The classics are classic for a reason: they have stood the test of time and still speak to our deep human experience. Not only are they still among the most-sold books of all time, they are constantly getting adapted and re-adapted into movies and TV shows, as was the case of last year’s Frankenstein by Guillermo del Toro.
While the live-action and animated media are where most of those adaptations thrive—and where some people experience those stories for the first time—comic books prove that the combination of pictures and words are a fantastic format to retell those stories in a way that’s both accessible and visually entertaining. With that in mind, here are nine comic books that are adaptations of literary classics well worth your time.
1. Frankenstein
And speaking of del Toro’s adaptation, why not start with Mary Shelley’s famous novel Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus? George Bess adapted the work with beautiful and detailed black-and-white illustrations, perfectly conjuring up the gothic atmosphere of the original work.
The graphic novel contains 17 chapters with narration that quotes Shelley’s writing directly and retells the story from the points of view of both Victor Frankenstein and the Creature.
Bess’ adaptation is a great option for anyone looking to explore the dark, yet beautiful world of Frankenstein while expecting faithfulness to the original work.
2. Edgar Allan Poe’s Spirits of the Dead
This hardcover edition, written and drawn by legendary Richard Corben, collects all of his adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories. Here, you’ll revisit the bone-chilling, blood-curdling tales that gave the original author the reputation of “Father of Horror.”
From the secrets of the The Fall of the House of Usher to the ghastly events of The Masque of the Red Death and the suffocating experience in The Premature Burial, Richard Corben leaves his mark as he approches Poe’s stories with his notable direction and style. Despite short stories being the focus of the collection, the famous poem The Raven is also among the works adapted.
3. To Kill A Mockingbird: A Graphic Novel
With art and words by Fred Fordham, this stunning coming-of-age graphic novel takes us back to the childhood of Scout, Jem, and Dill as they navigate the complexities of racial and social dynamics and the justice system during the Great Depression.
Originally written by Harper Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird became a best-seller that survived generations and is now retold in this colorful edition that’s a must-read for both lovers of Lee’s novel as well as first-time readers of this timeless classic.
4. Moby Dick
Taking us on a journey across the seas, Moby Dick by Christophe Chabouté is an incredible adaptation of Herman Melville’s famous novel. Here, through the eyes of the young Ishmael, we revisit the crew of the Pequod and follow Captain Ahab’s obsessive quest for vengeance against the white whale that ripped off his leg.
Chabouté’s art is beautifully and expressively drawn. The pacing he employs in this adaptation manages to condense Melville’s plot well while staying true to the original work—a balance not every adaptation can be praised for.
5. Dante’s Divine Comedy
Seymour Chwast takes us on an irreverent trip through Hell, Purgatory and Paradise in this adaptation of Dante Alighieri’s epic poem, the Divine Comedy. In the story, Dante himself meets three guides: the poet Virgil, Beatrice, and Saint Bernard who lead him on a spiritual journey through the planes of the Afterlife.
This version of the Afterlife, however, is given new life by Seymour’s whimsical art style and humor, making this graphic novel a great choice for anyone looking for a fun read that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
6. Pride & Prejudice
The conflicts of family, courtship, and wealth in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice have influenced generations of readers, turning the novel into a must-read for fans of Regency era romance.
In 2009, Marvel Comics released an adaptation of Austen’s classic as a five-issue miniseries that can be now found as a single collected edition. The reader will be re-introduced to the Bennet family, the wealthy Mr. Bingley, Mr. Collins, and, more importantly, to the complicated relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy that turned the book into the classic it is today.
The story was adapted by Nancy Butler, lover of Austen’s original novel, alongside Hugo Petrus who did the illustrations.
7. The Great Gatsby: The Graphic Novel
To Kill a Mockingbird wasn’t the only classic retold by Fred Fordham. He brought his skills back for The Great Gatsby, one of the most iconic works of American literature. Aya Morton’s stunning and colorful art gives this graphic novel the recognizable and charming atmosphere of the Jazz Age found in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s work.
The lives of Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan and Nick Carraway take on a new life in this edition, which also features a beautiful introduction by Fitzgerald’s great-granddaughter, Blake Hazard.
8. The Phantom of the Opera: The Graphic Novel
The French novel that inspired the 1986 musical, The Phantom of the Opera (by Gaston Leroux) is another great classic that deserved a comic book adaptation. Varga Tomi (art and script), brought to the ninth art the mystery of the Opera Ghost that haunted the Palais Garnier and the life of young soprano Christine Daaé. Tomi’s interpretation of Erik is frightening and his use of shading evokes the claustrophobia that’s so particular in gothic stories.
9. Animal Farm: The Graphic Novel
Animal Farm, by George Orwell, continues to be a very relevant story filled with allegorical significance, teaching us about the dangers of governmental abuse of power and the restriction of freedom through the eyes of anthropomorphic farm animals. There’s no doubt it deserves to be retold and adapted, which is done incredibly well by Odyr in Animal Farm: The Graphic Novel.
This charming adaptation illustrated with vivid brushwork manages to balance out both the fable-like aspect of the story with the brutality that made the novella so impactful and worth the retelling.
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