Bergers Book Reviews

Graphic Classics Vol. 20: Western Classics


Featured stories:

  • Out Where the West Begins by Arthur Chapman
  • Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
  • Knife River Prodigal by Robert E. Howard
  • The Right Eye of the Commander by Bret Harte
  • The Holdup by Clarence E. Mulford
  • La Perdida by Gertrude Atherton
  • The Last Thundersong by John G. Neihardt
  • El Dorado by Willa Cather

Illustrators:  Al Feldstein, Cynthia Martin, George Sellas, Reno Maniquis, Dan Spiegle, Arnold Arre, Ryan Huna Smith, John Findley
Publisher: Eureka Productions
Genre: Western
ISBN: 978-0-9787919-9-5
Pages: 144
Price: $17.95

Graphic Classics Website
Buy it at Amazon

This latest Graphic Classics volume features westerns. It contains a nice mix of stories, from the comical Knife River Prodigal, to the drama of Riders of the Purple Sage, the Native American The Last Thundersong, and even some Spanish influence in The Right Eye of the Commander and La Perdida.

Each of the artists portrays the stories in their own unique manner. Some choose a more realistic approach, while others use a comic-book style, all perfectly suited to the stories they illustrate.

These Graphic Classics books allow us to read classic literature that we may never have been exposed to be before. I know very little about the western genre, yet I enjoyed reading this compilation of adapted works. If you enjoy westerns, this volume would be a wonderful addition to your collection.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

June 22, 2011 Posted by | graphic novel, western | Leave a Comment

Graphic Classics: Edgar Allan Poe


Illustrators: Carlo Vergara, Dan Dougherty, Rick Geary, Gerry Alanguilan, Milton Knight, Pedro Lopez, Matt Howarth, Joe Ollmann, Lance Tooks, J.B. Bonivert
Publisher: Graphic Classics
Genre: Graphic Novel / Horror
ISBN: 978-0-9825630-0-7
Pages: 144
Price: $12.95

Website
Buy it at Amazon

Edgar Allan Poe’s classic horror stories are brought to life in this eerie graphic novel adaptation. Illustrated in all black and white drawings, these tales take on a new creepiness, as the reader can now see in vivid detail the images he was only able to imagine.

The following stories are contained in this volume:

  • The Pit and the Pendulum
  • The Raven
  • The Black Cat
  • William Wilson
  • The Imp of the Perverse
  • The Premature Burial
  • The Tell-Tale Heart
  • Annabel Lee
  • The Fall of the House of Usher
  • The Cask of Amontillado
  • Never Bet the Devil Your Head

A word of warning must be given – Poe’s writings are not for the faint of heart. But for those who enjoy a touch of the macabre, these graphic stories will be sure to entertain.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

December 2, 2010 Posted by | graphic novel | Leave a Comment

Zoey Zeta and the Sisters of Power


Author: Robert Simon
Illustrator: Tomomi Sarafov
Publisher: Zeta Comics
Genre: Comics
ISBN: 978-0-9865392-0-6
Pages: 50
Price: $10.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

The Sisters of Power have a secret. Each of the three sisters has a super power, but they’ve promised not to tell anyone about them. Zoey is a genius who likes to invent things. Ella is pretty much indestructible. And Lexi can travel at supersonic speeds.

When an evil villain threatens to hold the city hostage by not allowing kids to enjoy summer vacation, Zoey Zeta and the Sisters of Power spring into action. How can they defeat the monster sent to destroy their playground, so kids can have fun again?

This graphic action novel brings these cool superheroes to life. Author Robert Simon created this new series so girls would have fun science fiction books to read. As he says, “Fairies are great but they’re not cool. Not unless they’re packing molecular disintegrators.” So if you’re looking for imaginative, science and engineering-based fiction and fun, Zoey Zeta and her sisters are the right choice for you.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

November 16, 2010 Posted by | graphic novel | Leave a Comment

Graphic Classics: Louisa May Alcott

Author: Louisa May Alcott
Adapted by: Tom Pomplun, Trina Robbins, Rod Lott, Alex Burrows, Antonella Caputo
Illustrators: Toni Pawlowski, Anne Timmons, Molly Crabapple, Mary Fleener, Shary Flenniken, Pedro Lopez, Lisa K. Weber, Arnold Arre
Publisher: Graphic Classics
Genre: Fiction / Classics
ISBN: 978-0-9787919-8-8
Pages: 144
Price: $17.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Okay, I’ll admit it. I never read Little Women as a girl, and I’m sure there are quite a few other ladies who might say the same thing. So if you’ve come to realize you missed out on a classic others simply adore, there’s hope for you now. Graphic Classics has compiled the best of Louisa May Alcott’s writings in this volume.

Although Little Women is Louisa May Alcott’s best-known work, most of us are unaware she wrote some other rather unique tales. The Piggy Girl, The Rival Prima Donnas, A Whisper in the Dark, and Lost in a Pyramid may come as quite a surprise to those who expect domestic tranquility in her writing.

These dramatic stories are accompanied by detailed graphic artistry, enhancing the reader’s pleasure. If you already love Louisa May Alcott, you’ll want to include this volume in your collection, putting pictures to the words you enjoy. And if you haven’t read her work, Graphic Classics: Louisa May Alcott gives you the perfect opportunity to become acquainted with this talented author.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

April 27, 2010 Posted by | fiction, graphic novel | Leave a Comment

Science Fiction Classics: Graphic Classics Vol. 17

scifi classics
Illustrators: Hunt Emerson, Micah Farritor, Johnny Ryan, George Sellas, Roger Langridge, Brad Teare, Ellen L. Lindner
Publisher: Eureka Productions
Genre: Science Fiction
ISBN:978-0-9787919-7-1
Pages: 144
Price: $17.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

If you’ve ever wanted to read some of the classics in science fiction, but just can’t seem to find the time, Graphic Classics has the solution for you. In these graphic novels, the classics come alive, and each story can be read in a relatively short time.

Stories included:
In a Thousand Years by Hans Christian Andersen
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
In the Year 2889 by Jules Verne
A Martian Odyssey by Stanley G. Weinbaum
The Disintegration Machine by Arthur Conan Doyle
The Bureau d’Echange de Maux by Lord Dunsany
The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster

I had never read any of these classics, and I enjoyed these tales told through pictures and dialogue between the major characters. Of course some of the original story is lost in these abbreviated versions, but the main point is retained in an easy to read format.

If you’re a die-hard literary type, by all means read the originals. But if you enjoy action, good illustrations, and a quick read, these science fiction classics are just what you need to converse intelligently about stories you may never have had the chance to read otherwise.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

September 6, 2009 Posted by | graphic novel, science-fiction | Leave a Comment

   

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