#classics illustrated

Norman Saunders “Frankenstein” Classics Illustrated #26 (1968) Source

Classics Illustrated, # 39

Classics Illustrated: Les Misérables: C-tier

I don't know. I really don't know.

It's always the same problem: Why would you adapt a novel the length of Les Mis into a 45 page comic? That's not enough pages!

To be fair, it's not bad. It tells the story. That's about it. It's a summary of the original story for children in comic form. Also we got blonde Fantine and brunette Cosette. We don't get that often.

That was that for the good, now onto the complaning!

I have a big issue with how the clothes are drawn in this. It looks less 1815-1833 France and more "THE BRITISH ARE COMING!". It's a small detail, but it bothers me. It upsets me, even.

This is also one of those adaptations that only have Fantine show up to get fired and to die. I get that they can't put prostitution into a kids comic, but she appeared less than Petit-Gevrais. Come on. Speaking of appearing, it's something neither Éponine nor Gavroche do. I mean, yes, they're there, but they're background characters. Éponine is seen twice, once at the Inn and once as a teenager at the apartment (Azelma doesn't even get that btw). Gavroche is in like one pannel and refered to as "the messanger". Not to speak of les Amis, the Marius hypemen who are there to hype up Marius for being so cool for nearly blowing up the barricade and then die in the background. And of course, as always, adult Cosette gets relegated to The Love Interest(tm) and appears maybe 3 times in total.

There are some weird phrasings and quotes too that are just... eh? When Fantine is arrested, the narrator describes it as "a streetfight", which is technically a term that can be applied to what happened, but it just feels wrong. Also, there's this weird thing where Valjean's like "Nooo I can't be arrested before getting Cosette!" and then Fantine dies and he's like "Ah, she's dead now. Detain me." It's just so dumb. Also also this scene at the barricade: Enjolras (?): Whoever leaves the barricade last gets to blow the spy's brains out! Valjean: But it is I who wants to blow his brains out.

Also for some reason they made young Javert blonde. He looks like He-man.

If you think about it, it's pretty much the same as the classics manga version, but lacks the same distinctive charm that one had. It leaves little to no impression and it's also not really entertaining. It's not bad but I doubt I will read it again.