Classic Literature in Comics
November 10, 2009
Classic literature started working its way into comics in the 1940s with the Classics Illustrated series, and has really begun to bubble up in mainstream comics in order to appeal to younger generations. Masterpieces like The Count of Monte Cristo, Last of the Mohicans, and Shakespeare are available as less intimidating graphic novels; they can range from genuine text comics that quote the original novel verbatim, to plain text comics that summarize the original, much like an illustrated Cliffs Notes. Some comics, like our own Kid Beowulf series, even take classics characters and reimagine them in new stories and adventures. The purpose is to make classical literature appealing to everyone, and to use it as a teaching tool to get students excited about the dreaded dry masterpieces known as required reading. The UK site Classical Comics specializes in creating comics that educate, while Classics Central, a site for purchasing or downloading the original Classics Illustrated series, is aimed toward collectors. But classical comics aren’t just for young readers; they’re great for adults looking to have a more visual experience, or to have a more clarifying version of an intricate pièce de résistance.
