guinness74's review against another edition
4.0
Having read Volume 2 first, this seemed to be a no-brainer. However, I think I enjoyed the literature more in Volume 2, but the art in Volume 1 seems to be more my speed. Again, these sorts of graphic novels are, in my opinion, a bit more subjective in whether or not they are enjoyed. This volume pulls from a much older, and less well known, canon. Still, it's an interesting collection and will provide something for everyone.
kateraed's review against another edition
4.0
Love this compilation - such a wide variety of artistic styles; I got to encounter many artists I'd not known before. Having just a few pages dedicated to each work is great, too; enough to get a reminder or a taste for it without being in any one story or artist for long. Enough to determine if I want to seek out more. Looking forward to Vol 2!
collegecate's review against another edition
3.0
Didn't actually finish this book, but skimmed a lot of it; very cool.
broomgrass's review against another edition
2.0
I finally got around to finishing my review of this work! Summary: A very mixed bag of pieces in a variety of styles, often in colour, which make it fun to flip through; however, some are poor interpretations, and sometimes Kick's commissions fall flat. For twenty bucks, though, hard to go wrong if you have the space.
In short: unsure about the commission aspect, no manga, heavy on Western and British literature, some comics poorly executed. But some gorgeous pieces by comic masters and newcomers alike! (and, similarly, some poor ones...)
Full review with pictures here.
In short: unsure about the commission aspect, no manga, heavy on Western and British literature, some comics poorly executed. But some gorgeous pieces by comic masters and newcomers alike! (and, similarly, some poor ones...)
Full review with pictures here.
balrogfemme's review against another edition
2.0
Well that was....a thing? I guess?
I have to concur with many other readers. There doesn't seem to be a point to this. The works collected here are extremely variable in quality (the art for the Rumi section was particularly disappointing, being mostly tacky Photoshopping), and the fragmentary nature of it was just not satisfying. If you want to present the graphic canon, do it! Don't present "half-assed fragments of graphic versions of the canon." There were a few standout works, but the majority either added nothing to the original text or subtracted from it.
I have to concur with many other readers. There doesn't seem to be a point to this. The works collected here are extremely variable in quality (the art for the Rumi section was particularly disappointing, being mostly tacky Photoshopping), and the fragmentary nature of it was just not satisfying. If you want to present the graphic canon, do it! Don't present "half-assed fragments of graphic versions of the canon." There were a few standout works, but the majority either added nothing to the original text or subtracted from it.
rebus's review against another edition
2.5
I'd always found Kick's work and intellect to be mediocre, even if I enjoyed some of the material in his Disinformation series.
He's a bit pretentious in his literary tastes, as I found the Book of Esther, the work of Lucretius, and the Apu Ollantay in particular to be bad literature (as we most in this volume that was presented merely as images without words). The adaptation of the Divine Comedy was just poor. I also personally don't care at all for Shakespeare, even in modern language, which Kick joins the chorus of saying is the greatest writer ever (a bland and pedestrian take for someone so opposed to mainstream culture). Many of these were simply cheap marketing, excerpts from unabridged graphic novel adaptations, and not a single one made me want to seek out the full length versions. The Tale of Genji is also a bit too primitive for me to join the chorus that considers it the first novel, and I would hardly consider it still the crowning work of Japanese culture in an era that has given us the sophisticated works of Kobo Abe and Haruki Murakami.
The previews by Kick were largely unnecessary and often told too much of the tales (though many were so poorly told that it WAS needed). These too served as crass marketing for the creators.
I did very much enjoy many pieces, such as the lovely adaptation of the Wife of Bath, Gulliver's Travels, and the work by Rick Geary, Will Eisner, and Robert Crumb, and I also was forced to recall one of the great lessons about literature that I'd somewhat forgotten: much of the great literature throughout history was written by criminals, from Voltaire to Genet, and the reason world literature has largely stunk for the last 40 years is that it's all done by precious MFA students from the wealthy elites or upper middle class.
He's a bit pretentious in his literary tastes, as I found the Book of Esther, the work of Lucretius, and the Apu Ollantay in particular to be bad literature (as we most in this volume that was presented merely as images without words). The adaptation of the Divine Comedy was just poor. I also personally don't care at all for Shakespeare, even in modern language, which Kick joins the chorus of saying is the greatest writer ever (a bland and pedestrian take for someone so opposed to mainstream culture). Many of these were simply cheap marketing, excerpts from unabridged graphic novel adaptations, and not a single one made me want to seek out the full length versions. The Tale of Genji is also a bit too primitive for me to join the chorus that considers it the first novel, and I would hardly consider it still the crowning work of Japanese culture in an era that has given us the sophisticated works of Kobo Abe and Haruki Murakami.
The previews by Kick were largely unnecessary and often told too much of the tales (though many were so poorly told that it WAS needed). These too served as crass marketing for the creators.
I did very much enjoy many pieces, such as the lovely adaptation of the Wife of Bath, Gulliver's Travels, and the work by Rick Geary, Will Eisner, and Robert Crumb, and I also was forced to recall one of the great lessons about literature that I'd somewhat forgotten: much of the great literature throughout history was written by criminals, from Voltaire to Genet, and the reason world literature has largely stunk for the last 40 years is that it's all done by precious MFA students from the wealthy elites or upper middle class.
abetterjulie's review against another edition
2.0
I am the wrong audience for this one. I did learn a few things. I was frustrated by several of the ones that were almost impossible to read due to large swaths of fine print. There were less art styles that I liked than I expected. Again, a noble cause, but I'm the wrong reader.
sarahbotreads's review against another edition
4.0
When it comes to informed appreciation, visual / sequential art is one of my weak spots - I haven't invested a lot of time in really learning about these arts so that I can see more than pretty pictures or striking imagery. That said, some of the illustrations/ representations in his book were *breathtaking* - not every story's adaptation was my cup of tea, style-wise, but so many of them were just amazing. I also really appreciated the breadth of cultures that were represented.
lapetiteprincesse's review against another edition
3.0
i was introduced to a lot of classics i didn't hear of
i enjoyed the brief summaries before each drawing
it was good
i enjoyed the brief summaries before each drawing
it was good