Reading the Classics, Graphic Novel Style

Dodie Ownes -- School Library Journal, 10/15/2008

Think it’s hard to get a 6th-grade class excited about reading Shakespeare? Or maybe push the high school freshmen through Beowulf? If you’re old enough to remember the Classics Illustrated comic books, you’ll be glad to know that they’re back, along with a whole army of other graphic novel lines that promise to encourage readers to get into, and through, the classics.

The “Graphic Myths and Legends”series from Lerner Publishing first appeared on the scene in Fall 2006 and currently features 27 titles. While adaptations of classic titles like Beowulf and Tristan & Isolde make up much of the line, Lerner has ventured further into world classic literature and has included unique works such as Pigling, a Cinderella tale of Korean origin, and Marwe: Into the Land of the Dead, based on an East African legend. Beautifully illustrated, many by cartoonists working for publishers such as DC and Marvel, each title also contains a glossary and pronunciation guide, brief bibliography, index, and author/artist note.

Stone Arch Books, an imprint of Capstone Publishing, also introduced a graphic novel classics series in 2006. The “Graphic Revolve”series is designed specifically with the reluctant or struggling reader in mind using a low reading level with high interest graphics and storytelling, making retold titles such as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Gulliver’s Travels more accessible and less daunting. A glossary, authors’ notes, discussion questions, writing prompts, and nonfiction backgrounder are included for each of the 14 titles in the series (with four more due in 2009).

In October 2007, Papercutz started the process of introducing a whole new generation of readers to the “Classics Illustrated”series that was published starting in 1941 and through the early 1970s. Publisher Terry Nantier plans to work through the 27 titles in the series first reissued by Berkley First Publishing in the early ’90s. The Papercutz issue of Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass, adapted by Eisner award-winner Kyle Baker, captures the frenetic wonder of Alice’s encounters with strange beings on the other side of the mirror in a way that will captivate graphic novel fans and reluctant readers. Like many titles in the series, there is information in the appendix about the original “Classics Illustrated” series, and a profile of the cartoonist. Watch for Frankenstein and a collection of Edgar Allen Poe poems coming in 2009.

Marvel Comics introduced the “Marvel Illustrated” line of graphic literature in early 2008. These hardcover adaptations of the classics are collections of the comic versions. Having a problem with reluctant boy readers? Stick the “Marvel Illustrated” version of The Iliad in their hands, which resembles a print version of the movie 300, and they’ll be back for more. The French and Indian War, as presented in The Last of the Mohicans, takes on the feeling of a thriller rather than historical fiction when rendered by Marvel’s creative team. Because of some explicit violence, these are best for slightly older readers.

Educators and media specialists working in blended classroom or differentiated instruction environments are sure to get excited about the 13 new and forthcoming titles being issued by Classical Comics, an imprint out of the United Kingdom. Each Shakespeare title is available at three different reading levels – original text (full unabridged), plain text (plain English translation with equivalent word count) or quick text (half the dialogue with simpler vocabulary) – but with all the same gorgeous and richly detailed illustrations. Classical Comics is also providing free teacher and student resources via its Web site for the forthcoming Romeo & Juliet and The Tempest, and even though these are correlated with British assessments, stateside educators will appreciate the tools. Heinle/Cengage Learning has also just introduced a classroom pack that includes an audio CD along with selected Classical Comics titles.