Christmas Classics: Graphic Classics Volume Nineteen (Graphic Classics, 19) - Softcover

Dickens, Charles; Doyle, Arthur Conan; Henry, O.; Cather, Willa; Fitzgerald, F. Scott; O'Brien, Fitz-James; Moore, Clement C.; Twain, Mark; Burrows, Alex; Rainey, Rich

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0982563019 ISBN 13: 9780982563014

Publisher: Eureka Productions, 2010

Synopsis

• Christmas Classics presents comics adaptations of both holiday favorites and rarities, featuring Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". Also included are an early F. Scott Fitzgerald tale, an O. Henry western, a fairy tale by Willa Cather, and a Christmas horror story by Fitz-James O'Brien. Plus, a seasonal Sherlock Holmes adventure by Arthur Conan Doyle, Clement C. Moore's classic poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas", and a letter from Santa Claus to Mark Twain's daughter.

About this title

Review:

Eight traditional British and American pieces are well interpreted in comics form here. Florence Cestac adds twenty-first-century cartoon figures to Clement C. Moore's poem ''A Visit from St. Nicholas'', while Cynthia Martin draws an O. Henry story with expressions and costuming of the original writer's period. Rick Geary is a spot-on choice to draw Fitz-James O Brien's ''The Wondersmith'', one of several pieces editor Pomplun himself adapted for this volume. The variety of art styles and solid selection choices make this entry in the Graphic Classics line essential for collections that include holiday books for teens and adults. --Booklist

Christmas figures little in comics compared with its prominence in the national psyche. Happily, we can warmly welcome this artful and colorful anthology, offering surprises as well as favorites. The two must-haves are here: Charles Dickens's ''A Christmas Carol'' (source of the spooky cover illustration) and Clement Clarke Moore's poem ''A Visit from St. Nicholas.'' Among the surprises are Christmas-themed stories from O. Henry, Willa Cather, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Arthur Conan Doyle. (Who remembers that a Sherlock Holmes adventure is, in fact, set during the holidays?) Genres span detective, Western, romance, fantasy, and funny animals, while drawing styles range equally widely with all entirely appealing and appropriate in regard to the selection. I have rarely seen an anthology with equal success for all contributions, and this one meets that standard. My personal favorite: the Cather tale, with a cast of multihued people and animals in modernistic, stylish exuberance. VERDICT: Some may lament the lack of Bible stories here, but there are Bible comics aplenty, and these adaptations break much new ground. This appetizing and many-flavored holiday meal is highly recommended for tweens through adults in all libraries. --Library Journal

As Christmas approaches, what better way is there to get in the holiday mood than by reading some of the classics? If Christmas tends to bring out your darker side, you'll enjoy the stories included in this volume. In the opening letter from Mark Twain to his daughter, she is warned that if George doesn't follow certain specific instructions, ''he will die someday.'' The Dickens classic, ''A Christmas Carol,'' then sets the stage for some of these unusual and sinister seasonal tales. A werewolf dog tries to sabotage Christmas by leading Santa's reindeer astray, a western villain tries to leave ''a Christmas present'' for his love but has second thoughts, and the Wondersmith's plans go very much awry. These seasonal classics are richly illustrated by several talented artists. The use of color is especially unique in ''The Strategy of the Werewolf Dog, and Jacob Marley's ghost is quite scary in ''A Christmas Carol. Enjoy these classics by a fire with a warm cup of cocoa on Christmas Eve. And once you're snug in your bed waiting for Santa to arrive, remember to wish everyone, ''Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!'' --Bergers Book Reviews

About this edition

• Publisher: Eureka Productions
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0982563019
• ISBN 13: 9780982563014
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 144
• Editor: Pomplun Tom