Manga Classic: Great Expectations
By: Charles Dickens, Nokman Poon, Crystal S Chan, and Stacy King
4.0 / 5.0

I have never read the original work, so this review will be short. I could understand the story very easily and I enjoyed my time reading it. I read it in about 3 hours, which beats trying to read the original work. Reading it the way manga is supposed to be read took a little getting used to, but it was easy and second nature after you got the hang of it and in the swing of reading manga.
If you are having difficulty understanding Charles Dickens, this would be great to read alongside the original work. It will help understand what is going on in the novel. It will probably help a lot of high schoolers who are having a difficult time in English class. Overall, I enjoyed reading it and will definitely try to read more manga.


Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Manga-Classics-Great-Expectations-Softcover/dp/1927925312/ref=sr_1_2?crid=MTRKIOD3VWLT&dchild=1&keywords=manga+classics+great+expectations&qid=1592158446&s=books&sprefix=Manga+classics+grea%2Cstripbooks%2C144&sr=1-2


Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/great-expectations-dickens/1125511099?ean=9781927925317

This review will appear on my blog on July 23, 2020.

Dickens's Great Expectations was already one of my favorites and I am so glad to say that this manga did it justice. I loved the illustrator's take on the characters and seeing how they interacted with each other. The dynamic differences between the different settings were so beautiful to look at. I loved seeing one of my favorites come to life. I would recommend this to anyone trying to get into the story of Great Expectations or, like me, wanting to see a beautiful rendition of the classic tale.

I remember having to read great expectations for university and finding iy quite boring but I loved this manga adaptation! I won't talk about the story as everyone knows it at this point, but I loved how it was told quick to the point, and I loved the illustrations. These books would be a brilliant way to introduce children to classic literature!

From the moment I started reading on my own, I wanted to read Great Expectations, because since I was a teenager, I was obsessed with the movie directed by Alfonso Cuarón, and in which Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow were the perfect Finn/Pip and Estella respectively. To me it was a love story that didn’t end up well and it seemed more realistic that those RomComs everybody seemed to love.

So, back in 2015 I tried reading the book, but I never finished it. The Spanish translation wasn’t really good and it seemed that it would be one of those classics I’d hate. So, I just let it be. I mean, Dickens is known for his stories, and I knew that at some point, I would try to finish it, perhaps in another edition.

Earlier this month, I found that there are Manga adaptations of several classic books and I was thrilled. Manga is a format that is easier to consume and so, I gave Great Expectations another chance.

Fortunately, from the very beginning I was drawn to the story because our young protagonist never had it easy. He was an unschooled orphan, and the only friend he had was Joe, the kind blacksmith, his sister’s husband –I mean, not even his sister treated him good.

But one day, Phillip, aka Pip, has a life-changing event: he meets a prisoner that just escaped, and he helps him by giving him bread, despite being terrified of him.

Just around the same time, he meets Mrs. Havisham, one of the wealthiest person in the little town he lives. The thing is, the woman is a little bit crazy since she was abandoned by a man who she thought was the love of her life. Ever since, she became a wretched existence filled with hatred and jealousy of those who experienced true love.

Estella, her adopted daughter, was the same age as Pip, and so, Mrs. Havisham had them play together, for her own amusement. Pip liked Estella, and thought she was never kind to him, he just liked her for being pretty and unreachable.

And so, as they grow up, he never stops feeling that attraction towards her and he even dares calling it love. Still, Estella always treats him bad, like he will never be worthy of her. Her poisonous persona is the result of Mrs. Havisham’s own broken heart but none of them seemed to realize this until they’re adults.

On the other hand, there is someone interested in Pip’s growth: this anonymous person hires a lawyer so Pip can be taught about manners, economy and ultimately, how to be a gentleman instead of the apprentice of a poor blacksmith.

Now, as you can imagine, Pip develops his potential, but in the process, he forgets about Joe and his sister, who later suffers and attack that ends up in her death. Pip basically wants to erase his past, all the things that made him embarrassing and not worthy of Estella (his obsession and idealization towards her are truly insane).

He grows into a gentleman of sorts and he eventually meets his benefactor but, oh, what are the odds that every character is connected to one another? They all have part in this story and they made me thing that life is full of ironies and bad jokes.

To me, Great Expectations is the story of a man that experienced the duality of people: on one side we have kindness from Joe, one of his friends and his benefactor; but on the other side, he experiences the obsession of unrequired love and coldness from the girl he’s ever liked.

This book left me with the lesson that you always affect the lives of the people around you, even when you don’t notice; and that one small act of kindness can change somebody’s whole world. That we have to learn from our mistakes and we have to open our eyes when somebody is just not into us. There is a lot of drama of course, but I really think that this classic is worth reading –at least the manga adaptation is.

I want to add that the artist made a terrific job portraying all the different shades and personalities of these characters. I really think Joe deserved the world, and we need more people like him in real life, whilst Mrs. Havisham is just deplorable, but hey, all villains have their own story to tell.

I would totally recommend you to read this in case you don’t feel like the original work might be for you. I promise you, this is so much better and far more entertaining.

Manga Classics are great books. I love seeing the manga reimaginings of these classics that make 'boring' classics accessible to new generations. Great Expectations has been brought to life again with lovely illustrations.

Just like the other Manga Classics I have read, this one was absolutely beautiful. I adore the art style, and it was a wonderful adaptation of the classic novel.

“It’s a wonderful thing to have Great Expectations!”

This tale tells the way a man can let fortune ruin him. How one could easily turn his back on his friends in the search for a better life. Pip has great expectations and he won't let anyone stand in his way. Not even the people who got him through his hard times.

I liked watching pip grow into a young gentleman. He had a good character arc. Friends came and went throughout his life. It was very realistic.

Like all the other Manga Classic the art was beautiful. This was a great adaptation of Dickens’ work

My Thoughts
I don’t have too many memories of reading the original, though I most likely did (almost a 99% sure I did) as a t(w)een. But having read the manga edition, I want to read it again, or at least, attempt to.

Here, the creators took the decision to have Pip narrate the story, and rather than pick any one of the two endings that Dickens himself wrote for this great story, the narrators of the manga version left it to the readers. I thought this was a wonderful way to end it, both for those readers who have read the original versions(both maybe) and for those who have not read the original.

As for the artwork, it is stunning (again)! I especially loved Joe’s portrayal, and the emotions and interactions between Joe and Pip are illustrated tugged at my heartstrings. Estella is beautiful and Miss Haversam is as scary-looking as she sounds.

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Manga Moment
Each book’s artwork is absolutely beautiful and the adaptation as well as the storytelling is brilliant. I love that each of them include details on the adaptation process at the end (rather the beginning) of the book which help the reader understand the choices the creators made, as well as get an insight into the process itself.

These books make the classics more approachable for those who were hesitant to read them, and will definitely want them either reading more or reading the originals. And I feel either reaction from the reader is good.

If a book leaves a reader wanting them to read again, then it has done its job! And these books manage to do that while leaving the reader (me included) with a blissful feeling of satisfaction of having seen and read something beautiful.

I now look forward to getting the physical copies of these books (definitely the Poe one) as well as to reading more in the series. And yes, to trying to emulate the adaptations – both text and artwork – myself.
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Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the digital RC of the books; these are my honest opinions after reading these books.

Thank you Netgalley and Udon Entertainment for this copy!

I enjoyed reading this adaptation of Great Expectations! I read the original novel in the past and I liked this manga as much as the original. The artwork was beautiful and the pacing was done well! I liked how the plot was entertaining and fast. I'd definitely recommend reading this manga if you're curious about reading any of Charles Dickens' works!

I really loved this adaptation although there were'nt so many different details as in the origibal book.

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a big fan of Charles Dickens. I read most of his works and watched every single movie or TV series adaptations. So, when I bumped into this manga I couldn't help but dive into it! The illustrations are really amazing. It was cool reading about this character and seeing their faces and expressions.
This manga is true to the story and gives it justice. Mannga Classics does really a very good job.
It's really an amazing product and a good and innovative way to discover or re-discover this impactful classic.

This is my first reading of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. The manga adaptation was of this book was entertaining to read. I had previously read the Manga Classics of two of Jane Austen's books, Pride and Prejudice and Emma, and had enjoyed not only the classic story but the new format.

The same was with Great Expectations. The art was unique and enjoyable and followed the story well. There were customs of the time period Great Expectation was set in that the manga did not show or follow, which was a little confusing.

The main character, Phillip Pirrip or better known as Pip, was born to humble circumstances and was raised by his sister and brother in-law. He idolized his brother in-law, wanting to be a blacksmith like him. Pip meets Estella, a girl near his age, and wants to be a gentleman instead.

The relationship between Pip and Estella was not my favorite part of the book. She was cruel to him, but it was explained away as she was taught to be this way. Still, even after the cruelty was dished out time and time again, Pip still spent time with her and eventually fell in love with her.

Pip's bad habits with spending money was also a hard part for me. I suppose it was showing that he now can buy the world, thanks to specific plot events.

I liked the new format, along with the art style. There were some plot elements that I didn't like but it was great to learn about England before or during the pre-Victorian era. I received an ARC from NetGalley for a honest review.

I recommend this adaptation to everyone who wants to read Great Expectations. It’ll save you a lot of time compared to the original and you won’t miss out on much.

Great Expectations is not a great story to begin with. It’s a fairly predictable plot that revolves around a bland protagonist. I never cared about Pip, or his so-called love for Estella (why does he even like her? Her only character trait is being mean), or the various side characters and their subplots.
This version cuts out all that filler and we get only the meat of the story. The artwork is beautiful and paints the scene in such a way that it heightens its emotion and tension. It’s certainly an improvement on the original, but, in the end, it’s still tied to it.

I had never read Great Expectations before, but this manga was really nice and made me wondering what would the original novel look like, I hope that I will manage to read it soon and like it as much as I liked this story which is a CLASSIC that I regret is not in the curriculum here...

My second manga in this series and I am afraid I enjoyed Jane Eyre much more.
The art style in this one is equally stunning but sadly the story itself was not for me.

Great Expectations provides you with a lot: mystery, strange characters and romance and while I enjoyed certain aspects of it in the end it just was not enough. The ending was left open in the Manga which I actually prefer and made me give this book 3 instead of 2 stars.

If you like Great Expectations you will also enjoy the Manga and if it is your first time reading it I still recommend this edition. It is quick and easy with beautiful artwork.

I enjoyed this manga version of the classic story. It was a fun way for a new generation to learn about the classics.

Great Expectations starts out when Pip, the main character, is a young boy. He is sitting by the grave of his parents when a stranger bound in chains comes along and demands Pip give him his food. Then he has Pip agree to bring him more food and a file so that he can remove his chains. This single event changes the whole of Pip's future.

Charles Dickens never disappoints when it comes to interesting characters. Pip is a kind, gentle boy, with large ambitions. His sister is fiery, his uncle gentle, and Estelle, the daughter of the mysterious Mrs. Hibbins, is a puzzle unto herself. Each of the characters were created like puzzle pieces, each one to fit snuggly in a specific way around Pip.

While the plot is similar to many of his other works, like Oliver Twist, in the sense that it is a rags-to-riches story, it is still different enough to be compelling. I know from experience that sometimes when it comes to writing out plots, there are certain kinds of plots that you want to explore from all angles, and since a story can only end one way, it's fun to make up another story that is similar, with a different, more satisfying and/or dramatic ending. And Great Expectations didn't end exactly as I thought it would.

Once again, the artwork of these manga books is just wonderful. The sweeping, gentle illustrations in scenic pictures always lends the story an air of historical essence. I can't help but enjoy each and every picture on the pages.

Manga Classics: Great Expectations is a fun and fascination read paying tribute to the original classic.

I Rate It: 4 1/2 stars

NOTE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Enjoyed so much this manga, I`ve always wanted to read the actual book but never got to do it because of the style and now in manga format it was so much easier and enjoyable! The drawings were so well done and expressive!

I love being able to read the classics in this form! I love reading but sometimes it hard for me to read the old English. This makes them so much easier to read and actually know the classics! I had heard about this of course but never really knew it. After reading this graphic novel I have learned that I do not really like this story. It just seemed choppy and the author had ideas but didn’t know how to put them together and just decided to one night. I saw deeper meanings but the craziness of the story covered them up. All in all it was ok but I’m okay to not want to look into it more.

Great Expectations (Manga Classics) art by Nokman Poon, 294 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL
Udon Entertainment, 2015. $14.
Language: PG (4 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
An orphan living with his older sister and brother-in-law, Pip can’t seem to do anything right. He’s summoned to the home of the richest lady around to entertain her and her adopted daughter, which plants Pip’s desire to be more than a poor boy -- Pip wants to be a gentleman. When an anonymous sponsorship suddenly becomes available to him, Pip has to take the opportunity and leave the only home he’s ever known.
This classic adaptation was difficult for me to follow, which might have been because so many details were left out. The time skips felt choppy and disorienting as I was yanked from one big conflict to the next without enough explanation to help connect the dots between events and purposes. I am disappointed that I was not able to improve my understanding of the characters in this story as much as I have been able to with the other classics in this series. While I enjoyed the illustrations in this manga classic as much as the others I’ve read, the story was not as enlightening to read.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen