza arrastra a toda la tripulación al desastre para conseguir su objetivo, matar a la ballena.

El tema principal de la obra, que es la venganza del Capitán Ahab contra Moby Dick se podría resumir en una novela corta, casi en un pequeño cuento. Sin embargo las dimensiones de la obra son colosales pues en ella se expresan multitud de detalles sobre la vida en el mar, las técnicas de caza de ballenas, páginas y páginas sobre el estudio de los cetáceos, los tipos de ballenas, su clasificación, sobre el aprovechamiento de los mismos (grasa, esperma, carne, huesos, etc.), todo lo que uno quiera saber y más sobre estos magníficos animales marinos.

Sin estas descripciones la obra se reduciría enormemente. Pero son esas descripciones tan minuciosas las que construyen un ambiente marinero extraordinario. Todo gira en torno a las ballenas y su mundo. Sin esas páginas sería imposible impregnarse de ese ambiente ballenero, del mundo de la caza de las ballenas que tan magníficamente está plasmado.

Hay descripciones que con la mirada de hoy día serían tachados indudablemente de extrema crueldad, pues nos cuenta el desmembramiento de los cetáceos cazados con todo detalle y sin olvidar la sangre que corre a raudales por los barcos balleneros. Hoy resulta por lo menos turbio.

Me llamó la atención que en la descripción taxonómica que hace de las ballenas se plantee si son mamíferos o peces, llegando a la conclusión de que son más próximos a los peces que a los mamíferos. Afirmación que hoy día cualquier niño de primaria diría que es errónea. Y sin embargo en la novela, para afirmar tal hecho, recurre a la mención de numerables autores científicos y sus obras de estudio de cetáceos en donde se concluye tal aseveración. Me intriga si estos autores son reales así como sus obras, o son inventados por Herman Melville para darle mas enjundia a la novela. Tendré que hacer una búsqueda por internet a ver qué me cuenta de eso.

La trama de la novela es archiconocida. El comienzo de la misma "Llamadme Ismael" es sencillo y sin embargo de una gran fuerza. Al menos a mi me lo parece o a lo mejor estoy magnificando estas palabras, no lo sé.

Ismael es el narrador de la obra, nos cuenta cómo se enrola de marinero en el Pequod, el ballenero anclado en el puerto de Nantucket, cómo conoce a uno de los personajes principales, el arponero Queequeg, de una forma un tanto extraña en una habitación de una fonda, la aparición del Capitán Ahab, que se hace esperar largamente, la devoción de sus oficiales hacia su Capitán... Y sobre todo la obsesión enfermiza del Capitán Ahab por encontrarse con la ballenas blanca, Moby Dick, por la que recorrerá todos los mares para ir en su búsqueda y satisfacer su sed de venganza. Y de cómo al final esta obsesión le llevará a su propia muerte, a la destrucción y hundimiento del ballenero Pequod y de toda su tripulación, salvo Ismael que será rescatado y el que nos cuente su historia.

La obra es maravillosa, magnífica, extraordinaria. Y he tenido la inmensa suerte de escucharla en audiolibro en la maravillosa voz de Josep María Pou, un actor español con una voz prodigiosa. No puedo imaginarme a Moby Dick sin esta voz. Ha sido un auténtico placer disfrutar de su tono cadencioso y su perfecta dicción.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have yet to read the novel form of Moby Dick, but I enjoy reading the graphic novel because it gave me a shortened sense of the story and made me what to read the extended novel version now that I know what the story is about.

Moby Dick is the story about a man named Ishmael who signs up to be a sailor for a whaling adventure. While signing up for his excursion, Ishmael runs into a man named Queequeg who is also looking to be a harpooner on a whaling ship. These men become fast friends and end up signing up to be on the same ship named the Pequod. Once aboard Ishamel and Queequeg are introduced to the crew, and captain Ahabs. The captain was interested in hunting all types of whales (as this was a whaling ship), but captain Ahabs was searching for one whale in particular named Moby Dick. This was the whale that bit off captain Ahabs leg, leaving him with only one leg.

See my full review here --> https://fictiondepictions.wordpress.c...

[Ethan L]

Ishmael has to find a crew that is fit for hunting a god like whale, Moby Dick. He finds queegueg, Stubb, and Starbuck. Queequeg is very strong and talks in short sentences, he is also very good with a harpoon. Both Stubb and Starbuck help keep the ship together. Shortly before Ishmael leaves to go onto the ship he remembers that he will need a captain. While talking to the owners a captain named Captain Ahab. They also noticed that he had only one leg this is because of the famous Moby Dick. After they set sail they find a few whales and another ship looking for whales to. The ship started to break down and oil stated to leak. Just before they were going to give up a snow hill like object emerged out of the water...

[Kiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never did manage to wade through Melville's baroque language and read Moby Dick in its original form. So I was happy to have the chance to pick up this beautiful, short graphic novel version of the story. It is very readable, delightfully illustrated, vivid and full of adventure. Some bits are a little hard to follow because they are visited so quickly and briefly, but overall you can enjoy sampling this story though dramatic images and snappy dialogue and marvel anew at the tragic insanity of Captain Ahab.