Pride and Prejudice Comic Book

[lizzbert]

Has anybody seen the new Pride and Prejudice comics that are coming out? Can these possibly be any good?

I love the book--I've studied it at least five times between high school and college--but this makes me a little nervous. I hope they don't alter the book too much to make it appealing to kids.

[Niamh]

Hang on one minute....P&P comic???? :confused: Are you for real?

[sciencefan]

Apparently, they're due out April 1st.

Comic Book Resources preview (http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=2305&disp=table)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/84/221454192_89bf7d4a8f_o.jpg

Marvel (http://marvel.com/news/comicstories.7021)

Yahoo News... interview with the author, (http://news.yahoo.com/s/newsarama/20090313/en_newsarama/prideprejudiceandcomicbookstalkingtonancybutler)

The Seattle Times (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2008909499_zliv23comics.html)

Cartoon of the 5... umm updated... sisters (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hzl7rJ_xNwE/Sb22vRrV_NI/AAAAAAAAJcA/_6BWMkS_nug/s400/GregLands_PridePrejudice.jpg)

[MissScarlett]

A Pride and Prejudice comic book? Sacrilege!

[Gustavo L.]

Hmmm I don’t know.

It seems to me that some kinds of book simply don’t work when translated to the comic book medium. Austen’s works seem to rely on wit and verbal craftsmanship rather than on powerful imagery or plot. It’s no wonder that the best comic book adaptations I’ve seen are based on Stoker’s Dracula and Eiji Yoshikawa’s Musashi, two visually rich, plot-driven novels, even if they are not the peak of literary art.

I’m of the mind that comics are essentially a visual medium (and not a half-literary, half-visual one, as authors like Neil Gaiman seem to think), and that a graphic novel should have more in common with a silent movie than with a sound one.

Well, I don't know, maybe I'm just biased. The front cover is charming anyway. :)

[Niamh]

Thats just...wrong.

[LostPrincess13]

I don't think it's going to work.

[Gustavo L.]

This one seems far worse though:

http://www.tcomics.com/showcase/classics_illus/059-060.html

[LadyWentworth]

I actually don't have a problem with this at all. If it works, then I don't care. I am actually looking forward to it (I knew about this awhile ago because I've got my brother getting the guy to order these for me at the comic book shop where he goes). Then again, maybe I am looking forward to it because I grew up with comic books. I've always liked to read them. So maybe that is why I find it somewhat intriguing. Especially because it is an adaptation of an Austen novel.


This one seems far worse though:

http://www.tcomics.com/showcase/classics_illus/059-060.html

I don't mind these. We had quite a few of these in the house when I was a kid. I actually own a few reprints of different ones. Along with some newer versions of Wuthering Heights and The Scarlet Letter. The one that irritates me is Jane Eyre because not only is she a blonde (which really doesn't look right), but she looked as if she were from the 1940's. I didn't understand it.

[kiki1982]

As with an adaptation, you can do well and you can screw up. And this one screwed up by the looks of it. Badly drawn for me, no natural folds in the clothesn some things are not of the time and Mrs Bennet is not Mrs Bennet, doesn't looks like Mrs Bennet. There is no personality in the faces.

There have been some great historical comic strips though, but not this one, I'm afraid...:(

And Jane the most beautiful... Oh, my God, then I am Napoleon!

I had opted for a drawing style in the 19th century tradition (engravings, or pen drawings, maybe even in Black-and-white, but not necessarily), with a more classic approach to faces and posture. And would certainly not have got the clothing and hairstyles wrong.

[wat??]

Funny I don't remember this in Pride and Prejudice ;)

http://www.comicbookresources.com/assets/images/preview/2305/prv2305_pg8.jpg

[wat??]

When discussing literary comics I don't think you can leave out...

http://laughingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/dostoyevsky-batman.jpg

[greenfroggsplat]

Wow, are they serious? I haven't heard of it. Although, I do hope that it won't be made "disney-like"(sorry about the word). I mean no offense to the people behind making pieces like that but I think it is a little offending to purists. I look forward to see this version of Pride and Prejudice. I'll just pray that they don't ruin the Austenesque feel. I hope I didn't sound offensive or "prejudiced" towards adaptations. Thanks

[LadyWentworth]

I think it is a little offending to purists
That is how I felt about the Keira Knightley film version, but I guess I was wrong (at least with the people on this site - the people that were in the audience at the preview of the film from the JASociety felt quite the opposite about that film - at least the people that I spoke to).

Well, my brother brought the first issue to me. I have to say that I like it. I am guilty of liking a Jane Austen comic book. So what? So far I think it is pretty good. They have remained faithful to the story. There are 4 more issues, though. I don't know how it will "end". All we can do is wait and see because they are only released once-a-month.

From what I could see on here I figured that they would be drawn more "realistically". Well, as realistic as a comic book character could be drawn (along with some exaggerated expressions). But this is made by Marvel. So there almost seems to be a touch of a Marvel "look" to the characters. It is a fairly fast read. My major complaint is the number of ads. That is fine if a Spiderman comic is filled with the ads for "The Immortal Iron Fist", but I find it kind of silly for something like "Pride and Prejudice".

Oh, and I am looking forwad to issue #2.

[maraki16]

a comic book??? i don't like comics. well, cartoons are ok, but a book comic??? a jane austen book comic? no way....this is too offensive. i don't think miss austen would approve that....

[optimisticnad]

sacrilegious i know but on the upside it is making classics available to a certain type of audience who would have otherwise completely missed out. So relax. I won't be reading them (well who knows, if one comes across my way i might give in to curiosity) but I feel no need to deprive others. I think a jane austen comic woud acutally be a perfect gift for my younger brother who had no interest in reading 'stuffy victorian romances'.

[The Comedian]

A Pride and Prejudice comic book would be total perfection. I love, love, love, love the idea. I will be keeping an eye on this thread with keen interest.

[mtpspur]

Well people as a comic book fantatic for well over 50 years it's time to weigh in. Issue 2 of 5 has been published and I have thoroughly enjoyed the artwork and adaptation. I have ONE serious complaint however. The covers are designed as if they are an 19th century version of Cosmoplitan and is the only blemish on the project. The adaptor is Nancy Butler who pays attention to the details and tries her best to put in as much as she can into each issue of Austen's novel. I salute Marvel for having the courage to take a chance on this project. It actually finally got me off my duff to where I have in the last four days been READING the novel online here (finished yesterday) and I am anxiously awaiting issue 3 now. I fully recommend this to anyone. NOW-don't get me started on the dreadful Captain Blood adaptation that just got released.