Graphic Classics: Jack London, by Jack London, Trina Robbins, Rod Lott, Antonella Caputo
Book Review by Heather Hunt
Have you read this book?
I remember reading Jack London's longer fiction, such as "The Call of the Wild" and "White Fang" back in school and enjoying his reporter's depiction of "nature red in tooth and claw." So I don't know if a) my tastes have changed, b) London's short fiction isn't as compelling, or c) his writing doesn't adapt well to the graphic novel form. Because I can't say I enjoyed the stories in Graphic Classics: Jack London much at all. And perhaps that interfered with my appreciation of the art, because I wasn't very impressed with that either. Maybe story really is all ...
This second edition includes a one-page London biography, 11 stories, and 1 essay. In 144 pages of quality stock paper and clear printing, 19* artists, letterers, and adapters do their best to present London's dark stories of unrepentant and virtually hopeless human depravity. The cover title "The Red One" involves head shrinking and human sacrifice, "The Wit of Porportuk" is appropriately described as "a tragedy of the frozen North," and the title of "A Thousand Deaths" about covers its subject. Even the one dog story, "That Spot," which is dubbed a "canine comedy," is pretty dark indeed.
The only color in the book appears on the front and back covers, which depict scenes from "The Red One," illustrated by Jim Nelson (though the story itself is illustrated by Mark A. Nelson) and "That Spot," illustrated by Nick Miller respectively. I understand that inside color would have raised the price, but it also may have improved the product. As it is now, I kept fighting the urge to reach for my crayons and use it as a coloring book.
Eureka Productions puts out a whole line of graphic classics, and I appreciate their attempt to introduce these literary authors to a new generation. I also realize that the readership of graphic novels does gravitate toward underground, edgy stories, so this collection may be right up their (dark) alley.
I confess I am not very knowledgeable about this section of the publishing universe, however, so I don't know any of the contributors' other work. But since the intended audience probably will recognize some of the names, let me conclude by listing the contributors for those who may collect their work:
*Tom Pomplun, Jim Nelson, Mort Castle, Roger Langridge, Mark A. Nelson, Hunt Emerson, Rod Lott, Kostas Aronis, Onsmith Jeremi, Arnold Arre, Trina Robbins, Anne Timmons, Antonella Caputo, Nick Miller, Peter Kuper, John W. Pierard, Spain Rodriguez, Milton Knight, J. B. Bonivert.
This second edition includes a one-page London biography, 11 stories, and 1 essay. In 144 pages of quality stock paper and clear printing, 19* artists, letterers, and adapters do their best to present London's dark stories of unrepentant and virtually hopeless human depravity. The cover title "The Red One" involves head shrinking and human sacrifice, "The Wit of Porportuk" is appropriately described as "a tragedy of the frozen North," and the title of "A Thousand Deaths" about covers its subject. Even the one dog story, "That Spot," which is dubbed a "canine comedy," is pretty dark indeed.
The only color in the book appears on the front and back covers, which depict scenes from "The Red One," illustrated by Jim Nelson (though the story itself is illustrated by Mark A. Nelson) and "That Spot," illustrated by Nick Miller respectively. I understand that inside color would have raised the price, but it also may have improved the product. As it is now, I kept fighting the urge to reach for my crayons and use it as a coloring book.
Eureka Productions puts out a whole line of graphic classics, and I appreciate their attempt to introduce these literary authors to a new generation. I also realize that the readership of graphic novels does gravitate toward underground, edgy stories, so this collection may be right up their (dark) alley.
I confess I am not very knowledgeable about this section of the publishing universe, however, so I don't know any of the contributors' other work. But since the intended audience probably will recognize some of the names, let me conclude by listing the contributors for those who may collect their work:
*Tom Pomplun, Jim Nelson, Mort Castle, Roger Langridge, Mark A. Nelson, Hunt Emerson, Rod Lott, Kostas Aronis, Onsmith Jeremi, Arnold Arre, Trina Robbins, Anne Timmons, Antonella Caputo, Nick Miller, Peter Kuper, John W. Pierard, Spain Rodriguez, Milton Knight, J. B. Bonivert.
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