Gothic Classics: Graphic Classics Volume 14

Excellent artwork, but it's all black and white. And alas, my used copy came with another horrible price sticker impossible to remove. Note to used book sellers - try to get those off before selling

This is a comic book version of Carmilla. I really enjoyed seeing it illustrated in comics fashion. Really well done. Carmilla is the first story, ( there are 3 others), and the best.

My kids love this! The illustrations were really neat and the storyline compelling. The kids who enjoy gothic writing will love this. This is a great way to get reluctant readers involved in literature.

I LOOOOVED this gothic classics volume! The Northanger Abbey adaptation was just great!!! (The others too, bu I'm a NA fan so I was very strict when judging that one =P)

It was a definite reading date when I spotted the title. What a fun anticipation for the three short stories and three novellas within that have been adapted and illustrated in graphic novel format.The adapted classics were written and illustrated by a separate team for each so there is a variety of styles as well as gothic story.The first entry is a funny short vignette, I've a Pain in My Head by Jane Austen. Illustrator, Molly Kiely.This is followed by the atmospheric and gory predecessor to Stoker's Dracula, called Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan La Fanu. Adaptor: Rod Lott, Illustrator: Lisa WeberThen a dramatic Regency Horror which was well adapted called The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe. Adaptor: Antonia Caputo, Illustrator: Carlo VegaraEdgar Allen Poe's Short, The Oval Portrait was quick, but a good shocker. Adaptor: Tom Pomplun, Illustrator: Leong Wan WokGoing light and whimsical with Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey which is more a play on gothic than part of the genre itself. Adaptor: Trina Robbins, Illustrator: Anne TimmonsAnd, last, a sweet ghostly At the Gate by Myla Jo Closser. Adaptor: Tom Pomplun, Illustrator: Shari FlennikenSince I have very little knowledge of graphic novels, I have little judgment for what is technically well done graphics or adaption work. I can only go on my own past experience with the original authors and how these versions struck me. First of all, I've read from three of the five authors in the past so I found the adaptions of their works in good spirit of the originals. Personally, I was most impressed with Caputo's work on The Mysteries of Udolpho because I know that to be a long, meandering work and in this adaption, the essentials of the story and the tightened plot made this a much more welcome read than the original. The others were engaging and entertaining. I found the graphics to give tribute to the historical context and atmospheric tone of the story. The characters were full of expression and helped enhance the brief word bubbles.All in all, it was exactly what I was hoping for- entertaining and engaging tribute to the genre and the classics depicted.

My actual rating is 4.5* as the last story just didn't do it for me. Out of 5 stories and one poem, the first 4 stories are classic Gothic tales by the great authors of the genre from their period in time. Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu was fantastic; a vampire story which influenced Stoker. I love this prolific Victorian short story writer and this was my favourite in the collection. Then comes Ann Radcliffe's "The Mysteries of Udolpho", a classic of the genre and considered one of the first such novels. I haven't read the novel yet so this was fun to read, though it is such a complicated and convoluted story that adaptation only makes it more so. Edgar Allan Poe's short piece "The Oval Portrait" is well done, then follows Jane Austen's pastiche of the genre "Northanger Abbey" which readily makes references to "Udolpho". I'm not a fan of Austen, but I've read some of her works including this and must say I enjoyed the graphic much more than the novel! My only complaint is the last story by Myla Jo Closser, whom I'd never heard of, entitled "At the Gate". I wouldn't by any definition call this Gothic. A story of dogs in Heaven. It is a bright, happy, cheerful story (those are not elements of Gothic) and with the wealth of Gothic short stories available I'm sure a more appropriate title could have been selected for inclusion instead. Otherwise a fine volume with the usual pleasing art and a special call out to Lisa K. Weber's excellent work on "Carmilla".

This was modern and very well presented. It woul appeal to any teenager studying the Gothic genre. It was nice to see Northanger Abbey included.

The product is new and in perfect state, thenk you very much