Gothic Classics: Graphic Classics Volume 14 [Paperback]

Tom Pomplun (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 29, 2007

Gothic Classics presents Ann Radcliffe's archetypal gothic novel "The Mysteries of Udopho," adapted by Antonella Caputo and Carlo Vergara. Plus: Jane Austen's gothic parody "Northanger Abbey" by Trina Robbins and Anne Timmons; and Poe's "The Oval Portrait" by Malaysian illustrator Leong Wan Kok. Also "At the Gate," a canine ghost story by Myla Jo Closser, illustrated by Shary Flenniken, and J. Sheridan Le Fanu's great vampire tale "Carmilla," by Rod Lott and Lisa K. Weber. With a dramatic cover painting from "Carmilla" by Lisa K. Weber.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Mystery, terror, imprisonment, death: the great gothic themes are explored in these five well-chosen, seminal tales. Carmilla, by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu sets the tone for the collection, with its dreamy, swirling art by Lisa K. Weber and its haunting story of a corrupt, corrupting beauty. Edgar Allan Poe is represented by The Oval Portrait, in which Poe's customary bewildered narrator comes to realize he's staring at an object of horror—a not unpredictable development given that he was spending the night in a ruined, abandoned castle. Ann Radcliffe's inimitable Mysteries of Udolpho is rendered in a faithful, nearly documentary style by Carlo Vergara, while Jane Austen's play upon the gothic, Northanger Abbey, is charmingly illustrated by Anne Timmons. The collection ends on a sweeter, melancholy note with the little known At the Gate by Myla Jo Closser, in which a crowd of dogs waits in a mysterious land of limbo. The Airedale protagonist realizes, along with the reader, that they are anticipating reunions with their human families, who usually take much longer to reach this shadow land than do their shorter-lived pets. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

Grade 10 Up—This blood-suckingly fun collection will appeal to the teenage Goths and Emos of the world. It has sexy vampires, girls locked in towers, caddish men, and decaying bodies being eaten by rats. Ann Radcliffe, Jane Austen, and Edgar Allan Poe are just a few of the authors included, and the adaptations are met with varying success. Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's "Carmilla" is masterfully retold by Rod Lott and illustrated by Lisa K. Weber in a Tim Burtonesque style, and will be appreciated by The Nightmare before Christmas and Corpse Bride crowd. At 55 pages, Radcliffe's "The Mysteries of Udolpho" is the longest story in the collection, and while Antonella Caputo's retelling is competent (given the novel's original length of more than 600 pages), Carlo Vergara's art is less captivating. Poe's "Oval Portrait" is a short but sweetly creepy tale, but Myla Jo Closser's story of an angst-ridden Airedale awaiting doggy heaven seems completely out of place here due to its simple drawings and odd plot. Austen's clever satire of gothic novels seen in Northanger Abbey does not really come across in the graphic-novel format, but nevertheless is an interesting story. The book doesn't provide enough information for students studying gothic literature, but for fans of the band My Chemical Romance, it's just the thing.—Jennifer Waters, Red Deer Public Library, Alberta, Canada
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Eureka Productions; illustrated edition edition (May 29, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0978791908
• ISBN-13: 978-0978791902
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #985,431 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 Lady vampires and bodies buried dark and deep, November 6, 2007

By 

Zack Davisson "japanreviewed" (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gothic Classics: Graphic Classics Volume 14 (Paperback)

I am a big fan of the Graphic Classics series, and I am an even bigger fan of the anthologies, such as "Horror Classics" and "Adventure Classics". The anthologies give us a chance to read some great tales by authors who may not be prolific enough to rate their own individual books, but who have still made a powerful and influential contribution to literature.

As expected, this latest volume, "Gothic Classes", maintains the already high bar set by previous volumes. The black-and-white comic book style is especially suited to horror, and the illustrators have a real passion for adapting the tales with appropriate illustrations. "Gothic Classics" is a bit different from others in the series, having only five tales, each in a longer format.

This edition includes:

"Carmilla" - The infamous lesbian vampire tale by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu that inspired Bram Stoker's own "Dracula". This is one of those incredibly famous stories that I have long heard about but never read. The illustrations by Lisa K. Weber are done in her usual style, showing the influence of Tim Burton's own Gothic animation style while remaining original. It was great to finally read this.

"The Mysteries of Udolpho" - Another classic of Gothic fiction, by Ann Radcliffe, that I have heard about for years. Carlo Vergara provides the perfect art-style, reminiscent of the old Graphic Illustrated series, heavy on the lace collars and dashing brigands occupying gloomy castles with dank hallways.

"The Oval Portrait" - A Poe story is always welcome, and this short piece provides a brief rest from the longer features. Illustrator Leong Wan Kok gives us a sharp portrait of an artists obsession.

"Northanger Abbey" - Jane Austen makes a rare appearance here in Graphic Classics, with her sharp send-up of the Gothic novel. The art by Anne Timmons is all sweetness and light, but everything is not what it seems. Or is it...?

"At the Gate" - A short and sweet tale by Myla Jo Closser. I must confess to have never heard of this, but that is one of the joys of the anthology format that it brings you new things you might not have discovered elsewhere. A couple of dogs chat at the gate of heaven, wondering when they will be let in. Shary Flenniken provides the cute illustrations for this heartwarming tale.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely delightful!, July 15, 2007

By 

Eugenia "Music major and Classics geek" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gothic Classics: Graphic Classics Volume 14 (Paperback)

I admit that I bought this primarily because I wanted to see the rendition of "Northanger Abbey", and I was not disappointed. The illustrations were charming, and the characters looked just as they ought-Henry and Catherine especially. I loved Catherine's facial expressions, and Henry was as dashing as a long-term fangirl like myself could have wished.

However, this was not the only treat in this volume. "Carmilla" was excellent, with drawings that added to the creepy atmosphere of the story, and "The Mysteries of Udolpho" adapted surprisingly well, though I thought Emily St. Aubert had a little bit of a bad '80's hairstyle. Finally, "At the Gate", the last story in the book was very sweet (though sad) and the artwork well done.

This is a wonderful volume and a great way to introduce people to the Classics. I highly recommend it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome, July 18, 2010

By 

Julia - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gothic Classics: Graphic Classics Volume 14 (Paperback)

I LOOOOVED this gothic classics volume! The Northanger Abbey adaptation was just great!!! (The others too, bu I'm a NA fan so I was very strict when judging that one =P)