Classics Illustrated #4: The Raven & Other Poems (Classics Illustrated Graphic Novels) [Hardcover]

Edgar Allan Poe (Author), Gahan Wilson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 31, 2009 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Classics Illustrated Graphic Novels (Book 4)

The Raven, Annabel Lee, Eldorado, The Sleeper, The Haunted Palace, The City in the Sea.  These are some of the world’s most fascinating, best-loved poems.  Edgar Allan Poe’s verses--masterpieces of mystery, horror, melancholy, and haunting melody--grip the imagination and fuel the emotions.  World-famous New Yorker and Playboy cartoonist Gahan Wilson, whose work finds the eerie in the most common of situations, brings the perfect, surreal touch to Poe’s elegantly dark poems.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The illustrations combine pastel hues, ink lines and cross-hatching, and eerie images for a spine-chilling effect"
-School Library Journal

"This match of Poe and Wilson was made in Heaven. Wilson's illustrations are just bizarre and innocent enough to appeal to kids while not dulling the edge of Poe's words. I would think the book would be perfect for kids aged maybe 8 - 12 or so. It's a great medium to keep the works of Poe alive! Grade A"
-Tim Janson, Mania.com

"Each illustration contains that Wilson style we have come to love. Humorous, macabre, quirky, detailed and a truly unique style that more than appropriately shares space with Poe's work."
-horrornews.net

“Wilson… illustrates (very well, and appropriately) a bunch of Poe poems.”-Andrew Wheeler, antikmusings.blogspot.com

“A terrific compendium… It's a great Poe volume -- the themes of unbearable loss and creeping pestilence are all here, so put it on your Halloween shopping list now.”-Mark London Williams, sfsite.com

“Wilson's style is perfectly suited to Poe's turn of phrase, as his artwork moves across the page with the cadence established by the words. But don't take my word for it. At $9.95 this modern classic is a bargain -- so order two copies and donate one to your local library!”-Karen, leaveittokaren.blogspot.com

“NBM [Papercutz parent company], known for its high-quality graphic novels…demonstrates its taste and expertise again with CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED. The Deluxe hardbacks are meant to last, and look good doint it…it’s a joy to see “The Raven,” “The Counquerer Worm,” “Annabel Lee” and other favorites again…Wilson, known primarily for his award-winning New Yorker, Playboy and National Lampoon Cartoons, is also one of a kind - - and a perfect choice for this book. His peculiar and sometimes bizarre scribblings are unsettling, and given the subject matter, welcome.”-Andrew Smith, Scripps News

About the Author

Gahan Wilson needs no introduction.  He is one of the foremost illustrators and cartoonists of our time well known for his penchant for horror and the macabre.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 56 pages
• Publisher: Papercutz (March 31, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597071404
• ISBN-13: 978-1597071406
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #756,136 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent, inexpensive introduction to Poe's immortal work, May 15, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classics Illustrated #4: The Raven & Other Poems (Classics Illustrated Graphic Novels) (Hardcover)

Part of the "Classics Illustrated" series presenting great works of literature in a vivid new format, The Raven and Other Poems offers nine dark poems by legendary American visionary of horror and despair Edgar Allan Poe. The poems presented here are "The Raven", "Annabel Lee", "Lines on Ale", "The City in the Sea", "The Sleeper", "Eldorado", "Alone", "The Haunted Palace", and the "Conqueror Worm", each accompanied by gleefully ghoulish color illustrations. An excellent, inexpensive introduction to Poe's immortal work sporting a sturdy hardcover binding, The Raven and Other Poems is especially recommended for public library collections.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars POE & WILSON MAKE A GREAT TEAM, November 19, 2009

By 

Tim Janson (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Classics Illustrated #4: The Raven & Other Poems (Classics Illustrated Graphic Novels) (Hardcover)

You'd have to be at least in your mid-40s or so to remember Classics Illustrated comics. Started in 1941, Classics Illustrated took some of the great novels of literature and adapted them into a format that was more digestible for kids, namely comic books. The series continued until 1971 and in the years following, various publishers have brought the line back to life, the latest being Papercutz who is reprinting some of the earlier titles as well as doing new adaptations.

The Raven features nine adaptations of poems written by the master of the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe and illustrated by the similarly ghastly cartoonist, Gahan Wilson. The title story leads off the book which also includes "The City in the Sea", The Haunted Palace", and the Conqueror Worm". This match of Poe and Wilson was made in Heaven. Wilson's illustrations are just bizarre and innocent enough to appeal to kids while not dulling the edge of Poe's words. I would think the book would be perfect for kids aged maybe 8 - 12 or so. It's a great medium to keep the works of Poe alive!