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Jack London

B&W

144 pages

$11.95 US/$14.50 Can

 

Jack London.  All I really knew about him was that he was a writer and most people would probably say the same.  So it was good to see Graphic Classics produce a book that carries some biographical information as well as adaptions of some of his work.

 

Jim Nelson’s incredible cover based on “The Red One” sets the scene and I must admit that I cannot recall ever having heard of this story.  Then again,my memory and the amount I read I may have read it but not in the last thirty years!

 

The actual adaption of  The Red One is by –oh,what a surprise!- Tom Pomplun and is illustrated by one of my Graphic Classic favourites,Mark A. Nelson.  The almost woodcut style is very atmospheric.

 

Then we have the adaption of London’s “Jan The Unrepentant” by none other than that great British treasure –Hunt Emerson!  Yes,how can you go wrong with Hunt Emerson ?

 

“To Kill A Man” is adapted by Rod Lott and drawn Kostas Aronis.  There is a very nice use of line art and grey tone by Aronis which is quite effective.

 

“Just Meat” is adapted and drawn by Onsmith Jeremi.  I’m sure that I have mentioned Jeremi in an earlier review but me and names!  The art style is unique and works well –and I’ll come back to art styles in a while.

 

“The Wit Of Porportuk” is adapted by Pomplun and drawn by Arnold Arre. Now I do know that I have mentioned Arre before and the incredible art in this strip shows why! The faces and expressions are great and Arre is following a long fine  tradition of Philippino artists.

 

And there is a joy in the form of “The Handsome Cabin Boy”,adapted by Trina Robbins and illustrated by Anne Timmons. It’s obviously an old story [duh!] but if you’ve never heard of it or read it I can tell you it is worth reading!

 

Milton Knight adapts and draws “Moon Face” and has a lovely comical style. 

And “The Francis Spaight” is illustrated by John W. Pierard in yet another great style.

 

I’ve said it before and it’s worth saying again so here goes. These books are not just a collection of comic strips there are illustrations,some text and even biographical notes on the contributors.  They are also books that you can read –even just browse through- over and over.  And the quality and price is hard to beat.

So,learn a bit more about Jack London and see some great talents at work!

 

 

Bram Stoker

B&W

144 pages

$11.95

 

Oddly enough I have heard of Bram Stoker!

 

The Mark A.Nelson cover is incredibly stylistic and it sets the tone for the rest of the book.

 

“Dracula” is adapted by Rich Rainey,and that would be a task for any writer but Rainey does a decent job. 

Joe Ollmann illustrates the 40+ page story in a style I was a little unsure of at first –in fact,I’m still not sure what I think.  There is nothing wrong with the art and it works okay and it could just be me as there was a Full Moon recently.  Enjoyable enough,though.

 

Tom Pomplun “freely” adapts an excerpt from Dracula to give us “Vampire Hunter’s Guide”.  Now,when I tell you that the illustrations are provided by one Hunt Emerson you know I’m gonna say this is good!  It’s good.

 

“The Judge’s House” is adapted by one of my favourites,Gerry Alanguilan.  The first page is very striking and stylish and when you see the final page –it will stick in your mind for quite a while!

 

“The Bridal Of Death” is from The Jewel Of Seven Stars –if you are a horror film buff you’ll know that was the premise for the 1970s

UK horror flick “The Mummy’s Hand” starring Valerie Leon.  The stylish art is by J. B. Bonivert –who also provides a nice back cover illo. Nice.

“Torture

Tower” is adapted from “The Squaw” –Onsmith Jeremi does a great job but with 12-14 panels per page!  That’s work!

 

“The Wondrous Child” is a text story,edited by Pomplun.  The illustrations accompanying it are by Evert Geradts and must be grey scale scans of colour work. Real fun.

 

I have a major complaint about “Lair Of The White Worm”,adapted by Pomplun and stylishly drawn by Rico Schacherl.  The complaint?  Where is Amanda Donohoe?!  Or might I have just been too impressed by Ken Russell’s film?  Anyhow,this is enjoyably drawn and quite a yarn.

 

Perhaps this volume will make people realise that Stoker didn’t just write Dracula!

 

 

 

O. Henry

B&w

144 pages

$11.95

U.S.

Heard of him but knew next to nothing about him.  It seems that,like Jack London,Henry [real name William Sydney Porter] lived quite a life! 

Included in this volume are “The Ransom Of Red Chief”,”The Caballero’s Way”,”Gift Of The Magi”,”The Cisco Kid”,”Roads Of Destiny” and more.

 

Esao Andrews drew the neat cover.  Mark A. Nelson,Rick Geary,Rico Schacherl,Gerry Alanguilan and the usual GC stalwarts are all present but there are a few surprises.

 

Tom Neely has a very retro style which he uses to great effect in “A Strange Story”. 

The same might be said of Johnny Ryan’s work on “The Ransom Of Red Chief”. 

But the one I really liked was “The Gift Of The Magi”,adapted by Pomplun and illustrated in the truly unique style of Lisa K. Weber –providing a nice back cover illo to boot.  Weber I must admit I’ve become a fan of through Graphic Classics.

 

Hmm..a Lisa K. Weber CBO interview?

 

Really,I have to admit that it is clear when someone says “Comics are all super heroes or Manga” they just have not looked.  In the UK we have Cinebook and Classical Comics  –both available in the US-  but Graphic Classics is based in the US and provides high quality collections of strips in books that would make a fine library for anyone interested in comics,or,as I’m told they must be called now,graphic illustration!