There are a lot of first-rate comic-art releases just now (I recommend David Small's Stitches: A Memoir and R. Crumb's imminent, extraordinary, illustrated Book of Genesis).
But let me call your attention to Masterpiece Comics (Drawn & Quarterly), a superb concept masterfully executed by artist-writer R. Sikoryak. He's mashed together classic literature with classic comic-book art (most of the latter, for those who follows comics, with visual impersonation/homages of artists of the so-called "Silver Age").
Sikoryak retells Crime and Punishment as a Batman tale as drawn in the manner of Dick Sprang. He summarizes The Scarlet Letter as a Little Lulu comic. Little Nemo In Slumberland becomes the artistic pallette for The Picture of Dorian Gray.
This is not a stunt; Masterpiece Comics matches literature and comic book with careful thought for appropriate comparison, and the dialogue summarizes quite well the texts chosen. Plus, of course, it's a helluva lot of fun.
--Ken Tucker
This is a fantastic cover -- and an exciting concept. it makes me want to try my hand at writing a few: "The Iliad" starring the Yankees versus the Red Sox, and "Paradise Lost" with Kim Novak and James Stewart, music by Bernard Herrmann, sets by Durer or Lucas Cranach.
Posted by: DL | October 05, 2009 at 02:27 PM
OK! I just ordered this one! This has been the Year of the Comic Book for me, after brain-numbing surgery: have y'all seen the Action Philosophers series? Not to be missed: enlightment, in silly pix & 4 basic colors, at last. Also great for OCD poets attempting to outline the universe: Alan Moore's Promethea, soon to be out in a giant collected edition.
Posted by: Rosanne Wasserman | October 06, 2009 at 09:36 AM