Found: Henry V GN.
I’m getting a tad ahead of myself; here’s a graphic novel discovered in the process of compiling the new Comics 500 (which, as can guessed from the name, is similar to the previously-posted-over-the-past-year Manga 500, only moreso) and in fact, I’m featuring this title as a ‘found’ comic because it will not be a part of the new charts.
I made a decision to not include graphic adaptations of works in the public domain (though I will make at least three exceptions) (more on that later) so yeah, Classics Illustrated doesn’t make the cut. Neither does this:
Henry V, the Graphic Novel: Original Text
isbn 9781906332419, available online
Text by Bill Shakes, Adaptation: John McDonald, Pencils: Neill Cameron, Inks: Bambos, Colouring: Jason Cardy & Kat Nicholson, Lettering: Nigel Dobbyn
From the publisher, Classical Comics —
Shakespeare’s rousing tale of war and peace between England and France during the reign of Henry V springs to life in this unabridged, full-color graphic adaptation. Every scene, every speech, and every battle is here, from “Once more unto the breach” to the decisive Battle of Agincourt, all in Shakespeare’s original language. The lively illustrations accurately depict the era’s costumes and settings.
I love Henry V. (…in a Shakespearean sense). My favourite movie is Branagh’s adaptation, my favourite adaptation of the play is Olivier’s movie; I can quote the St. Crispin’s Day speech at will — “We Happy Few, We Band of Brothers.”
My affection for the work, and even my acknowledgement that the skills needed for an adaptation are no less that that required for an original work, doesn’t change the fact that if one considers “illustrated classics” as a genre as a whole — there is a lot more bad than good. And it can be difficult to track as a property and series: does one consider the output of the publisher as a whole, or does one track Hamlet, Pride and Prejudice, and Treasure Island as independent properties with the various publishers’ iterations as merely another issue of the series?
It’s not a question I have to answer. I can skip the whole of it, entire.
I regret not giving due credit to pubs for their work in breathing new life unto the classics, but then again: while you may not have a number on a chart, I give you my personal recommendation. It’s what the ‘found’ category is for.
[the publisher offers a 16 page preview at the link above, and apparently there may also be variant covers for whatever odd reason (?) but tied-up in pdf files so I can’t post them here]
