I honestly don’t know if I’ve read the original Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. I’m sure I’ve seen some TV episodes and movies that have focused on this classic tale, but that’s about it. So, obviously, I jumped at the chance to take in a manga adaptation.

I’ve read a number of classics in my life. From novels to novellas to short stories and even poetry, when you have a degree in Literature, it’s pretty standard to have delved into a number of literary classics. Since graduating with my degrees though, I’ve definitely strayed away from classics for the most part, only doing the occasional re-read.

That is why I enjoy this line of Manga Classics. It allows me to indulge the part of me that misses those college days where I did more regularly read classics, while also not getting bogged down in some of the writing style indicative of the time periods these stories were originally drafted and released.

I read manga quickly, and aside from combat/battle/fighting scenes, I find them very easy to follow. So a classic novel that might take me at minimum a few hours can be read in about 45 minutes in a manga format. It’s the same information, but easier to digest and comprehend thanks to actually being able to see the setting or character appearance, etc, instead of reading lots of flowery sentences describing such things.

This manga adaptation of Frankenstein is definitely the most foreboding, terrifying, and dark of the Manga Classics that I’ve read so far, which is keeping with the vibes of the story. And okay, aside from Frankenstein’s monster, the rest of the characters are in that kind of cute manga style. Although, I’d say the monster doesn’t look too terrible or horrifying, but he is different enough from everyone else that he definitely stands out.

The eerie feeling and slowly creeping horror and tension just build through these pages, and you can feel this panic and terror just grow the deeper you get into the story. It was absolutely compelling, and I just wanted to keep reading. I’m not typically a horror or suspense type of reader, but I found myself needing to keep going with this one. I wanted to know what was going to happen next, even when I suspected it was going to be terrible.

I’m glad I read this, and hopefully I have some more Manga Classics reviews coming to the blog soon.

Although Frankenstein is a classic, I find it hard to become interested in it. I read the original in college as a requirement and struggled then. I did enjoy the illustrations in the manga version; however, I was slightly disappointed that it was more Americanized art vs. other manga classics that have skewed more towards Japanese style Mangas. I give this book 3 stars simply because the story was still hard for me to stay interested and the art wasn't as good as other manga classics.

I have been a huge fan of the Manga Classics series since the author and publisher started releasing them many years ago. As a junior high teacher of English Learners, it has helped me bring more and more classics into the classroom.

I appreciate that M. Chandler chose the original 1818 version of Frankenstein, I actually had no idea there were various versions and I've read the latest one, which means that this manga does slightly differ from the one I teach. But I'll still use this book.

The pictures are stunning and match the text but are far from being surface -level drawings. You can see the emotion on Victor or the monster's faces!

Huge shout-out to the author, Manga Classics, and the publisher for this early release copy. I can't wait to order some books for my students!

Really dry, very boring, the artwork is so dingy. There is way too much text and not enough action. This is a graphic novel and it should show me the story rather than tell it to me with background pictures. Nothing about this version made it easier to understand or more fun to read than the source material.

I love the manga version of my favorite classics. And I am slowly collecting the am. And I can’t wait to read all of them.

A classic tale, now with awesome illustrations. I thoroughly enjoyed it, i think this is a perfect gift for anyone that likes art and horror.

I recently got to read an adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein from Manga Classics and Udon Entertainment. It was very well done and told a version of the story that I realized I had never heard before!

M. Chandler who adapted the story, chose the original 1818 version of Frankenstein stating that “Shelley’s vision for the story would never be clearer than it was then.” (Digital page 331 of 336)

Narratively, this story is told by our characters telling the story to each other. Our story jumps from being told by Victor Frankenstein, Captain Walton, and the Creature himself. Through the artwork, Linus Liu is able to differentiate what you’re seeing enough so that it’s never really confusing to which narrative you’re hearing at any given moment.

I liked the design for the Creature that Liu chose. As a monster pieced together from various corpses, he was deformed and grotesque to be effective and still be able to draw your pity at times.

The story also really makes me want to read this original story in book form one day. These classic horror/monster stories are a lot of fun.

I really enjoyed this adaptation, and it honestly makes me want to check out another one from them. Perusing their website, I think I would be interested in definitely checking out the Dracula adaptation. Then, maybe either some other classic books or Shakespeare would be a fun time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Udon Entertainment for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Another great Manga Classic! The art is crisp and clean but still manages to convert the horror with shading and pencil strokes. This is a great version to get younger readers into the classics.

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.

Frankenstein (Manga Classics) art by Linus Liu, 324 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Udon Entertainment, 2020. $20.
Language: PG (9 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
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.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

I was not expecting this. I was expecting a story from the old Frankenstein movies I've seen growing up. Instead, this is more of a story that deals with the man who created the monster, and how it impacts himself and those he loves. It is a lesson to humanity as we leap into the unknown of ever-advancing technology, making one to consider what we are doing in our society. Are we on the same slippery slope as Frankenstein was? Do we have the wisdom to stop for a while and really consider what our so-called advancements are achieving? Or do we simply not care, striving only for money and fame? Definitely a story that caused me to reflect. Highly recommended.

Experience Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' in a chilling new light with Manga Classics®. Victor Frankenstein's ambitious pursuit of creating life takes a dark turn when he abandons his monstrous creation in terror. The manga adaptation brings this classic tale to life with dynamic visuals, capturing the loneliness and vengeance of the rejected creature. A must-read for fans and newcomers alike.

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.

*thank you to NetGalley for giving me access*
4 stars
I have read Frankenstein before for my Literature class and I didn't like it that much... However, the manga was a lot better than the novel in my opinion. One of the problems I had with the novel was that it wasn't always clear to me who was speaking or where we were, which is obviously not an issue in a manga.
From what I can remeber, the text was quite faithful to the novel and I would highly recommend this to people who have or want to read classics.

A faithful adaption of the Frankenstein novel that retains the integrity of the story and its themes. I also generally like the manga/anime style as it emphasizes more emotional moments and this manga is no different. The art style is detailed and the reader can easily distinguish between different characters. This is a wonderful manga to read as a companion to the novel.

It was nice to be able to read a classic and manga form. The illustrations are beautiful and it was very easy to read.

This isn't a straight adaptation but more of a modern retelling while still keeping the language, which I love. With these fantastic Manga classics, anyone can access these fantastic stories. Frankenstein is such a dramatic story, far more drama than horror, and this version brings to life the feelings and trauma of what is happening. It's truly amazing to me how these drawings can evoke so much emotion, directly related to this tragic story.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

This is an exciting adaptation of the original story in a new format that will expand the audience of the original story. By turning these classics into manga you not only make them more accessible but also more exciting for many readers. Loved them and think they would be a great addition to any library. Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy of this title for me to review.

It was nice to read another classic in manga form. The art was well executed and I liked the story within a story within a story which was easy to understand.

At one point, they're travelling from London to the Scottish Highlands but the art showed Denmark, Vienna and Poland so I would think that they wouldn't make a mistaking like that.

Overall, a good read.

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.