Manga Classics: The Count of Monte Cristo

Condensing such an extensive plot as the epic Count of Montecristo to render it in a manga comic was certainly a mammoth task, ,but it has been more than successfully accomplished in this fast paced, true-to-original work. The artist has also managed to picture the charatcers over the span of 25 years that sees the Count's revenge unfold in a way that makes the passing of time tangible and consistant. While I do recommend that you read the original novel, this manga will make you want to do it after giving you a few hours fun mixed with thrill.

Beautifully illustrated and brings new life to an old favourite of mine would definitely recommend buying this for people who have never read The Count of Monte Christo as it might encourage them to buy and read a classical version of it.

Very we'll done book. Illustrations are convincing and we'll detailed. The story moves along at a brisk pace without sacrificing context and content. I like it.

This was brilliant! I haven’t read the original Count of Monte Christo, but this manga makes me want to! The illustrations were brilliant and the plot moved quickly. They’ve obviously had to cut down on content to fit the novel into a 400 page manga, but it all made sense and it flowed. I really enjoyed it.

The Count of Monte Cristo, manga style. I never thought I would find something like this, basically because I always thought mangas where some Japanese comics you read from backward to forward, which an inconvenience from my point of view. Mangas never brought my attention but this one did. I had The Count of Monte Cristo novel with me for years but I was always unable to start it, scared of its size (around a thousand pages in Spanish, my native language), its author, its plot with a huge historical background, unfamiliar to me, even the writing, so old fashioned. So, I started reading the abbreviated manga version with medium expectations. I immediately liked the cover with Edmond on the front with broken chains and a determined look on his face, dressed in rich garments. Following the instructions on how to read a manga, I started. I immediately loved the story, the initial setting, the characters…the drawings (if I can call them that) were absolutely fantastic, the faces so dreamy...even in black and white (in a 4D high definition world) you could feel the strengths and flaws of each one, the intentions behind their faces, the love and regret, the sorrow and pain…as the story develops and more and more people appear, I started to realize the huge work it must have been to compress an average of a thousand pages of a full story with complicated twists and several parallel plot lines converging into a single manga of four hundred pages. Somehow, they made the story come to life. They made possible to feel the first encounter of Edmond with Mercedes long after his imprisonment, the nervousness, the regret, the unspoken words…that was the moment I decided two things: to read the whole story in one sitting (going to bed at three in the morning, having to work the next day) and after that, to start the novel that was sitting on my selves, waiting.

I only felt a bit difficult to follow the story trying to recognise the faces of the character which, in black and white, they look very similar sometimes in a complicated story like this one. Really, not to be missed and I would recommend this to manga and classic stories lovers

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2148326035?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

I received a copy of Manga Classics: The Count of Monte Cristo from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

When I saw that Manga Classics had done a version of the Count of Monte Cristo, I knew right away I had to read it. The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favorite classic novels, so I was very curious to see how well it would handle being adapted into a manga version. I’ve read classics that have been converted into manga by Crystal S. Chan before, so I had no worries about her competence in this case. Though I’ll admit when I was reading her notes on the back I was incredibly impressed (and a little jealous) to see that she had actually done research on location in some cases.
I love the amount of research and effort that is put into the manga classics. There are little details that were included that I also greatly appreciated – such as the family tree of characters at the back, which neatly explained whom was connected to whom and why.
The Count of Monte Cristo is by no means a small novel, coming in at nine hundred and twenty-eight pages (depending on which print version you buy, of course). It must have been no small feat to condense it into a mere four hundred pages. It is understandable that after cutting out five hundred-odd pages from the novel that the pace would change dramatically. Traditionally the Count of Monte Cristo is a slow building story, with actions that don’t fully make sense until the reasoning is revealed towards the end. In the manga version the pace is sped up a bit, so the reasoning is explained in more rapid succession. I still greatly enjoyed reading the manga version – just be aware that it is a different experience to be had.
The artwork for the Count of Monte Cristo is phenomenal. There are so many characters to have to create designs for, and to then have them all be distinct and immediately identifiable. I’m sure it was a challenge, but one that Nokman Poon met with great success. I actually believe that this cover may be my favorite out of all of them – if a print of it was available I can assure you I’d be tempted to buy it and hang it up someplace (again, Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favorite novels).

Book – The Count of Monte Christo
Author – Alexandre Dumas
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 409 (pdf)
Cover – Gorgeous!
Would I read it again? – Yes!
Genre – Comic, Classic, Historical, Manga


** COPY RECEIVED THROUGH NETGALLEY **


This was beautiful. Full of gorgeous, detailed illustrations, it remained as true as it could be to the original story, still able to exude mystery and intrigue, while showing the growth of characters such as Dante and those he had once known and loved. Though the story is obviously condensed for the comic, there is still a lot of original detail and plot, allowing us to follow the process without missing too many of the important plot twists and intrigue.

I also have to admit that I love the additional information at the back (front?) of the book, where it details the research process, discusses and introduces the characters and even included an explanation of how they managed to condense the book into a manga.

Overall, it was a great collector's item and someone who adores Alexandre Dumas' work will love the dedication and attention that went into recreating one of his greatest works.

I am delighted to say that is yet another wonderful rendition of a classic book by Udon Entertainment. They have made it possible for me to enjoy so many classics by turning them into graphic novels. I can only guess at how massive of an undertaking it is to do this. I have not read many of the classics over the years, but I am so enthralled with this method of enjoying them, I can’t get enough. I also get a kick out of how the books are read backwards. (Start at the last page instead of the first.)

There are so many reasons why I think graphic novels are a wonderful way to enjoy a book: the pictures make it easier to understand the characters emotions and what is going on in the scene without a lot of extra words, and children enjoy reading them. This is a book, I’m sure would not get a lot of attention in a library in typical novel form, but with the addition of a colorful cover and stunning artwork throughout, this becomes a book with a very large audience.

I highly recommend these Manga books.

I loved this.
I was a little leery at first because The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favorite novels, I wasn't sure how safe it'd be in the manga edition. It's a fairly big book with a lot going on, and I know the story would have to be abridged to make it into this but suffice to say I wasn't disappointed at all. I loved it. The most important bits were here, the art was beautiful and helped give an extra depth to the story and it was immensely enjoyable.

I've been meaning to read The Count of Monte Cristo for years, but have always felt a little intimidated. This manga adaptation was a wonderful way to introduce myself to this classic work in a much more approachable way. The illustrations help interpret some of the more archaic language as well to make the entire work more cohesive and understandable.

Edmond Dantes is betrayed by a coworker who wants his job, a romantic rival who will steal his bride, and a crooked government prosecutor with a dark secret to hide. Thrown into prison for decades, Dantes eventually escapes, becomes fabulously wealthy, and vows revenge on those who ruined his life.

Count of Monte Cristo is one of my top five favorite novels of all time, so I was interested to see how one of my favorite stories would translate into manga form. Although they had to simplify the story considerably, and there are really too many characters for a stand-alone manga, I enjoyed this wonderful adaptation of a classic tale!

I love the beautiful artwork! I was glad to see that each character has such a unique style that makes them, their clothing, their hair, and face really memorable, which is essential with so many characters.

There is also a family tree/character relationship chart at the back of the book to help you keep track of all the characters; although it does contain some spoilers, so I wouldn't look at it if you haven't previously read the story.

Even though the story is condensed, the bones of the novel are there with all their intricacies and mystery and flair. I was especially glad to see that character development is not lost in the super-plot. The author takes time to establish emotional connections between characters, and we still get to see Dantes go through all the ups and downs of his passionate nature. So much of the beauty of the story is lost because of the constraints of the manga form, but I think the author did a superb job of maintaining the truth of the story, the style and expression of the book.

Disclaimer: I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone.

A wonderful addition to a great series, I'm so happy that one of my favorite novels of all time has been transformed into a different medium, Manga! Manga Classics has reinvented the traditional story with gorgeous illustrations and the author has stayed true to the overall themes and emotions of The Count of Monte Cristo. I enjoyed taking a new look at characters that were a little different than I had imagined before. Until recently, this format (Manga) was basically unknown to me, but I've kept up with this series and truly have been converted. What a great way to introduce new readers to the classics, and a fun way to reintroduce books to old fans. Recommended.

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This manga definitely kept me on my toes! I can't believe that the author somehow managed to condense such a big book into a manga and still make you feel like you didn't miss out on any big details. I'm really impressed.
I'm in love with the Crystal's art style and how she puts so much detail into her characters. And once again I'm inspired to read the original book. Keep up the hard work Crystal!
5 Stars!

Once again, a brilliant adaptation of the original into a Manga Classic! It keeps the dramatic atmosphere and the gripping suspense of the most complex classic revenge story.

This is the story of a young man that had a bright life ahead of him. He was to become captain of his own ship, marry the love of his life and save his father from poverty. Until, on his wedding day, he's arrested for a crime he didn’t commit and is sent to an isolated prison with no contact with the outside world. After digging into the cell next door, he becomes friends with an old man that helps him discover the truth about his arrest and carefully plans his revenge. Giving invaluable information about a hidden treasure, the old man teaches Edmond everything he knows. As the years' pass, Edmond Dantes is a changed man with a single goal in life: make the people that betrayed him suffer as he did and take everything from them.
A masterpiece that still gives me pleasure in reading. It’s a complex story full of betrayals, murder, blackmails and hidden businesses.

The story is engaging and the complexity of the plot is addictive. Much like the original, the manga was able to keep the same emotion and suspense that defines this French classic in 400 pages. In end, it motivated me to read the translated version of the original again.

The story has been shortened quite a bit but Crystal was able to keep all the important details that keep the story attached and that leave no loose strings. The plot follows the story of the Count and his path to execute his revenge. This is the perfect book for the readers that don’t want to go through the 1000-page original.

The style of writing is faithful to the translated copy but the language is simplified in certain scenes. I imagine that it’s for the reader to be able to fully understand the story.

There is a big number of characters in the manga and for me, it was easy to recognise who is who. The designs are unique to each character, going from facial expressions to the dressing details. I’ve read the novel before and the drawing of these characters go in line with the way I imagined them.

The visuals are captivating and beautifully created. There is a special attention to detail; from the dresses and the suits to the prison itself and Edmond’s home. I could hear the noises in the street and walk around in this world. It definitely pulls the reader in and doesn’t let go until they fall in love with the story and this reality.

I highly recommend this adaptation to both readers that already know the original story and those that didn’t read it yet.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Udon Entertainment, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book.

The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favourite books of all time so when I found this manga adaptation, I just had to read it. With the original book containing over 1200 pages, I was curious to see how well this 400-page adaptation would compare.

I'm happy to say that it doesn't disappoint! Not only is the art stunning but it also stays true to the original. There's a page or two at the beginning of each chapter solely dedicated to a narrative of certain events. I thought this was such a great idea when it came to trimming parts of the book without losing important details.

This adaptation is perfect for readers new to The Count of Monte Cristo. If you don't feel like reading the original but have time for this adaptation, I highly recommend it! (It may just entice you enough to read the book if you find the manga too 'short' ;D) Readers who have read the original book will love this too. It's the perfect way to 'reread' when you don't have time for 1200 pages and I have a feeling I'll be doing just that whenever I miss this story.

When looking back at my experience with “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Magna Classics, I am proud to report that my experience was a joyous one. I took my time with this magna as it was my first and slowly but surely was able to find a pace that worked for me. I have heard of “The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexander Dumas for some time and have known it to be a classic. A classic filled with the journey of a man whose retribution is found through revenge and explores themes of power, choice, and love. When researching the original text, I found that it is over a thousand pages. Whereas the magna classics edition was shy over four hundred pages. A lot of work had to be done to make that happen so I would like to applaud Crystal S.Chan for her diligence in staying true to the message Dumas expressed . Along with its source material, vivid characters, and sharp dialogue the images created were also most appealing to me. Nokman Poon’s illustrations held the story together as its illustrations revealed the characters response and emotions experienced. I hope one day to read the original and it is with this magna I now have the determination to do so.

The best revenge story ever written is now a manga and I couldn't be happier. Follow the beautiful artwork as the tale of betrayal, love, buried treasure, and ultimately cold cold revenge is brought to life in a new way. I enjoyed this version on the story and felt it was a faithful adaptation of the original novel. The artwork added visuals that one may have missed in the novel, like small details and historic architecture of the setting.

Ok I know that the original novel has some very problematic content and while it was of its time that doesn’t excuse any harm it does nowadays. That said there is something enduring about Huckleberry Finn – it’s the original con artist adventure story and there is still much to get out of it. This Manga adaptation is charming and engaging, taking the good and ameliorating the bad. I think this is now my preferred version.

Life could not be better for Edmond Dantes. He is bethrothed to the love of his life, and he has the promise of a great career with the prospects of a great fortune. Then, all goes wrong. Three men conspire against Dantes and he is imprisoned under false accusations. While in prison, Dantes meets a wise man who tells him of a treasure of untold riches. Fourteen years later, Dantes escapes from prison, finds the treasure, and vows to take revenge on the men who have imprisoned him.
The Count of Monte Christo is a very complex novel with an array of characters connected by Dantes' quest for revenge. Manga Classics' adaptation concisely portrays Dumas' famous novel in a visual format. Although I have never read the original novel, I found Manga Classics' version to be very easy to follow and engaging. I read the entire manga in one sitting, and now I really want to read the original novel.
I received Manga Classics: The Count of Monte Christo via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like there’s a belief by some that if you’re a true book nerd, you were reading the classics as a kid. Especially women. Did you not read Jane Austen as a young girl? No, I did not. Because I was a freaking child. I was all about Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, Sweet Valley High, and some Encylopedia Brown. I didn’t truly appreciate the classics until I was well into adulthood and most days I would still rather read a more modern fantasy or YA novel than an epic classic. Classics are often large and drawn out. They were, afterall, the main at home entertainment in ye olden days of no tv, radio, etc. Sure there are some great stories but they’re still not the sorts of things you want to read every day. There are some exceptions. The Count of Monte Cristo being the number one exception. I could read that every year. It’s my absolute fave.

Seeing it was turned into manga had me so excited. This is a 400’ish page comic. That may seem short if compared to the 1,000+ page classic novel but fear not, they didn’t skimp on the story (and there’s a lot of it). Comics/mangas do, however, have the advantage of both text and images. They can present a story in a new way. The main aspects of the classic story of revenge are all here and presented well. It’s a good way to get someone into a classic without handing them a book that can double as a step stool.

I will probably check out some of their other classic manga titles because this one didn’t disappoint.

This book had me running for my TV to look for movie adaptations on Netflix and Amazon Prime! I adore the story of The Count of Monte Cristo, and this Manga version is no exception. I loved revisited Emond Dantes and his quest to seek revenge against those who set him up and wrongly imprisoned him for 14 years. Edmond's story will have you cheering for him, but also wishing that he would see the good direction his life could take if he would simply recognize the love that is in front of him. Read it!

The Count of Monte Cristo is about a man who is wrongly imprisoned and then takes revenge on those who sent him there. This is the manga of that classic and it is very well done in my opinion. I have not read the original, so I couldn't say how it matches up to that, but the last few pages describing the process say that it was kept close to the original.

I liked the art work and how they were able to create Edmond as a young man to scraggly prisoner to the count, who is given more of an edge. I liked the story line of Valentine and Maximilien and why it was used. I thought it was a nice conclusion ending with them in the last scene. It was a little hard to keep track of all of the characters, and had to do some thinking as I read, but I didn't feel that burdened the reading too much.

After the ending they show their thought process of creating the manga. They had to trim a lot of the book while still keeping it interesting and easy to understand, which I believe they succeeded in. I found it hard to put down especially in the last 100 pages. They even visited France and fixed their artwork after seeing the real places, such as Chateau D'if. I really appreciate all the research that went into this adaptation.

I LOVED IT! I've read the German translation of the original a few years back and The Count of Monte Christo is one of my favorite classics if all time.
Of course the manga classic edition can't possibly cover every single detail and plotline, but it's worth it nonetheless.
The art is beautiful, the dialogue appropriate for a classic retelling and I'd recommend this to all manga fans, who want to read more classics or to people with an open mind that feel a bit intimidated by the size of the original book.
I found that there are more manga classics coming out and I'm thinking about starting to collect them.

The Count of Monte Cristo is one of those classics I'd been meaning to read forever, but never seemed to get around to. When I saw it was available as one of the Manga Classics re-imaginings, I was pretty excited, as these renditions always make the classics a little easier for me to get through; they tell the same story in a condensed version, and the art is always so lovely and fun to read through.

Thankfully, this was no exception, and was actually one of my favorites yet as far as the artwork went! The Count himself is drawn in that classic style of the handsome hero you'd expect to see in a shoujo manga, which was really fun, even if it does kind of disregard his age. I kept forgetting that he'd be in his 40s or 50s by the time the bulk of the story takes place... but either way, it was a really enjoyable way to read the story and I can see how The Count of Monte Cristo would've taken people by storm at the time with its morally grey protagonist and vengeance-filled plot.

Thank you @netgalley for the arc of this beautifully illustrated Manga Edition of the Classic. I loved every minute of reading this book. It was a 4.5 star read for me. I really need to check out the Original book and see how the Manga compares to it. It was simply a captivating and delightful experience. The book was done very well. I have read an abridged version of the story back when I was in school. So I remember tidbits, not the entirety of it. A lot of details I believe had to be trimmed to bring this book to life. I still feel the essence of the story and the characters' journeys were very well depicted. The illustrations were amazing. Definitely check this Manga Classic version. I guarantee the book is great.

Manga Classics has done it again. I love The Count of Monte Cristo and this adaptation is just wonderful. It is very true to the classic and the artwork is just how I pictured Dantè to be. Now, I want to re-read the classic written by Alexandre Dumas. Manga classics, as I said before, is a great way to get to some of the classics that are on your tbr pile that can be overwhelming/time consuming. This one for me was a wonderful retelling of the classic. A definite re-read from me in the future, after of course re-reading the classic.
The Count of Monte Cristo is an adventure novel set historically in the Napoleonic era where conspiracy and a lapse of justice changes the course of one man. Alexandre Dumas' skillful narrative combines intrigue, betrayal, and triumphant revenge into a powerful conflict between good and evil. I highly recommend both, the original work and this adaptation.

*~.Book Analysis.~*
Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader :)

Rating: 5 stars
Reading period: Sept. 27th, 2019
Format: ebook
Source: NetGalley – I have received this copy in exchange for an honest review.
Release date: Apr. 11th, 2017

PROS
I AM SO IN LOVE WITH EVERYTHING! I know I may sound a little repetitive, but it is as if one adaptation gets better than the other every time! I haven't read the original Count of Monte Cristo yet and it is one of the few classics my mom always nags at me for not having read. I know what she means now and I'm definitely going to try to pick it up before the year ends. But again what made me more awed in this adaptation was the art: I simply loved how the characters were envisioned and the beauty of the scenery and clothing.

CONS
None, really. NOT.A.SINGLE.FLAW.

COVER ANALYSIS
Edmond actually reminds me of a vampire in this cover, but it is fitting in a weird way, so it is badass and I love it.

RECOMMENDED FOR
Manga, Comics and Classic lovers!

This manga interpretation of the Count of Monte Cristo is beautiful. This manga is printed in the traditional Japanese way of backwards to American standards and this is explained with instructions, at the front and back of the book.

The retelling of the tragedy that befalls Edmond Dantes has been slightly softened for a middle grade audience as a teaching tool. It only skims the surface of the darkness of the original book and condenses the length for this audience. It is still a large book of about 400 pages which is easier to handle as a graphic novel.

If parents are concerned about seeing the mistreatment of Edmond in Chateau D'Lf, no worries, that's all skimmed over. It feels like what happened in Chateau D'Lf is too abbreviated and new readers might not fully understand why it was so bad there. This trimming is addressed in the adaptation notes and it is understandable, this is a huge, complicated novel and certain things had to be smoothed out.

Overall, this is a great adaptation that would allow my son and other younger readers like him get into one of my favorite classic novels!


Thank you to NetGallery for providing me a copy of this manga.

Putting it out here now, Manga is not something I would normally foray into. But classics, however, is. I love reading classics. So when I saw that some of my favorite classics had been turned into Manga comic books, I couldn’t help myself. I had to read them. Which means more reviews of Manga classics will be coming your way.

To start it off, I decided to read The Count of Monte Cristo, as I have never read that one before. Needless to say, I was impressed. Not just by the story line, but also by beautiful artwork. I never thought that a classic tale could be translated so impressively into Japanese comic book art.

Of the storline itself, I was greatly impressed with the fact that Monte Cristo’s plans had plans, and those plans of plans had backup plans. He was very crafty and clever, and, to be honest, made Eabard Thawn from The Flash look like an amateur. If that’s not great writing, I don’t know what is. Alexandre Dumas, the original author of The Count of Monte Cristo, was a genius.

The sheer amount of people involved in his scheme was a tad confusing at points and I had to sit and think a moment to remember who was who, and how they pertained to the plot. So while it was confusing at times, in the end, it all made sense.

Monte Cristo’s character was very well-developed. As a man seeking vengeance for all the wrongs done to him, he could have easily come off as pathetic and weak, but he actually gave the impression of someone who was smart, cunning, ferocious and gentle, all at the same time. His ferocity, and his great scheming, however, take a sharp turn near the end of the book when a character he never intended to harm is killed because of his need for vengeance. His grief and repentance give his character depth, and make him seem even more human, and less like a fictional person.

In the end, this version of the classic has made me appreciate classic tales more than I already do and has left me with the need to read the original The Count of Monte Cristo myself.


NOTE: I was given an ARC copy from the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Count of Monte Cristo (Manga Classics) art by Nokman Poon, 401 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL
Udon Entertainment, 2017. $27.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
After receiving promotion to captain and less than two hours from marrying the love of his life, Edmond Dantes is arrested. Edmond spends the next several years in prison, learning from a fellow prisoner while nurturing his desire for vengeance on those who wronged him. When the death of his fellow prisoner allows Edmond to escape, Edmond inherits the dead man’s fortune and uses it to punish those who took everything away from him.
The Count of Monte Cristo is an enthralling tale full of amazing feats and impossible achievements. I understand that fitting all the details into a shortened graphic novel version of the story would equal one of said impossible achievements; still, it was a little disappointing that so much of the story had to be removed. Enough of the story remains to be exciting and make sense, but it doesn’t have the same captivating feel because there are fewer reasons to understand Edmond’s point of view and fewer details of his plans to be awestruck by. I admit, though, that the artwork is beautiful and allows for readers to both better understand the time jumps and better keep the characters straight. Furthermore, the need to use pages and dialogue more wisely in the abridgment forced the graphic novel to make some nuances more clear than the original does, which I actually appreciated. I hope that this manga version of the story inspires more people to pick up the original.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

This beautiful manga brought to life one of my favorite classics. I did not think that the complex story of the Count of Monte Cristo would be a challenge to condense and was honestly quite scared that it cannot be done. However, this manga did it beautifully. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is too intimidated to read the actual novel because it is a very dense story. The art in this manga brought all of my favorite characters and scenes to life in such an amazing way, I felt every ounce of emotion each character was feeling and it was exhilarating.

Thank you, NetGalley for giving me a free copy of this for my honest review in exchange.

-- 5 stars --

I am a big fan of the book! I love that it starts out showing not only sketches of all the characters connected to their names, but it also has a family tree to help clear things up for the reader. This is a great manga book to expose readers to a classic they may not have otherwise read.