Pride and Prejudice (Marvel Illustrated) [Hardcover]

Nancy Butler (Adapter), Jane Austen (Author), Hugo Petrus (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 26, 2009

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife... Tailored from the adored Jane Austen classic, Marvel Comics is proud to present Pride & Prejudice! Two-time Rita Award-Winner Nancy Butler and fan-favorite Hugo Petras faithfully adapt the whimsical tale of Lizzy Bennet and her loveable-if-eccentric family, as they navigate through tricky British social circles. Will Lizzy's father manage to marry off her five daughters, despite his wife's incessant nagging? And will Lizzy's beautiful sister Jane marry the handsome, wealthy Mr. Bingley, or will his brooding friend Mr. Darcy stand between their happiness? Collects Pride & Prejudice #1-5.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 120 pages
• Publisher: Marvel Books; First Edition edition (October 26, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078513915X
• ISBN-13: 978-0785139157
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 0.5 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #474,554 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Captures the essence of the original November 11, 2009

By M&M VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm an big Austen fan and so I ordered this graphic novel version of Pride and Prejudice just to see what they'd done with the story. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the result. The author did a good job of abridging the story down enough that it would fit the format of a graphic novel but not so much that the essence of the story was in any way changed. I noticed that most of the dialogue was directly from the original text, although some was created here and there to move the story forward.

The illustrations of the characters and the locations seem like original interpretations to me -- in other words, they're not just illustrations of the various actors and actresses who've appeared in the two recent movie versions of the story. They look like 19th century people for the most part although it's definitely drawn in the rather dramatic style of most graphic novels I've seen. In some cases, the women especially looked a little older and a little harder than I thought they should.

Some people might be appalled to think that literary classics like Pride and Prejudice have been made into graphic novels, but I would disagree. Although Butler's retelling in no way replaces the original, I do think it adds an interesting interpretation. After all, screen writers have created several adaptations of the novel, and this one actually stays closer to the original than the screenplay for the 2005 movie (starring Kiera Knightly). My hope would be that someone who might not otherwise read the original might be inspired to do so after enjoying this version.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Translating a Classic... November 19, 2009

By D. S. Thurlow TOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

When a much-loved novel such as "Pride and Prejudice" is translated into another, more visual medium, the devoted Jane Austen fan cannot help but be nervous at the potential for mixed results. The storyline, with its superb dialogue, is apt to be pruned and compressed, while readers may be reluctant to accept another's visualization of their favorite characters.

This reviewer thinks Marvel Comic's adaption of "P&P" can fairly be called a success. Writer Nancy Butler and artist Hugo Petrus capture the essentials of Miss Jane Austen's classic romance in graphic novel format. Inevitably, the storyline has been compressed, and the dialogue was been slightly modernized, but fans should have no problem recognizing the story of the Bennets, the Bingleys, and Mr. Darcy. The best of the dialogue has been preserved while those readers familar with the 1995 BBC TV presentation or the 2005 movie version will recognize a somewhat similar visual presentation.

"Pride & Prejudice" the graphic novel is very highly recommended to those Jane Austen fans looking for a way to introduce their digital-age children or grandchildren to a classic romance novel in a form that is apt to hold their attention, and perhaps motivate them to read the original.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Austen lover SOOOOO happy! January 7, 2010

By C. Tant

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I absolutely love this book! As a dedicated reader of all things Austen, I purchased this book as part of my collection. Not sure what to expect, I waited...and was thrilled what I saw! This is beautifully illustrated and the writing...ah, I can't say enough. Thank you for the offering, I've even purchased on for a friend that also shares my love for Austen and reading.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars The tale of Botox August 18, 2012

By E. A Solinas HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

it is a fact universally acknowledged that a novel of great popularity must be in want of a comic book adaptation.

So it is with Marvel's "Pride and Prejudice," a loving but deeply flawed comic-book adaptation of Jane Austen's classic. It's obvious that adaptor Nancy Butler really adores the original novel, but the strangely generic character designs and the rushed pace are pretty distracting. Seriously, why has everyone got Botox and blindingly white teeth?

The Bennett family is in an uproar when wealthy Mr. Bingley moves into the neighborhood, and Mrs. Bennett is especially happy when he takes a liking to the eldest Bennett daughter Jane -- since their estate is entailed and there is no Mr. Bennett Jr., a good marriage is considered essential for at least one of the girls. But her forthright, independent sister Lizzie immediately butts heads with wealthy, aloof Mr. Darcy, who scorns the rural village and seems haughty about everything.

A flurry of proposals, road trips and friendships happen over the course of the following months, with Lizzie fending off her slimy cousin Mr. Collins, and befriending the flirty, hunky Wickham, who claims to have been wronged by Darcy. Lizzie believes Wickham's account -- and she's in for a shock when Darcy unexpectedly proposes, and reveals what Wickham won't tell her about both of their past lives, and what Wickham did to offend Darcy.

And finally things take a scandalous turn when Lizzie's idiotic younger sister Lydia elopes with Wickham, while staying with a friend in Brighton. The family is plunged into disgrace, which also wrecks any chances of a halfway decent marriage for the other daughters.... The only one who can set things right is Darcy, who will do whatever he must to make amends to Lizzie -- and unwittingly establish himself as the man she loves as well...

First, the positive: some of the art is lovely, and each issue is graced with clever little "magazine" covers with headlines like "Spring's Randiest Ribbons." Nancy Butler has to cut a great deal of the novel out, but for the most part she keeps in the important bits, including the witty banter between Lizzie and Darcy.

Unfortunately, the artwork is... deeply flawed. Most of the woman look exactly alike; the only way you can tell Jane, Lizzie, Lydia and Kitty apart is by their hairstyles. And everyone in Regency England seems to have gotten Botox -- nobody really shows any expressions except blindingly white smiles. Lizzie Bennett should not be reminding me of Kristen Stewart!

Also, this comic book series could have used another five issues. Everything feels incredibly rushed -- we barely even see Lydia before she elopes. Important scenes are simply smushed together with no transitions. This is especially bad in the final issue, where we careen straight from Jane's engagement to Lady Catherine's verbal abuse to Darcy's proposal in just a few pages.

And at times, Butler is too literal in her storytelling. Several times we're shown Lizzy sitting there reading a letter, rather than seeing an ILLUSTRATED FLASHBACK to what the letter-writer is talking about.

The Marvel "Pride and Prejudice" tries hard, but it's too short, the characters look too samey, and it's much too rushed. I'll have to keep waiting for a decent adaptation. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything I expected and more. February 10, 2010

By K. Dupuis

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this for my 13 yr. old daughter and she loves it! She said it is based more on the movie with Kierra Knightley than the book itself but was very enjoyable. The pictures are great.