Customer Reviews

Classics Illustrated Deluxe #1: The Wind in the Willows (Classics Illustrated Deluxe Graphic Novels)

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Just a quick note: My kids, who just start to read, love the book, and the illustrations are lovely with a lot attention to detail. Given the nature of a comic book, why is the format so small, that you cannot fully enjoy the illustrations?

The Wind in the Willows is a full-color graphic novel adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's classic anthropomorphic fable following the adventures of the humble Mole, the river-loving Water Rat, the gruff yet wise Badger, and the fabulously wealthy yet all-too-easily worked-up Toad. Toad has many foibles, some more endearing than others, but perhaps the most troublesome is his sudden obsession with automobiles - a trait that prompts his downfall when he commits a sudden infraction of grand theft auto out of pure love for reckless driving! Though set in a quasi turn-of-the-century motif, with subtle issues of class and social station, The Wind in the Willows has a timeless grace that makes it a joy to read for adults and children alike. The caricatures of the story's many creatures, as drawn by Michel Plessix, perfectly capture the quirks and enthusiasm of the many woodland denizens. Perhaps most awe-inspiring, though, is Badger's prediction that rings as true today as it ever did: "If this contraption [the automobile] keeps on, people will invade all the beautiful places! You'll have to build roads to go there and buildings to house them, thereby destroying what they came looking for in the first place... And then you'll have to park the cars somewhere. They'll hog the sidewalks and the squares. Children will no longer be able to play in the streets, and the people strolling will disappear because it will become necessary that everything go as fast as that machine. Since people will spend all their time in this rolling cage, they'll lose the habit of speaking to one another and will no longer understand one another. Then they'll hate each other." Highly recommended for readers of all ages.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

The Wind in the Willows has spoiled me for any other of the Classics Illustrated. Michel Plessix has a rare talent in that his drawings are unusually evocative, creative, detailed, varied from panel to panel, full of humor and sweetness. He draws with love and a deep sensitivity to the natural world, from bugs to birds to trees to the moon on a dark night. Unusual perspectives await you, such as a view of the action from behind Mole's glasses. You want to pore over the exquisite details of Mole's dirty house, Toad's dungeon, Badger's attic and a hundred other details, in order not to miss anything. This book is a rare delight and one I read over and over, with so much pleasure that I feel rested and renewed afterward.

I have ordered other Classics Illustrateds, but there is no comparison. I hope for all our sakes that Plessix will publish again.

I began collecting the original Classics Illustrated in 1953, when I was 7. Now I have a complete set of them (there are 168 titles in the series, but I have in excess of 220, which includes different covers, different interior art, and all of the Classic Comics issues). I also have all of the Marvel Classics, and all of the First Publishing Classics Illustrated. Needless to say, you can tell that I really enjoy these books! This new issue is remarkable, for it greatly expands the 60 pages from the original Classics (cut down to 48 in later years), so that there is much more space to tell a more complete story. "Wind in the Willows" is also one of my favorite books, and I was extremely impressed by the quality of the work, and the excellence of the artistry involved. The tale of Rat, Mole, Badger and J. Thaddeus Toad has never looked better! I intend to collect every one of these fine books!

I just want to clarify that this is a comic book style. It's fine, just not what I expected. I didn't translate the code of "graphic novel" to mean comic book.

"Classics Illustrated Deluxe #1: The Wind In The Willows"
Written by Kenneth Grahame
Adapted and illustrated by Michel Plessix
(Papercutz, 2009)
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This is an excellent, highly recommended adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's "The Wind And The Willows," a classic children's novel that was first published in 1908. Grahame's novel has long attracted devoted fans, with its literate, lyrical writing and evocation of the natural world. This comicbook-format graphic novel version transforms the the delicious but sometimes densely thicketed prose into vivid, detailed images, allowing readers to more easily visualize the story... There have been several film and animation adaptations of the book, but this version comes perhaps closest to the quirky charm of the original.

The Papercutz edition is an American reissue of a comic that first came out in Europe, originally printed in a larger format (with art the size of the Tintin books). Cut down to about half its size, the artwork does seem a bit squinched down, but still retains most of its power and charm. This is one of the best volumes in the newly-revitalized "Classics Illustrated" imprint... Highly recommended as a rich, thoughtful retelling of a timeless classic. (Joe Sixpack, ReadThatAgain children's book reviews)

One of the best illustrations i have seen in years...it takes us into a beautiful world. Bit sad about not able to find more books by michel plessix.

The Wind in the Willows: Classics Illustrated Deluxe
Classics Illustrated have a 60 year old reputation that is hard to beat. What other series has been embraced by educators and readers around the world and still garners attention from mainstream publishing?
NBM, in association with Jack Lake Productions and First Classics, has released the Michael Plessix adaptation of Kenneth Grahames' "Wind in the Willows". The adventures of Toad, Mole, Badger, Otter, and Rat leap off the page with an amazing life its' own. Msr Plessix' art is delightful, combining a wide range of color pallettes and detailed imagery. Clearly, this was a work of love.
The only drawback to the book is the size of the book. With art this complex, some of the detail is lost in the panel sizes. However, a larger presetation would necessitate a higher price. I can just imagine what the gallery quality original art must look like.
"Wind" is broken into 10 chapters following the first encounter of the water Rat, Mole, Otter and Toad. Theirs is a friendship born through and deepened by adventure. Whether it is going to visit Badger and his amazing underground home, or traveling with Toad, a boundless enthusiasm for life is woven through the fabric of the adventures.
Like the original series before, this presentation of the stories is magical and if this is any indication of the books to follow, Classics Illustrated Deluxe is sure to build a new generation of readers. [...]
Tim Lasiuta