I loved reading The Count of Monte Cristo in novel form, and it's just as amazing as a manga classic.

This version does cut out the details that build up to the main revenge plot. But these cuts were necessary to condense the book. It reads like how some of the abridged versions are... except with illustrations. The plot is still very much understandable and engaging.

All in all, it's a beautifully illustrated and condensed version of the classic.

I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys a well thought out revenge plot. Or someone who has read the novel but has trouble visualizing the scenes.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC via NetGalley!

A retelling of a classic using manga style artwork. Excellent art, story is true to the original. I love the the bonus stuff to use in the classroom. Excellent addition to curriculum.

4 stars

Set in 19th-century France, "The Count of Monte Cristo" follows the journey of Edmond Dantès, a young sailor unjustly imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. The manga opens with the introduction of characters and relationships, smoothly establishing the intricate web of alliances and betrayals that drive the plot. The artwork serves as a powerful tool in conveying emotions and personalities, making it easier for readers, both familiar and new to the story, to connect with the characters on a deeper level.
The manga format lends itself well to the story's pacing. As the story unfolds, the panels effectively convey both the grandeur of the aristocratic world and the grittiness of prison life. The artists' attention to detail shines in the depictions of settings, costumes, and expressions, creating an immersive experience that captures the atmosphere of each scene.
One of the manga's strengths lies in its ability to maintain the intricate plot and character development that make "The Count of Monte Cristo" a literary masterpiece. While some adaptations may sacrifice depth for brevity, this manga ensures that key plot points and character motivations are preserved, providing a satisfying narrative experience for readers familiar with the original story. Additionally, the pacing allows newcomers to discover the plot's twists and turns without feeling overwhelmed by its complexity.
However, as is often the case with adaptations, certain nuances of the original prose may be lost in translation to a visual medium. Some of the intricate dialogue and internal monologues are understandably condensed, potentially leaving readers unfamiliar with the original novel with a slightly simplified understanding of the characters' motivations. Yet, this is a common trade-off when adapting any dense literary work to a visual format.

I love The Count of Monte Cristo and the manga version is awesome as the book. I loved every strips.

“The Count of Monte Cristo” by French author Alexander Dumas is a classic tale of revenge that has endured for almost two centuries. This Manga Classic edition is a fantastic adaptation by Crystal S. Chang. She takes a meandering story which covers decades and includes multitudes of characters and pares it down to a concise story that stays true to the original but fits well in the manga format. Much of the exposition that would take chapters in the original can be told using Nokman Poon’s
drawings in just a few pages. Scenery for many of the settings are based on the historic settings. Purists may prefer to read an original work or translation. But graphic editions can help tell a story to a new generation who would not seek out a large volume. This manga edition allows for comprehension of the story for a much larger readership. I recommend this manga to anyone wishing to familiarize themselves with the classic story with easy reading in a short amount of time.

The books in the Manga Classic collection would be a fantastic addition to high school English class curriculums and should be in all high school libraries. Although ideal for reluctant readers, this series can also be appreciated by anyone who wishes to include some classics in their reading list.

The publishers Manga Classics an imprint of Udon Entertainment and the author, Crystal S. Chan have provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A great way for someone who doesn’t have the time to read the complete novel. Important parts have been taken to make this manga, which tells the story of The Count of Monte Cristo.

I was really excited to read this manga since my dad loves The Count of Monte Christo, however it felt rushed or as parts were missing so I was confused reading it. Maybe with reading the actual book then coming back to this may yield a better experience.

Reading this in manga format was such a visually appealing experience. Seeing all the characters and drama and betrayal portrayed like this was fantastic.

I truly enjoyed this version of The Count of Monte Cristo. The story flowed very well, and it also showed the emotions the characters have when they are in certain situations. I really loved how the Count was drawn, he was drawn very well and I liked that. I also enjoyed reading the story. I really liked how Edmond Dantes went from a promising captain of a ship and about to be married, to a man escaping jail and promising vengeance on the three people that threw him in jail for no reason. I also like the ending and how he helped the two lovers get together and also reveals to Valentine and the prospector, I think it was, who killed her father. I would read this manga again and enjoy it all over again-that's how good it was.

A well done illustrated adaptation of a classic. Despite it being in a different format, it managed to capture the essence of the original plot and characters. It was an engaging read and the illustrations were well done.

Thank you @netgalley for sending me a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo manga in exchange for an honest review!
This adaptation is very interesting. The plot is of course condensed, but it focuses on the important points, giving the reader a good overview of the source material. The artwork is also stunning, it captures the ssence of the plot and the characters!
As a fan of the original novel, I can say this manga didn't disappoint!

Let it be known I’m bias just because The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers are my favorite classics. For this graphic novel version I liked how the artist explained their illustrations and how the book has its own character relationship guide. Authors way back when just expected us to know everyone and remember who’s who so it’s a great help for those who have issues tracking names so they don’t have to do that additional work. Especially in a book like this where everyone is tied to someone somehow lol. The story was of course slightly trimmed as explained and the artistry was well done and very detailed.

The manga genre is growing among teens and adults, but I found this classic very difficult to follow in this format. The plot line is relatively complicated, and the alternate format was just hard to read. I’m sure those who enjoy this format might have a better experience.

I was planning to read "The Count of Monte Cristo" this year, and reading this manga helped me get familiar with the premise. I'm reading a graphic novel for the first time, and I'm looking forward to reading more soon. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, and the plot itself kept me hooked till the very end. I would highly recommend it to readers who feel intimidated to read the unabridged book and also to ardent fans of this classic. You shouldn't miss out on Edmund Dantès' journey coming to life through this beautiful graphic novel.

 Thank you NetGalley and UDON Entertainment for sending me the ARC of this graphic novel. 💖😊

This was a much more captivating read than I expected.
I have always tried to read classics, but usually get bored with them quickly, so this Manga Classics series is a great way to read more of them and at the same time figuring out which ones I might want to read in the original.
I watched the MC’s character development with interest. Most of it was believable even with cutting lots of the original text.
What I did not find believable was the love story, if one can even call it that. Leaving aside the fact that his “feelings” came from one moment to the next, this entire “relationship” was extremely disturbing, starting with the Count buying Haydée as a slave and keeping her. Yes, he did tell her, she was free, but only once they got to a country where slavery was illegal, or at least that’s how it read. I don’t think I need to say much more about that point, but this also means the power dynamic was off from the beginning. Secondly, the Count referred to her as his “daughter” multiple times throughout the book, even right before getting together with her? This entire relationship was just a lot of WTFs and I am seriously concerned for anyone who romanticizes it or likes the MC.
Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but root for the MC to win out over the people who had wronged and falsely imprisoned him, not including his first love, because the way he treated her was just cruel and not considering her circumstances at all. The way he step by step destroyed his opponents was very well thought out and smart, I really enjoy reading stories like this, especially when it is all shown and not just said to have happened later.
The art style fit the characters and story very well, even though sometimes it was hard to tell apart the female characters.
All in all a really good adaptation of a classic and an interesting read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This one was absolutely fantastic, growing up the count of Monte Cristo was what i studied in school and this manga was just so well done, the art style was perfect and it was just an easy, fun read.

I loved it and it is one of the first mangas i have read in a while so i am glad it was this one.

4 stars

So I've never read the novel version of this. I had no idea what I was getting myself into -- just that it was a manga with a seemingly handsome dude on the cover, as manga is known to have, which makes it pretty irresistible. I KNOW IT'S A DIFFERENT TIME when this story happened, but this plot was really weird to me.

Still, I enjoyed it -- it mixes politics, espionage and other action-type plots typically seen in action movies and puts it into a manga. I think I've discovered a new favorite manga genre.~

Something new for me. Never read a complete manga. This in specific is a very good option for enjoy this amazing classic. I really liked the simplicity of the conversation lines. The think, the thing that I loved the most was the drawings, beautifully worked. It’s perfect for young and adult people alike. Good choice to read and enjoy a lot, thanks to NetGalley.

I don't know how to say this, but I lost interest in this story while reading. And I am not entirely sure why.

My knowledge of ”The Count of Monte Cristo” was limited before going in. I remember watching a cartoon about the count's escape from prison, and how exciting that part was is still standing sharp in my mind. Of course, the tape ended there as volume 1, so I never got to see the rest.

This is a dark story about rich people misusing their power, and a victim (our count) fighting against them, fighting for justice.

The story should interest me – it's about justice, an underdog's fight, revenge, love, kind acts, manipulation, etc, but I ended up flipping the pages to get through it.

I don't know 100% percent why, but I think the fact that I was struggling to read the letters made this a slow and torturous read.
I received a review copy of the ebook, and the quality of the pages, might not reflect what you will get if you buy ”the correct” copy.
My review copy was pixelated and that and the combination of the slim letters made it difficult to read the words.
It made no difference if I zoomed in, plus the setup of the pages means that I couldn't scroll it the right way to read it.

”The Count of Monte Cristo” is a classic for a reason, and my review copy might not reflect what you receive, so don't put too much notion into my review.

The copy on NetGalley is poor quality, making it difficult to read and see the artwork. Along with this, it starts at the end, forcing readers to thumb to end to start reading it. The latter wasn't too big a hurdle for reading this, but the former was so bad that I couldn't continue reading it.

This book has already been published, and thankfully the physical version doesn't look awful, but no other graphic novel that I've read through NetGalley has looked this awful.