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Manga Classics
Frankenstein
Obsessed with natural philosophy, young Victor Frankenstein succeeds in creating life from its basic elements - and abandons the newborn monstrosity in terror when he cannot bear to look at it. The rejected creature vanishes, and Victor attempts to forget what he has done...
But the monster survives. It learns. Deprived of everything, fated to forever be alone, it has nothing left but revenge.
Manga Classics® proudly present a frightening new manga adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein - a classic tale of creation and destruction!
But the monster survives. It learns. Deprived of everything, fated to forever be alone, it has nothing left but revenge.
Manga Classics® proudly present a frightening new manga adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein - a classic tale of creation and destruction!
324 pages, Hardcover
First published November 10, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
November 20, 2020
4.5 Stars ⭐️
This cover is everything! I was thrilled when I saw this Manga and Anne of Green Gables on preorder. Naturally I had to get them and I have not been let down thus far!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
This cover is everything! I was thrilled when I saw this Manga and Anne of Green Gables on preorder. Naturally I had to get them and I have not been let down thus far!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
February 24, 2024
Horrifying and visually gothic, Manga Classics has brought Mary Shelley's gothic masterpiece to life in their adaptation of Frankenstein. Blurring the lines of man and monster, Manga Classics Frankenstein is an enjoyable read that stays faithful to Mary Shelley's original text with only a few understandable deviations that work in the graphic novel format.
Overall, Manga Classics Frankenstein was a brilliant read with beautiful, disturbing illustrations perfect for any horror and graphic novel fan. Those who love Mary Shelley's original masterpiece will love how Manga Classic stays faithful to her words and will like how the novel has been brought to life.
Thank you, NetGalley and Udon Entertainment for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Overall, Manga Classics Frankenstein was a brilliant read with beautiful, disturbing illustrations perfect for any horror and graphic novel fan. Those who love Mary Shelley's original masterpiece will love how Manga Classic stays faithful to her words and will like how the novel has been brought to life.
Thank you, NetGalley and Udon Entertainment for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 6, 2021
A tiresome adaptation that keeps all the overwrought and gothic sensibilities of the original and gives us scene after scene of characters declaiming how miserable they are -- in the hopes of moving some of that burden onto the reader? The art is pedestrian, choosing to make the monster look like Skaar, Son of Hulk, with an actual scar across his face.
I was so bored reading that I found myself going off on tangents, nearly convincing myself that the whole monster story was merely
I was so bored reading that I found myself going off on tangents, nearly convincing myself that the whole monster story was merely
October 23, 2020
This is Mary Shelly’s story adapted into a manga-style graphic novel. It’s the story of an ambitious young scientist, Victor Frankenstein, who races to create a human-like living being, but faced with the horror of seeing the creature alive and in the flesh, Victor flees, abandoning his “monster” to its own resources. Shelly’s story is considered one of the first (if not The first) science fiction novel and is also one of the great works of horror. But it’s not just a piece of cross-genre pop fiction. Because it artfully deals with a number of issues central to the human experience, such as the potential for monstrosity in ambition and question of whether evil is made or birthed, the book is frequently studied as literary fiction and is one of the preeminent works of the Romantic movement.
The manga adaptation follows the beats of Shelly’s story. The story opens in media res with a Captain Walton seeing Victor out on the ice. Victor is giving chase to his creature. Walton brings the haggard scientist aboard. Thus, the tale is told through this device of a story within a story. The manga adaptation even begins with an epistolary (told through letters) entry and revisits that form briefly at the end. However, the story is largely conveyed as a shipboard Victor introduces flashbacks by directly speaking to the Captain. Shelly wrote the novel in epistolary form, which was popular in those days, but it isn’t the most conducive to a graphic vehicle. The epistolary dialogue bubbles are given their own distinct font, and so it’s not hard to distinguish them.
The major points of the story will be familiar to many, even if one hasn’t read the book. [While the most famous of the movies are quite different and less philosophical, elements of the story appear throughout various pop culture media.] In a nutshell, Victor Frankenstein goes off to university, learns to animate a pile of stitched up animal and human parts, and goes deadbeat dad when his creature comes to life. A while later, Victor returns to his home to find that his young brother William has been murdered, and that a beloved family servant, Justine, is to be tried for the killing. Nobody in the family believes Justine is responsible, and Victor (in particular) has reason to believe his sins have come back to haunt him. (However, Victor’s ongoing lack of capacity to truly see what his sins are and to address them is the source of virtually all the suffering in the book – not only his own. While the creature does the killing, Victor often comes off more monstrously. Conversely, the creature explains himself in a way that invites empathy in the reader.)
The monster appears to Victor and tells him the whole story of what happened after Victor fled. The creature wandered off and prodigiously learned how to be human [including how to speak and read classic literature,] largely by watching the De Lacey family from a distance. In his loneliness, the creature introduces himself to the blind old man De Lacey, and the meeting is going swimmingly until De Lacey’s [sighted] children come home and freak out upon seeing the monstrous (if articulate) being before them. This is when, twice spurned, the monster goes to Victor’s home, kills William, and frames Justine.
The monster offers Victor a deal, if Victor will build the creature a companion, it will stop its deadly rampage. Victor travels to England and Scotland, mostly with a friend Clerval, but leaves solo to a remote island to construct and animate the creature’s companion. The creature follows him. With Frankenstein’s bride stitched together, Victor has a change of heart and destroys it as the creature watches. Instead of killing Victor as the self-obsessed scientist expects it to, the creature retreats after delivering an ominous threat. A pair of dire tragedies follow. It is the second of these that results in Victor’s chase of the monster toward the Arctic pole.
Soon, we are back to the point that Victor is on the ship. The crew are petitioning Captain Walton to return toward home even though Victor has already begged the Captain to assume the scientist’s obligation to kill the creature [if the beaten-down scientist is unable to.] Ultimately, Walton agrees to turn back because he is at risk of getting his crew killed. Victor is in poor shape. We see the creature once more, when he comes to ask forgiveness of his creator. The creature explains to Walton that it isn’t the only monster, nor is it the one whose actions really created the tragedy.
I thought the art, which was drawn and shaded in monochrome, was well-done. The artist took efforts to capture the descriptions conveyed in the book. They chose to stick with the convention of reading as one would a Japanese manga (right to left, not left to right,) but there is a handy explainer page up front to make this clear from the start. Also, there are visual cues to help remind one as one reads, e.g. how the bubbles are positioned and angled, etc., and so I can’t say I had any problem reading it that way. It just seemed a bit odd, but I don’t know whether there is a Japanese edition. If there isn’t, it seems like it would have been just as easy to put it together in the manner of an English language comic book, but – like I say – it was no great reading challenge.
I thought this adaptation was well done. I think one gets a very good sense of the story through the combination of selected text and graphics, as well as the varied styles of text and thought bubbles used to suggest who is speaking or thinking.
I’d highly recommend this book for those wishing to revisit the story in a compact and / or visual form, or even for those who have trouble following the writing style of early 19th century epistolary novels, which can be a bit formal.
The manga adaptation follows the beats of Shelly’s story. The story opens in media res with a Captain Walton seeing Victor out on the ice. Victor is giving chase to his creature. Walton brings the haggard scientist aboard. Thus, the tale is told through this device of a story within a story. The manga adaptation even begins with an epistolary (told through letters) entry and revisits that form briefly at the end. However, the story is largely conveyed as a shipboard Victor introduces flashbacks by directly speaking to the Captain. Shelly wrote the novel in epistolary form, which was popular in those days, but it isn’t the most conducive to a graphic vehicle. The epistolary dialogue bubbles are given their own distinct font, and so it’s not hard to distinguish them.
The major points of the story will be familiar to many, even if one hasn’t read the book. [While the most famous of the movies are quite different and less philosophical, elements of the story appear throughout various pop culture media.] In a nutshell, Victor Frankenstein goes off to university, learns to animate a pile of stitched up animal and human parts, and goes deadbeat dad when his creature comes to life. A while later, Victor returns to his home to find that his young brother William has been murdered, and that a beloved family servant, Justine, is to be tried for the killing. Nobody in the family believes Justine is responsible, and Victor (in particular) has reason to believe his sins have come back to haunt him. (However, Victor’s ongoing lack of capacity to truly see what his sins are and to address them is the source of virtually all the suffering in the book – not only his own. While the creature does the killing, Victor often comes off more monstrously. Conversely, the creature explains himself in a way that invites empathy in the reader.)
The monster appears to Victor and tells him the whole story of what happened after Victor fled. The creature wandered off and prodigiously learned how to be human [including how to speak and read classic literature,] largely by watching the De Lacey family from a distance. In his loneliness, the creature introduces himself to the blind old man De Lacey, and the meeting is going swimmingly until De Lacey’s [sighted] children come home and freak out upon seeing the monstrous (if articulate) being before them. This is when, twice spurned, the monster goes to Victor’s home, kills William, and frames Justine.
The monster offers Victor a deal, if Victor will build the creature a companion, it will stop its deadly rampage. Victor travels to England and Scotland, mostly with a friend Clerval, but leaves solo to a remote island to construct and animate the creature’s companion. The creature follows him. With Frankenstein’s bride stitched together, Victor has a change of heart and destroys it as the creature watches. Instead of killing Victor as the self-obsessed scientist expects it to, the creature retreats after delivering an ominous threat. A pair of dire tragedies follow. It is the second of these that results in Victor’s chase of the monster toward the Arctic pole.
Soon, we are back to the point that Victor is on the ship. The crew are petitioning Captain Walton to return toward home even though Victor has already begged the Captain to assume the scientist’s obligation to kill the creature [if the beaten-down scientist is unable to.] Ultimately, Walton agrees to turn back because he is at risk of getting his crew killed. Victor is in poor shape. We see the creature once more, when he comes to ask forgiveness of his creator. The creature explains to Walton that it isn’t the only monster, nor is it the one whose actions really created the tragedy.
I thought the art, which was drawn and shaded in monochrome, was well-done. The artist took efforts to capture the descriptions conveyed in the book. They chose to stick with the convention of reading as one would a Japanese manga (right to left, not left to right,) but there is a handy explainer page up front to make this clear from the start. Also, there are visual cues to help remind one as one reads, e.g. how the bubbles are positioned and angled, etc., and so I can’t say I had any problem reading it that way. It just seemed a bit odd, but I don’t know whether there is a Japanese edition. If there isn’t, it seems like it would have been just as easy to put it together in the manner of an English language comic book, but – like I say – it was no great reading challenge.
I thought this adaptation was well done. I think one gets a very good sense of the story through the combination of selected text and graphics, as well as the varied styles of text and thought bubbles used to suggest who is speaking or thinking.
I’d highly recommend this book for those wishing to revisit the story in a compact and / or visual form, or even for those who have trouble following the writing style of early 19th century epistolary novels, which can be a bit formal.
March 13, 2021
Another favorite from the Manga Classics collection!
Frankenstein has been my favorite classic since I read it a few years ago and one of my goals was to read its different editions, so, as soon as I knew it was going to be adapted in the Manga Classics collection, I just couldn’t wait to have my hands on it!
With that being said, I love that the manga format gave us the chance to see the multiple layers of both Victor and his Creature. Most of people often misunderstood Frankenstein as the monster, when it’s actually the last name of the young and brilliant scientist.
The Creature, often seen as “the monster”, merely wanted something we all crave and long for: a companion, friends and/or family, to feel worthy of love and respect. He wanted to feel the warmth of a home, as well as cherished and ultimately, he craved to belong to something bigger than himself. He loved nature and the simple things life brings such as the sunshine on his skin, music in his ears or a well-written book in his hands. He had passions just as do we all, but he had a terrible fate, you see? Therefore, he swore to take his revenge on the world.
The Creature learns to communicate and he finds his creator after a couple of years since he was abandoned, only to make a request: to have a companion, someone just like him, so they could live afar from the world and its prejudices. Victor, perhaps out of pity, starts to work again, to give him what he asks so eagerly. Yet, the young man realizes that he will create another “monster” and perhaps an ugly, malicious new race. A moment later, he destroys this new being, therefore we see the Creature swear his revenge on him.
Eventually, people in Victor’s circle begin to die, one by one, until he has no one left alive, except himself. Cursed, broken and unbound to all the living things, they chase each other, until one of them ceases to exist.
Now, what I have always loved about this classic is that it portrays humanity in its different shades of gray. That emotional range along with the complexity and yet wonderful aspects of life, are my favorite thing in the world, and it will always have a special place in my heart.
I think this adaptation makes a wonderful job telling the story of both Victor and his Creature. I would highly recommend you to check this out if you haven’t had the chance to read the original work.
I received an e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review via Diamond Comic Distributors.
PREVIOUS REVIEWS FROM THE MANGA CLASSICS COLLECTION:
Great Expectations | Jane Eyre | The Count of Monte Cristo | The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Frankenstein has been my favorite classic since I read it a few years ago and one of my goals was to read its different editions, so, as soon as I knew it was going to be adapted in the Manga Classics collection, I just couldn’t wait to have my hands on it!
With that being said, I love that the manga format gave us the chance to see the multiple layers of both Victor and his Creature. Most of people often misunderstood Frankenstein as the monster, when it’s actually the last name of the young and brilliant scientist.
The Creature, often seen as “the monster”, merely wanted something we all crave and long for: a companion, friends and/or family, to feel worthy of love and respect. He wanted to feel the warmth of a home, as well as cherished and ultimately, he craved to belong to something bigger than himself. He loved nature and the simple things life brings such as the sunshine on his skin, music in his ears or a well-written book in his hands. He had passions just as do we all, but he had a terrible fate, you see? Therefore, he swore to take his revenge on the world.
The Creature learns to communicate and he finds his creator after a couple of years since he was abandoned, only to make a request: to have a companion, someone just like him, so they could live afar from the world and its prejudices. Victor, perhaps out of pity, starts to work again, to give him what he asks so eagerly. Yet, the young man realizes that he will create another “monster” and perhaps an ugly, malicious new race. A moment later, he destroys this new being, therefore we see the Creature swear his revenge on him.
Eventually, people in Victor’s circle begin to die, one by one, until he has no one left alive, except himself. Cursed, broken and unbound to all the living things, they chase each other, until one of them ceases to exist.
Now, what I have always loved about this classic is that it portrays humanity in its different shades of gray. That emotional range along with the complexity and yet wonderful aspects of life, are my favorite thing in the world, and it will always have a special place in my heart.
I think this adaptation makes a wonderful job telling the story of both Victor and his Creature. I would highly recommend you to check this out if you haven’t had the chance to read the original work.
I received an e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review via Diamond Comic Distributors.
PREVIOUS REVIEWS FROM THE MANGA CLASSICS COLLECTION:
Great Expectations | Jane Eyre | The Count of Monte Cristo | The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
March 4, 2021
Dr. Frankenstein becomes obsessed with the idea of infusing life into a created being, but when he succeeds, he is horrified at what he has done and runs from his creation, leaving it to fend for itself. Frankenstein's monster roams the country, searching for his creator and finding only hatred and fear in everyone he meets. He vows to get revenge on the man who made him, and goes on a killing spree.
I thought the artwork did a wonderful job of showing the gothic melodrama and darkness of the story. There are many scenes that use shadows to show the tension in the characters. The art makes their intense emotions explode onto the page.
Dr. Frankenstein is a wild character. He is a genius, and his mind goes skittering in all different directions. Like many highly intelligent people, he can be ridiculously stupid and obtuse about certain things. He is a chaotic person, and he just doesn't know how to handle the responsibility of what he has done.
I loved the way that the side characters are developed, and how their influence on young Frankenstein is explored.
The monster is also highly intelligent, but he uses his intelligence for evil. He thinks he is justified in murdering and getting revenge, since he has also been wronged. At first I sympathize with him, but when he starts murdering people, I end up hating him. It's really incredible character development to see the way he descends into violence.
I have read many of the other Manga Classics, and really loved them. So I came into this with high expectations, and I was not disappointed! It can be difficult to organize a classic into a graphic medium, but the story flows along wonderfully with most of the original dialogue from the original book. I really enjoyed revisiting this classic in graphic novel form!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
I thought the artwork did a wonderful job of showing the gothic melodrama and darkness of the story. There are many scenes that use shadows to show the tension in the characters. The art makes their intense emotions explode onto the page.
Dr. Frankenstein is a wild character. He is a genius, and his mind goes skittering in all different directions. Like many highly intelligent people, he can be ridiculously stupid and obtuse about certain things. He is a chaotic person, and he just doesn't know how to handle the responsibility of what he has done.
I loved the way that the side characters are developed, and how their influence on young Frankenstein is explored.
The monster is also highly intelligent, but he uses his intelligence for evil. He thinks he is justified in murdering and getting revenge, since he has also been wronged. At first I sympathize with him, but when he starts murdering people, I end up hating him. It's really incredible character development to see the way he descends into violence.
I have read many of the other Manga Classics, and really loved them. So I came into this with high expectations, and I was not disappointed! It can be difficult to organize a classic into a graphic medium, but the story flows along wonderfully with most of the original dialogue from the original book. I really enjoyed revisiting this classic in graphic novel form!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
November 19, 2023
The book is a manga version of the classic tale - Frankenstein. The illustrations are beautiful and make me feel like I was reading comics in my childhood. The good part is that the essence of the story is still maintained by capturing the turning events of the story. The character introductions played a key role in making the story at par with the original story, had it been a bit delayed or too early, it would not have had the same impact. To conclude, this version has expanded the reach of this story to people who would prefer a lighter version of this story without watering down the crux.
Thank you @netgalley for the eARC
Genre: #manga #classics #sciencefiction
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Thank you @netgalley for the eARC
Genre: #manga #classics #sciencefiction
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
April 29, 2024
The original Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is one of my all-time favourite books, so when I saw this come up, I had to check it out, although I must admit being a Manga version I was a bit worried that it would be a toned down version, or a strange adaptation.
But this version was outstanding.
This book has the same essence as the original 1818 story, which is a great achievement, especially considering almost every movie adaption have been unable to do it.
The artwork complemented the story perfectly, and despite not being familiar with Manga format, I found it very easy to follow.
I commend M Chandler and everyone who worked on this, the result is nothing short of exceptional, and has inspired me to check out other books in the Manga Classics series, books that I’ve heard off but have been hesitant to pick up due to their older writing style.
I Highly Recommend this book to anyone, who, like me, loves Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, or anyone who is not a strong reader or someone who finds the thought of reading such an old book daunting, this book is a easy and ideal way to experience this classic story.
But this version was outstanding.
This book has the same essence as the original 1818 story, which is a great achievement, especially considering almost every movie adaption have been unable to do it.
The artwork complemented the story perfectly, and despite not being familiar with Manga format, I found it very easy to follow.
I commend M Chandler and everyone who worked on this, the result is nothing short of exceptional, and has inspired me to check out other books in the Manga Classics series, books that I’ve heard off but have been hesitant to pick up due to their older writing style.
I Highly Recommend this book to anyone, who, like me, loves Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, or anyone who is not a strong reader or someone who finds the thought of reading such an old book daunting, this book is a easy and ideal way to experience this classic story.
December 12, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I recently taught the OG Frankenstein to my students, and while it is one of my favorite classic texts, they had a lot of trouble getting into it.
After reading this version, I can definitely see myself using it in class for some of my students who need additional support and prefer visual cues!
The adaptation is incredibly faithful to the original text, with only a few minor changes. Even the language remains incredibly similar, which I really enjoyed because I think it helps keep the integrity of the text.
The art is also wonderful, and I greatly enjoyed the author's commentary on the back on the process of adapting the novel. I could also see myself integrating that into my class as well.
I recently taught the OG Frankenstein to my students, and while it is one of my favorite classic texts, they had a lot of trouble getting into it.
After reading this version, I can definitely see myself using it in class for some of my students who need additional support and prefer visual cues!
The adaptation is incredibly faithful to the original text, with only a few minor changes. Even the language remains incredibly similar, which I really enjoyed because I think it helps keep the integrity of the text.
The art is also wonderful, and I greatly enjoyed the author's commentary on the back on the process of adapting the novel. I could also see myself integrating that into my class as well.
October 11, 2021
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a story of ambition gone too far, revenge, hatred and a dark exploration of science. I studied Frankenstein at university and found learning about it was fascinating. Mary Shelley at twenty years old wrote the world's first science fiction novel, creating a new genre of literature, all because she was prompted to come up with a spine-chilling story by Lord Byron. Little did they know, at the time, that they were listening to what would be one of my most famous books of all time. While I appreciate the book and admire Shelley as a writer, I did not enjoy reading the novel as much as I thought I would.
Frankenstein having been adapted into a Manga Classics was a really fun read! I think all the people who contributed to making this happen did excellently - it must not have been easy to convert such a dense, rich text to a speech bubble worth of words. A lot of 'waffle' was cut which I think made my reading experience more pleasant - as that is what made me like the novel less.
I think the one thing I didn't particularly like about this manga is the why the monster was illustrated. Like, I know the monster is supposed to look monstrous and strange but Linus Liu's adaptation was a little blatant. Victor's initial goal was to create a beautiful creature, and while reading the novel, I imagined a man that was a little too large, with features with a more noticeable disproportion than that of humans, with scars and pallid. The monster illustrated in this manga was a little over the top for my liking.
I read this for The Fall Into Autumn Readathon hosted by Ciara Foster and Meg from Pride & Fiction.
Frankenstein having been adapted into a Manga Classics was a really fun read! I think all the people who contributed to making this happen did excellently - it must not have been easy to convert such a dense, rich text to a speech bubble worth of words. A lot of 'waffle' was cut which I think made my reading experience more pleasant - as that is what made me like the novel less.
I think the one thing I didn't particularly like about this manga is the why the monster was illustrated. Like, I know the monster is supposed to look monstrous and strange but Linus Liu's adaptation was a little blatant. Victor's initial goal was to create a beautiful creature, and while reading the novel, I imagined a man that was a little too large, with features with a more noticeable disproportion than that of humans, with scars and pallid. The monster illustrated in this manga was a little over the top for my liking.
I read this for The Fall Into Autumn Readathon hosted by Ciara Foster and Meg from Pride & Fiction.
October 28, 2023
I read original Frankenstein a while ago. It's one of my favorite books for many many reasons. So when I saw manga adaptation of it available on NetGalley, I decided to give it a go. I don't typically read manga so I am grateful for "how to read manga" page in the beginning.
Character designs are brilliant. The monster of Frankenstein looks ugly and unnatural but also human. Also he's much bigger than humans and I appreciate keeping that detail. His tragedy hit me more than when I read the book because I could see him so to speak. Victor Frankenstein character design is surprisingly faithful to the original. He looks exactly how a scientist who is afraid of his creation should look like. I know, it sounds weird but I really liked the character work, that's my point.
The artwork and panel design is also superb. The story was translated into manga really well. Even parts with action which in my opinion are difficult to translate to graphic form. I wish I could give more details on this point, but I don't want to spoil anything and a picture is worth a thousand words.
Frankenstein the novel is a difficult book as all classics are. It's not type of book you can read in one go. This adaptation however is easily digestible without losing anything in adaptation.
Character designs are brilliant. The monster of Frankenstein looks ugly and unnatural but also human. Also he's much bigger than humans and I appreciate keeping that detail. His tragedy hit me more than when I read the book because I could see him so to speak. Victor Frankenstein character design is surprisingly faithful to the original. He looks exactly how a scientist who is afraid of his creation should look like. I know, it sounds weird but I really liked the character work, that's my point.
The artwork and panel design is also superb. The story was translated into manga really well. Even parts with action which in my opinion are difficult to translate to graphic form. I wish I could give more details on this point, but I don't want to spoil anything and a picture is worth a thousand words.
Frankenstein the novel is a difficult book as all classics are. It's not type of book you can read in one go. This adaptation however is easily digestible without losing anything in adaptation.
June 6, 2021
I give the adaptation a 3 star because I feel like they could have done it better. This was suppose to be a Japanese manga, but yet they kept the old English and did not make it very Japaneseish if that makes since. I had a little bit of a hard time following it and I felt like with a manga that should not be a thing....
The story however was very different than the movies make it out to be. It was very sad and dark. Lessons are definitely learned through the story.
The story however was very different than the movies make it out to be. It was very sad and dark. Lessons are definitely learned through the story.
February 9, 2022
Esta colección manga que adapta clásicos de la literatura es una joya. Y este Frankenstein capta la agonía y el horror de la novela muy bien. Su monstruo es perfecto.
Como siempre, una buena idea para acercarse por primera vez a esta historia o para amantes de ella que la coleccionan en diferentes formatos!
Como siempre, una buena idea para acercarse por primera vez a esta historia o para amantes de ella que la coleccionan en diferentes formatos!
February 20, 2024
As consequências que Victor Frankenstein por brincar de ser Deus desta vez adaptadas para manga…
Li “Frankenstein” em 2020 e lembro-me que gostei muito. Confesso que não gostei muito da arte nem da linguagem utilizada nesta adaptação, mas se calhar é por não me lembrar muito bem como é a linguagem usada na obra original…
3 estrelas para a adaptação!
Obrigada, #NetGalley pelo arc!
Li “Frankenstein” em 2020 e lembro-me que gostei muito. Confesso que não gostei muito da arte nem da linguagem utilizada nesta adaptação, mas se calhar é por não me lembrar muito bem como é a linguagem usada na obra original…
3 estrelas para a adaptação!
Obrigada, #NetGalley pelo arc!
November 7, 2023
I am new to reading Manga, but I really enjoyed this book.
I especially appreciated the reminder in the beginning on how to read Manga correctly.
A thoroughly enjoyable retelling of Frankenstein and his monster.
I especially appreciated the reminder in the beginning on how to read Manga correctly.
A thoroughly enjoyable retelling of Frankenstein and his monster.
February 22, 2021
I love Frankenstein and this adaptation captured the agony perfectly
March 8, 2023
Look I know it used to be socially acceptable, but they actual shock and horror I felt when the main character is PASSIONATELY ATTRACTED to his cousin was bewildering. I just don’t understand.
Anyway, the overall story was good and I really like the orignal story of Frankenstein so I really enjoyed this adaptation. This novel takes lots of create liberties that can make it hard to read sometimes, but the overall art style is incredible. 3/5☆
Anyway, the overall story was good and I really like the orignal story of Frankenstein so I really enjoyed this adaptation. This novel takes lots of create liberties that can make it hard to read sometimes, but the overall art style is incredible. 3/5☆
November 14, 2023
I received a copy of Manga Classics: Frankenstein in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Yes! It's another manga adaptation of a classic, and this time around, it's Frankenstein! I couldn't be happier about the news, or about the entire experience. Manga Classics: Frankenstein was created by M. Chandler and Linus Liu, not to mention the original author, Mary Shelly.
As with the rest of this collection, one of the biggest points is to make as many of the classics as possible accessible for all readers. How many times have you looked towards a classic novel, only to be intimidated by the sheer volume of it? Well, Manga Classics not only changes the format, but it typically condenses the story as well (as a requirement of the medium).
It probably goes without saying that I am a huge fan of Frankenstein, and thus I screamed just a little bit when I saw this latest adaptation. Obviously, that meant I had high expectations going into it. So, that raises the question, did it hold up?
Absolutely! M. Chandler and Linus Liu did a fantastic job of bringing Mary Shelly's story to life on these pages. Everything from the decisions made about the adaptation, to the art style itself was really well done.
Speaking of the art, I really do feel like it was the perfect fit. The cover should give potential readers a good idea of what I'm talking about. It's the right blend of that classic Frankenstein style, and the style inherent to manga.
In short: Manga Classics: Frankenstein was pure perfection, and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. It doesn't matter if you've read the story a hundred times, or not a single time. Either way, it is an experience worth diving into.
Check out more of my reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Yes! It's another manga adaptation of a classic, and this time around, it's Frankenstein! I couldn't be happier about the news, or about the entire experience. Manga Classics: Frankenstein was created by M. Chandler and Linus Liu, not to mention the original author, Mary Shelly.
As with the rest of this collection, one of the biggest points is to make as many of the classics as possible accessible for all readers. How many times have you looked towards a classic novel, only to be intimidated by the sheer volume of it? Well, Manga Classics not only changes the format, but it typically condenses the story as well (as a requirement of the medium).
It probably goes without saying that I am a huge fan of Frankenstein, and thus I screamed just a little bit when I saw this latest adaptation. Obviously, that meant I had high expectations going into it. So, that raises the question, did it hold up?
Absolutely! M. Chandler and Linus Liu did a fantastic job of bringing Mary Shelly's story to life on these pages. Everything from the decisions made about the adaptation, to the art style itself was really well done.
Speaking of the art, I really do feel like it was the perfect fit. The cover should give potential readers a good idea of what I'm talking about. It's the right blend of that classic Frankenstein style, and the style inherent to manga.
In short: Manga Classics: Frankenstein was pure perfection, and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. It doesn't matter if you've read the story a hundred times, or not a single time. Either way, it is an experience worth diving into.
Check out more of my reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
June 26, 2022
This was a very faithful adaptation to the original novel! I was not a big fan of the original novel, but I think this manga is great at introducing it to younger readers. I only give it three stars because I don’t care for the story but the adaptation deserves five stars. I actually somewhat preferred this to the novel haha.
December 24, 2023
Frankenstein has long been a favorite story of mine, and I'm always excited to re-experience it in another medium. The manga illustrations were not only beautiful and detailed, but highly evocative. Victor Frankenstein's ambition and lust for power were starkly laid bare in black and white, with several panels of him gazing with unnatural fervor at the reader, and others where he's shadowed and haunted. It's a look that can truly only be achieved in sketches to create a sketchy character (I couldn't resist the weak wordplay), and this manga does well to capture it.
Of course, the Creature is rendered in detail just as gorgeous and horrifying, inspiring sympathy yet looming over the plot as a shadowy figure. The artist strove to create a "monster" still capable of showing the full range of despair, anger, envy, and hope the Creature feels, and several times I found myself near tears from his words and expression.
I cannot forget to zoom out from the characters and just... talk about the LOOK of the manga, how it can switch with ease between well-lit, almost romantic stylings to skewed perspectives and Gothic trappings. It's devotedly faithful to describing the novel's full events and is incredibly in keeping with the spirit of its themes and times. I highly recommend it to those familiar with Frankenstein and those who have yet to experience the story for themselves.
Btw, if you were curious, notes at the end of the book confirm this is based upon the 1818 version of the text, which I hold to be superior to the 1831 text and I know many other Frankenstein fans do as well.
Of course, the Creature is rendered in detail just as gorgeous and horrifying, inspiring sympathy yet looming over the plot as a shadowy figure. The artist strove to create a "monster" still capable of showing the full range of despair, anger, envy, and hope the Creature feels, and several times I found myself near tears from his words and expression.
I cannot forget to zoom out from the characters and just... talk about the LOOK of the manga, how it can switch with ease between well-lit, almost romantic stylings to skewed perspectives and Gothic trappings. It's devotedly faithful to describing the novel's full events and is incredibly in keeping with the spirit of its themes and times. I highly recommend it to those familiar with Frankenstein and those who have yet to experience the story for themselves.
Btw, if you were curious, notes at the end of the book confirm this is based upon the 1818 version of the text, which I hold to be superior to the 1831 text and I know many other Frankenstein fans do as well.
November 30, 2020
This is the first of the Manga Classics series I've read, and I quite enjoyed it! I haven't read the original version yet (in this case, the author of the adaption used the original 1818 edition of the book), but it's in the line up, y'all know how that TBR pile is. I can't say for sure how close this gets to the source material, but it seems like it's close based on what I've read about Frankenstein. What a story, peeps, a jerk scientist who refuses to take responsibility for his actions creates a man by sewing together a bunch of body parts, human and animal, then gets all petulant when his creation isn't beautiful. Dude, you saw that body before you sparked it up, did you think there was going to be a Magical Monster Transformation Sequence and he'd turn pretty if you gave him some juice? So Victor runs away, leaving poor monster guy alone, not knowing what was going on. He goes out into the world, gets hated on, hides in the shed by a cottage and stalker watches some family, learns how to speak, reads books, gets smart, tries to make friends, and gets run off again. Guy goes looking for his maker, and bunches of stuff happens I'm not gonna totally spoil this), and the end is just messed up. Great story, but it's not a happy one.
The art really works with the text, the artist captures the feels of the story, gives us clues to what's going on that isn't included in the text, and makes us feel the madness of Victor Frankenstein.
The art really works with the text, the artist captures the feels of the story, gives us clues to what's going on that isn't included in the text, and makes us feel the madness of Victor Frankenstein.
December 16, 2020
Frankenstein is a well-known story that has been regularly classified as both horror and a cautionary tale, earning both of those titles thoroughly with a plot that is as intriguing as it is unsettling.
Liu's illustrations accompany Chandler's adapted story and text with deft line work and panels full of emotion. The art quickly establishes changes in scenery with sweeping landscapes and just as easily depicts the quick changes in emotions for the large cast of characters. This latter skill is well matched to the story as Frankenstein's descent into madness (or drive to atone for his actions, depending on how you perceive his character) and the creature's desire for love are key themes. Just as in the original, the manga has multiple narrators and this is done by altering the shape and color of the text boxes to assist readers in remembering who is telling their story at that point. The abridged text, which contains Shelley's original words, is thus very easy to follow.
Chandler's selection of elements and pivotal plot points is fairly well done but some scenes feel repetitive as five years of events from the original are pushed into a smaller page count. Most notably is Victor's reactions to the creature's presence; he is immobilized with grief or madness a total of four times, which begins to feel excessive in a graphic novel a little over 300 pages.
Liu's illustrations accompany Chandler's adapted story and text with deft line work and panels full of emotion. The art quickly establishes changes in scenery with sweeping landscapes and just as easily depicts the quick changes in emotions for the large cast of characters. This latter skill is well matched to the story as Frankenstein's descent into madness (or drive to atone for his actions, depending on how you perceive his character) and the creature's desire for love are key themes. Just as in the original, the manga has multiple narrators and this is done by altering the shape and color of the text boxes to assist readers in remembering who is telling their story at that point. The abridged text, which contains Shelley's original words, is thus very easy to follow.
Chandler's selection of elements and pivotal plot points is fairly well done but some scenes feel repetitive as five years of events from the original are pushed into a smaller page count. Most notably is Victor's reactions to the creature's presence; he is immobilized with grief or madness a total of four times, which begins to feel excessive in a graphic novel a little over 300 pages.
December 18, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC. This does not influence my opinion.
I have read a few Manga Classics by now and enjoyed most of them. I love how accessible they are and at least the medium is going with the times and again, thus making the classics that “everyone should read” (according to old white men) more accessible to both older and younger generations.
The art style again was very fitting and beautiful. I sometimes felt like I was missing bits of it as though I had skipped a page or such, but I’m hoping that was a bug in my eARC.
While the medium was accessible, the language was less so, I believe most of the original language of the classic was kept. It was not as hard to understand as Romeo & Juliet though. Still, I believe more people would enjoy the Manga if the language itself were made more accessible as well, especially children and people learning English as a second or foreign language.
Of course the themes of Frankenstein are still very current and Frankenstein having to deal with the consequences of his actions and hubris could (and should) serve as a lesson to many, especially as only innocents are hurt. As such, the book is oe of the more relevant classics in my opinion and I am very glad to see it adapted into a Manga.
All in all a good read.
I have read a few Manga Classics by now and enjoyed most of them. I love how accessible they are and at least the medium is going with the times and again, thus making the classics that “everyone should read” (according to old white men) more accessible to both older and younger generations.
The art style again was very fitting and beautiful. I sometimes felt like I was missing bits of it as though I had skipped a page or such, but I’m hoping that was a bug in my eARC.
While the medium was accessible, the language was less so, I believe most of the original language of the classic was kept. It was not as hard to understand as Romeo & Juliet though. Still, I believe more people would enjoy the Manga if the language itself were made more accessible as well, especially children and people learning English as a second or foreign language.
Of course the themes of Frankenstein are still very current and Frankenstein having to deal with the consequences of his actions and hubris could (and should) serve as a lesson to many, especially as only innocents are hurt. As such, the book is oe of the more relevant classics in my opinion and I am very glad to see it adapted into a Manga.
All in all a good read.
July 31, 2023
Though not perfect adaptations (Perfect adaptations being incredibly rare) I genuinely believe the Manga Classics would be remarkable tools for English Literature teachers to encourage an interest in the classics in a different format.
Frankenstein is one of my favourite books, The Creature being one of my most beloved fictional characters, and I find it hard to find adaptations that truly do Shelley's work justice, regardless of entertainment value. This manga, however, is an example of an adaptation created from passion and a love of the source, it is a fantastic recreation of the story.
One truly feels for the Creature and his suffering though the manga is careful to depict the horrors of his own actions. The Creature is a victim who has made victims of innocents and such actions are unforgiveable. Frankenstein is responsible for the Creature and his tragedies and thus has a hand in the fates of the innocents whose lives had been lost. The manga does not hesitate in depicting the sympathies and tragedies that Shelley so beautifully crafted in the original text.
I would encourage anyone who may be a reluctant reader of classic literature (As I appreciate it can be intimidating) who still has an interest in the stories themselves to give this adaptation a try.
Frankenstein is one of my favourite books, The Creature being one of my most beloved fictional characters, and I find it hard to find adaptations that truly do Shelley's work justice, regardless of entertainment value. This manga, however, is an example of an adaptation created from passion and a love of the source, it is a fantastic recreation of the story.
One truly feels for the Creature and his suffering though the manga is careful to depict the horrors of his own actions. The Creature is a victim who has made victims of innocents and such actions are unforgiveable. Frankenstein is responsible for the Creature and his tragedies and thus has a hand in the fates of the innocents whose lives had been lost. The manga does not hesitate in depicting the sympathies and tragedies that Shelley so beautifully crafted in the original text.
I would encourage anyone who may be a reluctant reader of classic literature (As I appreciate it can be intimidating) who still has an interest in the stories themselves to give this adaptation a try.
September 14, 2024
Frankenstein: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content Warnings: monster, murder, revenge, horror
As a boy Victor Frankenstein was obsessed with creating life and the knowledge he gained in natural philosophy. When he applied what he had learned in books and created a monster by awful means, his life’s work was completed. However, when faced with the horror of what he had done, he rejects the very creature he created causing the monster to forever be alone. But the monster is not content with his miserable life, he wants revenge on the human who created him, and sets out to chip away at Frankenstein’s sanity, by taking away from him those he loves.
This was my very first manga, so it took me a minute to get used to the format. But the drawings are amazing, and really bring to life the depravity and horror of the work of Frankenstein and Frankenstein’s monster. It’s really amazing the work that M Chandler put into adapting this classic to manga form especially because of the way that Mary Shelley wrote the book as stories within stories and not the typical dialogue heavy story. Overall I was able to experience the story of Frankenstein in a new and exciting way.
Content Warnings: monster, murder, revenge, horror
As a boy Victor Frankenstein was obsessed with creating life and the knowledge he gained in natural philosophy. When he applied what he had learned in books and created a monster by awful means, his life’s work was completed. However, when faced with the horror of what he had done, he rejects the very creature he created causing the monster to forever be alone. But the monster is not content with his miserable life, he wants revenge on the human who created him, and sets out to chip away at Frankenstein’s sanity, by taking away from him those he loves.
This was my very first manga, so it took me a minute to get used to the format. But the drawings are amazing, and really bring to life the depravity and horror of the work of Frankenstein and Frankenstein’s monster. It’s really amazing the work that M Chandler put into adapting this classic to manga form especially because of the way that Mary Shelley wrote the book as stories within stories and not the typical dialogue heavy story. Overall I was able to experience the story of Frankenstein in a new and exciting way.
December 27, 2020
I love Manga Classics. They offer the best adaptation out there, and I'm always eager when I have a new volume.
I studied Frankenstein in high school during our classes of English Literature. We read an excerpt, and we probably watched the movie with Robert De Niro, as well. I was intrigued by the original novel but I've never been brave enough to read it. So, I was happy when this came in the mail.
I love the art, which is a bit different compared to the other Manga Classics books. It's dirtier and grittier but it fits the novel perfectly. I love the way the novel was adapted and it made me think about the creature differently. Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter had the same effect on me.
I hope they'll keep on adapting the great novels of literature because the Udon teams is doing such an excellent job.
I studied Frankenstein in high school during our classes of English Literature. We read an excerpt, and we probably watched the movie with Robert De Niro, as well. I was intrigued by the original novel but I've never been brave enough to read it. So, I was happy when this came in the mail.
I love the art, which is a bit different compared to the other Manga Classics books. It's dirtier and grittier but it fits the novel perfectly. I love the way the novel was adapted and it made me think about the creature differently. Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter had the same effect on me.
I hope they'll keep on adapting the great novels of literature because the Udon teams is doing such an excellent job.
February 4, 2024
Language: PG (9 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
Natural philosophy is Victor’s subject matter of choice, and, when he goes to university, he learns to apply other sciences, like chemistry, to the philosophy he loves. Determined to bring theory to life, Victor literally animates a being—a monster. Years of study culminates in a decision that haunts Victor the rest of his life.
Shelley’s Frankenstein is as much about Victor’s and his monster’s thoughts as it is about their actions, and Shelley tells several stories inside of each other. The illustrations by Liu show readers the turmoil inside and outside of these characters and help readers clearly keep track of who is telling which stories. I like this manga version as much as I enjoy the original text.
Victor and his family are Swiss, Agatha and her family are French, Safie is Turkish, and Robert is implied English. The mature content rating is for partial nudity and disturbing images. The violence rating is for corpses, gun use, and murder.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
Natural philosophy is Victor’s subject matter of choice, and, when he goes to university, he learns to apply other sciences, like chemistry, to the philosophy he loves. Determined to bring theory to life, Victor literally animates a being—a monster. Years of study culminates in a decision that haunts Victor the rest of his life.
Shelley’s Frankenstein is as much about Victor’s and his monster’s thoughts as it is about their actions, and Shelley tells several stories inside of each other. The illustrations by Liu show readers the turmoil inside and outside of these characters and help readers clearly keep track of who is telling which stories. I like this manga version as much as I enjoy the original text.
Victor and his family are Swiss, Agatha and her family are French, Safie is Turkish, and Robert is implied English. The mature content rating is for partial nudity and disturbing images. The violence rating is for corpses, gun use, and murder.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
January 22, 2024
I have not read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. It is one of those books that always seemed too difficult to attempt. When I came across Manga Classics Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, M. Chandler, and Linus Liu on Netgalley, I remembered long ago when I was a kid, the older kids passing around the Illustrated Classics to complete high school reports. The Manga seemed like a good way to try Frankenstein again.
The book is 336 pages long. It is, as best I can tell, the complete story. The artwork is the manga style. It is detailed. The faces are individualized. They clearly show emotion and physical state. The objects in the story are also detailed. Frankenstein’s monster is incredibly detailed. He truly looks put together of various parts more so than any other representation I have seen. I enjoyed the book. I am looking forward to reading more of the Manga Classics. I received a copy of Manga Classics Frankenstein from Netgalley. After reading it, I have written an honest review.
The book is 336 pages long. It is, as best I can tell, the complete story. The artwork is the manga style. It is detailed. The faces are individualized. They clearly show emotion and physical state. The objects in the story are also detailed. Frankenstein’s monster is incredibly detailed. He truly looks put together of various parts more so than any other representation I have seen. I enjoyed the book. I am looking forward to reading more of the Manga Classics. I received a copy of Manga Classics Frankenstein from Netgalley. After reading it, I have written an honest review.
January 15, 2021
A retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. I have not read the original full length book Frankenstein, but I still found this book enjoyable. Victor Frankenstein is fascinated by science, so much so that he wants to bring a creation to life. Once he succeeds, he is so disgusted by the creature he made that he flees from it and abandons it. The monster goes on to learn how to speak, but it is lonely. He resolves to force Frankenstein to make him a companion. Frankenstein initially agrees, but then changes his mind as he does not want to fill the world with monsters. The monster flies into a rage and says that he will kill everyone that Frankenstein loves which he does. Frankenstein dies while trying to pursue the monster. The monster expresses remorse and resolves to go to the southernmost point of the globe and die.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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