Thanks to #Netgalley for the Arc!

Absolutely stunned by the story and the artwork. This is my first time reading anything about Monte Cristo and I wasn't midly acquainted to Alexandre Dumas' work. So this was such a riveting experience. Recommend this to all Graphic Novel lovers. The artwork is to die for. Brilliant depiction. #TheCurseofMonteCristo

The art style in this is so spectacular! The way that the characters can express themselves with words and with the art is phenomenal!

The Curse of Monte Cristo is a unique and innovative graphic novel that reimagines Alexandre Dumas’ seminal text The Count of Monte Cristo, informed by elements often overlooked from Dumas’ own past and literary inspirations. In this text, the titular Count is reimagined as a former Haitian slave intent on getting revenge against the men and political system that plotted and profited from his downfall. Likewise, the setting is reimagined, taking place in Saint Domingue (modern-day Haiti) during the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804), as opposed to France during the Bourbon Restoration (1815-1839), and instead of following the classic morality-revenge tale, the book integrates more speculative horror elements.

To preface, while I have not read the full book of the Count of Monte Cristo, I did read an abridged version of it in French during high school and it was one of my favourite books I read while at school. What I loved about the book was how Dumas integrated history, particularly the personal history of his father, Thomas-Alexandre Dumas. The Curse of Monte Cristo plays with this inspiration with the Dantes depicted in this drawing a more direct parallel to Dumas senior than the original. Born in Saint Domingue to a French nobleman and an enslaved woman, Thomas-Alexandre grew up in slavery before being freed after setting foot on French soil when his father took him there in 1776 to be educated. After joining the military in 1786, Dumas quickly rose through the ranks during the French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802). In 1799, Dumas left Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign and, on his return voyage to France, was taken prisoner in Naples, where he remained imprisoned until 1801. Later, his former colleague, Napoleon, now Emperor, would issue several edicts further oppressing and reinforcing racial discrimination against black people, such as reinstating slavery, banning interracial marriage, removing all men of colour from the military and stripping them of their ranks. Dumas was directly impacted by this as, after his father’s death in 1806, Dumas and his mother were denied funding from his late father’s pension because of Napoleon’s edict and the other edicts such as the ban on interracial marriage and a general attitude of discriminating against people of colour, Dumas was forced to hide his interracial identity. While Dumas’ original novel doesn’t directly interact with issues of racism, I think that anyone familiar with the core plot line of The Count of Monte Cristo can see the similarities between Dantes’ journey and the real life of Dumas’ father.

The Curse of Monte Cristo takes this history more literally rather than the more figurative references that Dumas made, mainly out of a desire to hide his identity as a biracial man in a racist society I think that the author did a good job at balancing creating a new Dantes, the historical inspiration for the character and the character’s initial portrayal in the original novel. Similarly, I liked the reimagined of Haydee as a Haitian slave woman who works with Dantes to support the Haitian revolution as a leader in her own right rather than as a slave who was owned by him and who he later would fall in love with—something which some scholars have argued was Dumas’ way of trying to understand the relationship between his slave grandmother and noble grandfather. I also liked the addition of horror elements in the story, the presentation of Abbe Faria, Dantes’ mentor within the Chateau d’If, as a demon who aids Dantes not out of the goodness of his heart or commitment to God but to further his aims as an agent of chaos was an interesting narrative decision. The author's decision as well to include mention of how the voodoo religion and its practice amongst Haitians was suppressed as a part of the French colonial mission and also demonized by them, contributed to this theme.

However, despite a lot of these strong reinterpretations, I think the story was lacking in comparison to the original. While that is to be expected due to the shorter length and graphic format, I think the author could have expanded on the story and some of the important themes. In particular, the ‘revenge’ portion of the story fell very short and was far too rushed to emphasize the same themes that the original text plays with. Similarly, I felt like some of the horror and brutality of the characters’ deaths was more for shock value than to put forth a greater message. For example, I think that this reimagining had the potential to put forth a critique of colonial violence and how the white men in power (represented by Danglars, Mondego and Villefort) who have enacted and perpetrated colonial violence do so at a distance and how the horrors of their deaths were brought forth as a result of the violence that they have enacted and gotten away with, especially given that nowadays there is not the same restrictions on discussions of racism and push back against denouncing colonialism as there had been in Dumas’ time. Furthermore, I wasn't the biggest fan of the characters, I didn’t feel connected to any of them and found that for a lot of the side characters, the author relied more on the reader’s familiarity with the original story than putting forth a new take or giving any sort of personality to characters like Mercedes or Albert as well as getting rid of some others like Maximillian Morrel, Valentine de Villefort or Andrea Cavalcanti, some of whom are more important to the original story than others but could have been included in this story whether in passing or more.

Overall, the Curse of Monte Cristo provides an interesting take informed by history that I believe is in line with Dumas’ intentions in writing The Count of Monte Cristo. However, I think that the author could have expanded more on the complexities of the characters and the commentary on themes such as colonial violence and systemic racism.

I have to say I have never read the original work but with that being said I did really enjoy this graphic novel. The fact that this adaptation was horror worked perfectly for me. I also want to add that not only did I enjoy the story but the artwork was fantastic. This will absolutely be going on my list of favorite retellings.

a beloved classic novel reimagined as a horror comic
a story of liberation, love, revenge, reclamation and the supernatural!
France 1788, the beginning of the Haitian revolution
edmond dante, a Haitian/ Parisian citizen is sentenced to a life in hell at Chateau D'lf after being framed for treason against the Ancien Regime
Faria, another prisoner, confesses to be a demon with promises of revenge
together they return to Saint Domingue as the Count of Monte Cristo and his loyal servant
they rescue slaves, burn down plantations and murder dantes enemies one by one but all starts to go south when a freed slave name Haydee sees faria for who he really is and dante must chose between his love and his life

An interesting retelling of Monte Cristo's story. The art was excellent, the character building great, the storyline solid. I enjoyed it!


Thanks Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this ARC

This is a wonderful use of classic storytelling in the comics form. I love the color, plotting, and the overall design of this book.

My review of The Curse of Monte Cristo:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As a lifelong fan of The Count of Monte Cristo, I’ve read the original novel multiple times, so I was both excited and cautious about this graphic novel reimagining. The Curse of Monte Cristo completely exceeded my expectations—it was an absolute masterpiece.

From the first page, the striking artwork pulled me into Edmond Dantès’ world in a way I’ve never experienced before. The bold, dramatic style perfectly captures the intensity of his journey, while the color palette and shading add depth to the emotions and conflicts that define his transformation into the Count of Monte Cristo. The visuals alone make this a must-own for any fan of the story.

What truly set this adaptation apart was its fresh take on Edmond’s character. Reimagining him as a Haitian man of African descent in 18th-century France added an incredible layer of depth to the themes of injustice, vengeance, and identity. The historical and cultural context heightened the stakes, making his story feel even more powerful. The supernatural element woven into the narrative was unexpected yet seamlessly integrated—it amplified Edmond’s internal struggle in a way that felt organic rather than forced.

The writing is sharp, evocative, and true to the spirit of Dumas’ classic while adding new twists that make it feel wholly original. The pacing is excellent, balancing the build-up of revenge with moments of reflection and emotional turmoil. I also loved the nuanced portrayal of supporting characters like Haydée and Mercédès—both were given compelling roles that enriched the story even further.

This is hands down one of the best graphic novel adaptations I’ve ever read. I finished all 210 pages in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. Now, I desperately need a physical copy—and if I can get my hands on an autographed one, even better!

I truly believe Alexandre Dumas would be proud of this work. As a man of Haitian descent himself, he understood the complexities of race, power, and revenge, and this adaptation honors his legacy in the most compelling way possible. This is a must-read for fans of The Count of Monte Cristo, historical fiction, and dark, immersive storytelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity to read this incredible book. I cannot wait to add it to my permanent collection!

Loved the depiction of Edmond in this graphic novel retelling. I would read a sequel and could have easily read a longer version of this novel. The artwork was great and the characters came across well to fit this retelling.

I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.

"The Count of Monte Cristo" is one of my favorite books, so I was excited to see an adaptation with a unique take on the story. I enjoyed Dabel and Holder's version, and yet felt like "The Curse of Monte Cristo" hadn't reached its full potential. I really like the twist of Edmond being an escaped slave from Haiti. It allows the book to keep the story during the same time period, but tell it from a very different perspective and added to the complexities of Edmond's revenge. However, I thought making Father Faria being a demon who sought Edmond's soul robbed Edmond of his agency as a character. The original tale is so powerful in large part because Edmond makes the choices that violate his conscience. Also, the comic waters down the intricacies and cleverness of his revenge plots. Overall, this is a quick read and an interesting idea, but didn't work as well as I'd hoped in practice.

A fun and interesting twist on the ultimate story of revenge. The story follows Edmond Dantes, a freed slave who becomes a member of the crew of a ship. When the captain unexpectedly passes away mid voyage, he entrusts Edmond with important letters to deliver. Dantes has several who lust after his position and his fiancee Mercedes. They decide to join forces and get rid of him with the help of a corrupt judge. After delivering the letters, Dantes is captured and thrown into prison. During his years in prison, he meets Faria, a demon who teaches him how to read, write, and promises to help give him power to get out of prison and take his revenge. Dantes gets unimaginable riches and renames himself The Count of Monte Cristo. He goes to visit all of his old "friends" and implement his plans for revenge.

This story was such an interesting twist on an amazing story. It is the story of revenge with the addition of race and racism added in. Honestly, the demon and the involvement of vodoo was such a fresh take. I actually loved Dantes background being changed into a former slave turned free man. The added level of discrimination that he faces adds even more compelling reasons for his hatred and fuel filled desire for revenge. I also th9ught the change of Faria being a demon was a cool concept. It gave an even darker feel to Dantes story. My biggest complaint about the book was that the revenge portion was so small compared to everything else. It felt almost rushed. Especially the showdown between Fernand and Edmond it started almost immediately once they went to see the count. I wanted it to be a little more drawn out. Overall, a fun and fresh take on a classic story of revenge.

If you've read or know the Count of Monte Cristo, then you know the major plot points of the Curse of Monte Cristo. Except, that this is a graphic novel set during the Haitian Revolution. I've been listening to the Revolutions podcast recently by Mike Duncan and started with Season 4 which IS about the Haitian Revolution so it was very timely.

The art is graphic and at times gory but no more than what actually happened in real life and not salaciously so. I particularly loved the endnote from the author and the way he and the writer combined the original story with real life situations and moments in the Haitian Revolution to tell a very well written and illustrated contained story. I'm very excited to see this publish!

I haven’t read the actual Count of Monte Cristo yet, but the tale is known. I wasn’t aware that Alexandre Dumas was of enslaved descent and I think the author was correct on this being the tale Dumas would have wanted to write if he’d been able. A Black man taking his revenge and starting a revolution in the process? Perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley for this Advanced Reader's Copy.

I have to confess when I requested this book to read I thought it was a graphic rendering of The Count of Monte Cristo. This book is not that. It is The CURSE of Monte Cristo, with demons, and that made me immediately think I wouldn't like it. I was wrong about that too. Ultimately, this was a fun quick read with enjoyable art; a nice adaptation made fantastical. I would absolutely recommend.

My thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing fo an advance copy of this graphic novel that takes a classic story of romance, tragedy and revenge, with a change of location, an increase in the cruelty, and the addition not only of the evil of slavery, but the evil that has been with man since the days of Adam and Eve.

Stories are considered classics for a reason. They are ones that can be read anytime, years, decades even centuries later, and still hold the reader in a grasp that will not let go. Stories of people braving the odds, bucking social norms and falling in love even marrying against the state and families. Of the jealousy others will have. Being separated. Stories of getting revenge on those that broke them apart. These kinds of stories are universal. Told around the first campfire when humans lived in caves, read on e-readers when we live in caves of steel on Mars. These stories can be read in their original telling, or adapted to the present. Even to include real history, real cruelty and pain that still leave a shadow on our modern day. And of course revenge. The Curse of Monte Cristo: A Reimagining of the Novel by Alexandre Dumas written by David Dabel and Carlton Holder, illustrated by David Lentz and Rodrigo Catraca is the classic tale of a man getting back at those who falsely imprisoned him, set on the island of Santa Domingue during its revolution, a country better known as Haiti.

Edmond Dantès is a Haitian of African descent who was separated from his parents at a young age, and sold to another as a slave. Dantès escapes this, fleeing on a boat that is traveling to France, where he is discovered by the Captain of the boat, who takes pity on Dantès, and begins to teach him the ways of the sea. Dantès is a swift learner, and soon the Captain decides to make Dantès his second in command, something that does not sit well with other white crewman. Nor does Dantès courting of a beautiful woman, who is also white go well. Dantès has made powerful enemies, without being aware. Soon Dantès is caught in plot of treason, arrested on his wedding day and thrown into the dreaded Château d'If. There Dantès once a man of faith, finds himself tortured by the warden, and tortured in the soul at what has happened to him. Dantès meets Faira, a person who never seems to age, and one that tells Dantès that Dantès called to him, and here Faira is willing to help, for a cost. Escaping with Faria, Dantès soon takes on the title of Count of Monte Christo and returns to Santa Dominique, where the fear of rebellion is causing much trouble among the gentry class. A place where Dantès can get the revenge he wants,

A very good adaptation, and a well done story, especially with the addition of both race and real rebellions that took place on Haiti. The story sticks pretty much to the source material, but the addition of Dantès being a slave adds a different twist to the story, which adds to the richness. Also there is a supernatural aspect to the story with Faira, which again adds to the story. The characters are well done, the good characters are good, the tempted characters are tempted, and the evil ones are vile in many ways. The history, like I said adds a lot to the story, and the appearance of voodoo isn't just a plot point, but something that fits what is going on. The art is really good. The backgrounds, the boats, the house, the characters are all rendered well. As is the action and the violence.

This can be a bloody and dark tale, but one that is really well done, and worth reading. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and look forward to the next works from all these creators.

A fun, refreshing take on the classic revenge tale.

Do you remember the Count of Monte Cristo? Don’t you think it would’ve been neat if that tale dealt with France’s complicated history with Haiti? Wouldn’t it have been fun if Edmond Dantes made a Faustian pact with a demon on his quest for vengeance? This book tells just that story and is in fact both neat and fun!

This graphic novel adaptation pares the story down some but only in ways that make sense for the medium. The art style is wonderfully kinetic and evocative with brilliant color choices throughout. The character’s facial expressions alone elevate this to a very high standard.
This book was what all the best adaptations should be, a creative and startlingly unique work inspired by the original, not simply a retread of old ground.

A nice re-imaging of Alexandre Dumas' "The Count of Monte Cristo'.". The artwork throughout was excellent and easy to follow. The lettering was spot on. David Dabel and Carlton holder's vision was well thought out and entertaining as hell. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in the original story.

Netgalley graciously provided me with an advanced copy of this graphic novel in exchange for my honest review.

This is a gorgeously drawn and beautifully told re-imagining of The Count of Monte Cristo with elements of the occult. Here, Edmund Dantes is a former slave who makes a pact with a demon. Betrayed by white people he believed were his friends, and with the backdrop of the Haitian revolution, Edmund seeks revenge on those who wronged him. It is violent and gory as only war can be - and this is a war for Edmund's soul, and the future of one man and an entire nation.

A dark version of the original story line. The graphics and story were well-done. The action was fast paced and will grab you. A great graphic novel to read.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

David Dabel and Carlton Holder’s The Curse of Monte Cristo is an interesting graphic novel reimagining of Alexandre Dumas’ timeless tale, injecting fresh and unexpected elements . This adaptation doesn’t just revisit Edmond Dantès’ quest for vengeance; it amplifies the stakes with demons, slavery, and rebellion, crafting a story that straddles the line between homage and bold reinvention.

Purists may balk at the supernatural twist, but for readers open to audacious retellings there is a lot to love . The story parallels the original’s structure with Dantès’ imprisonment and rise intertwine with spectral horrors and more realistic horrors of slavery. The creative gamble largely pays off, especially for fans who relish seeing classics remixed with genre-bending flair.

Artists David Lentz and Rodrigo Catraca deliver a gritty, atmospheric, artwork that suites the narrative of the story well.

Is the Monte Cristo connection essential? Perhaps not. The authors could have crafted an inspired standalone, but the link to Dumas’ work adds layered intrigue, inviting comparisons while carving its own identity. And Admittedly, the classic’s name might draw readers who’d otherwise overlook a demon-fueled rebellion tale.

The Curse of Monte Cristo isn’t flawless, but i found it compelling. Four stars from me. If you’re game for retellings then this is worth a read.
Thank you to Andrews McMeel publishing for providing this book for review via netgalley all opinions are my own.