PopCultHQ received an advance review copy of Uncle Scrooge & Donald Duck in LES MISÉRABLES and WAR AND PEACE from Fantagraphics, releasing Tuesday, September 19th (bookstores) & 20th (comic book retailers).
Here’s PopCultHQ’s spoiler-free review of…
Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck in
LES MISÉRABLES and WAR AND PEACE
by Giovan Battista Carpie
Les Misérables:
The Original Story and Author
Alberto Becattini
Uncle Scrooge in
“The Secret of the Candlesticks”
(Spun From That Classic Tale
Les Misérables)
Story and art by Giovan Battista Carpi
Color by Disney Italia
Lettering by Paul Baresh and C Hwang
Translation and dialogue
by David Gerstein
~~~
War and Peace:
The Original Story and Author Alberto Becattini
Donald Duck in “War and Peace”
Story and art by Giovan Battista Carpi
Color by Disney Italia
Lettering by Paul Baresh and C Hwang
Translation and dialogue by Thad Komorowski and Sam Davis
Giovan Battista Carpi
Luca Boschi
Carpi and Les Misérables
Alberto Becattini
Pages: 184
Format: Hardback
Color: Full-Color
Dimensions: 7.8″ × 10.6″
ISBN-13: 9781683967675
In Shops: September 19th
In the tradition of Mickey’s Christmas Carol
and Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The 3 Musketeers,
master Disney comics writer/artists tackle
wild retellings of great literature!
It’s Victor Hugo… duckified! When French gendarme Javert thinks that poor Jean McJean (Scrooge McDuck) stole two candlesticks, he swears to run him down—even years later, when McJean has become town mayor and guardian of Daisette (Daisy Duck). Are the candlesticks the key to a fabulous treasure lost in Paris? And do the freres Beagle and Peg Leg Thénardier want it? (Silly question!)
Then, in our version of Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace,” Count Donald Dukzukov of ancient Russia loves Ducktasha Roastov (Daisy)—but Prince Scrooge McDukzukov wants to force him into an arranged marriage… or punish him in the McDukzukov Metalworks, where cannon balls are so pricey that you have to return them after the battle!
PopCultHQ’s Comic Book Review:
Uncle Scrooge & Donald Duck in
LES MISÉRABLES and WAR AND PEACE
In a world where entertainment often comes in the form of digital media and streaming services, people forget one of the greatest means of escapism still available in many forms: books. Those glorious tomes of fabulous tales, transporting readers to far away lands, times, and places. Now, dive into not one, but two classic works, presented through the wonderful world of Disney comics!
Writing: My entire life, I have been a fan of the works of Disney, classic literature, and comic books. To find a collected edition that checks all 3 of these boxes is nothing less than a dream come true. But what makes that dream all the more alive is the writings of Giovan Battista Carpi. His work on various Disney Parodies throughout his career cemented his legend as a gifted storyteller; taking classic pieces like the ones presented here, giving them a Disney twist, and making them not only accessible to the average reader but deeply enjoyable as well. And with a book like this, one must include the efforts of David Gerstein, Thad Komorowski, and Sam Davis as translators and dialogists. These fine fellows take on the Herculean task of taking Giovan’s work and presenting it to English-speaking audiences. Without each of them, this book would not be possible, and so to all, I doff my cap and say “Bravo!.”
Art: Carpi’s work as an artist is utterly stupendous here. His layouts draw the reader’s eye down the page while remaining fixated on the action in every panel. While some could argue that since these are Disney comics, the artwork is simple and geared towards a younger audience. However, the fact that these are adaptive parodies of popular novels means that Carpi and his art no doubt had a more adult crowd in mind. The level of artistic detail is delightful, and both stories have much to offer fans and budding comic book professionals by way of that level of richness one expects from an artist of Carpi’s caliber.
Colors: While I have no frame of reference for the original coloring for these comics, the effort put in by Disney Italia merits mention. Anytime a cartoon from a previous decade receives a reprint, touching up and enhancing the work of prior creatives can be a professional challenge. Thanks to the efforts of Disney Italia, the result is fantastico (fantastic)!
Letters: Last and certainly not least, we come to the lettering. Both Paul Baresh and C. Hwang work their magic in marvelous ways. As previously noted, it can be challenging to translate comics from different languages to the English-speaking market. Imagine what it must be like for the letterers as well. They may be working from translated texts, but they still have to pour energy into giving the letters life as the original work did. Paul and C brought that energy. They had me hear the characters’ voices from various cartoons in my head. Now that, right there, is talent.
Overall Assessment:
One of the great things about comic books is their ability to connect with audiences across the years through the power of providing original content or fresh takes on existing works. Classics Illustrated was one of the most famous comics that adapted timeless literature for modern audiences. Having discovered the creative and excellent material from Giovan Battista Carpi and the team that brought his work to the States, Classics Illustrated is taken from its lofty perch after all these years. As a Disney fan, I found these two stories charming and fun. And as a fan of reading, I found myself pouring back over my copy several times in a single afternoon. This fine volume is a welcome addition to any public or private library and will surely be a treasure to all who pick it up.
PopCultHQ’s Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
Publisher – Fantagraphics
For over 40 years, Fantagraphics has published the very best comics and graphic novels that the medium has to offer. Our mission is to celebrate great cartooning in all of its incarnations, from the form’s early luminaries to contemporary artists currently forging the future of visual storytelling. Not content to rest on our laurels and extensive roster of talented artists, we constantly seek out fresh voices from across the globe. Thus, we honor the rich history of comics while providing a platform for bold new stories, styles, and perspectives that push the boundaries of the medium. Fantagraphics remains peerless in our commitment to be the publisher of the world’s greatest cartoonists.
