This graphic novel takes the Count of Monte Cristo (obviously) and adds in race. Here, Dantes is was born to enslaved parents on the island of Saint-Domingue — modern day Haiti, where Dumas’ own mother was from — and bought and sold away from his family. He participated in an uprising which was quickly put down, and fought his way to freedom where, with the help of a kindly Captain Leclere, he was given a new life, and found happiness with Mercedes, his fiance. When Leclere died, Dantes was given captaincy of the ship. Jealous of his good fortune, Danglars, a fellow crewman who felt the position should be his, Ferdinand Mondego who felt Mercedes should be his, and the magistrate de Villefort conspired to have Dantes arrested and thrown into the penal colony of Chateau d’If.

So far, other than Dantes being black, the story follows the same beats as the original. However, in prison, Dantes meets Faria, who is no kindly abbot, but is instead a demon from hell who promises revenge. What follows is a bloody and gory adventure that takes place — not in France — but in Haiti against the backdrop of the uprising of the enslaved peoples reclaiming their home. Between race, religion and revenge, there’s a lot going on in this story, but I appreciated how it stayed close to the original story beats and how recontextualizing Dantes as Haitian changed so much and yet, not all that much in the end.

The artwork is clean and evocative, with the characters expressions given center stage. The action scenes, from bloody whippings to sword fights, from torture to horror, are so well done. The backgrounds are dark and moody, the colors feel like they were picked out of a Del Toro movie, and the dialogue bubbles are clean and easy to read.

I will say that the gory and bloody scenes are very gory and bloody, and readers who don’t enjoy quite so much red on their pages might want to skip this book. However, if you like horror, revenge stories and the Count of Monte Cristo retellings, grab this book! It’s so very worth it.

Thank you very much to Net Galley and the publisher for giving me an ARC to enjoy!

Growing up, the 2002 Count of Monte Cristo movie was one of my favorites to watch and rewatch, and as a result I’m a big fan of adaptations of the story. The Curse of Monte Cristo immediately drew my eye because of the horror and demon elements, and especially the perspective of a formerly enslaved man and Haiti as a setting. This is a really excellent adaptation and I really love the blending of historical events and the Revolution of Haiti with the story of Monte Cristo. The art is a really good fit for the story and the violence and horror of it all. I really enjoyed this.

This reimagining of The Count of Monte Cristo was incredible. The storyline and plot were so interesting and were beautifully portrayed by the art style. Being in all colour, the images were really represented and all the demonic themes really shone through. I had so much fun reading this and would definitely recommend, even if you are not aware of the father story, The Count of Monte Cristo.

David Dabel and Carlton Holder have created a horrific retelling of Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo. Several things have changed in this graphic novel retelling besides the genre, Edmond Dantes is a Haitian descendant, a former slave, and of course. Instead of a priest helping Dantes in prison, it is a creature that no one else can see that teaches Edmond about the world. I did not think that I could have a favorite version of the famous novel, but here it is. I’m not going to go any further into a review because you need to read it. IT IS DEFINITELY WORTH THE READ!

#ThxNetGalley

I liked this adaptation of the Count of Monte Cristo. It being a horror was a cool spin. The illustrations are wonderful. Farria is such an interesting character

A brilliant reimagining to the classic novel. I love The Count of Monte Cristo and the use of the Haitian slave revolution and horror/ demon elements to bring a new twist to the story. Edmond's battle with himself on vengeance is accentuated with Faria's character, but I felt the love story with Edmond and Mercedes was almost lost with the betrayal storyline and almost turned Mercedes into a villain.

First off, many thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this graphic as a ARC! I greatly appreciate it!
Now, I've never read or watched any version of The Count of Monte Cristo, so maybe I'm not the most qualified reviewer for this graphic novel, but bearing my newbie status in mind: It was great! I loved it! The story was twisty and interesting, Edmond was a really fascinating character, and the art style is gorgeous! There were a few moments where modern speech was used and it broke immersion, but it happened rarely enough that I'm not even gonna dock half a star for it.
More horror retellings of classics, please!
5 stars out of five for The Curse of Monte Cristo!

5 stars 🩷
Wowow!! Absolutely stunning art work and brilliant story telling! The Count of Monte Cristo is a classic tale of revenge and redemption, but this new interpretation adds elements of race and the supernatural using Dumas' own experiences of the Haitian Revolution. We follow Dantes, our protagonist, as he journeys through the morality of revenge and its empty husk of justice if we become blinded by our own wrath.

The retelling of Faria as a demonic entity (but in the subconscious and shadow psyche kind of way) as a foil to Dantes is absolutely *chef's kiss*. Every scene was yolked in emotion and I implore anyone who loves The Count as much as I do, to not miss this gem!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishing house for this ARC~

The Curse of Monte Cristo is a fantastic retelling with beautiful artwork combined with history of the Haitian Revolution. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, or new graphic novels.

A fantastic retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo with superb artwork. In this version, Edmond Dantes is a formerly-enslaved person of color which is apropos since Alexandre Dumas, the author of Monte Cristo, was a person of color himself. The action primarily takes place in revolutionary-era Haiti which is an excellent choice for this story. Also, Dabel makes it a horror story by turning Faria into a literal demon.

I haven't read The Count of Monte Cristo, although I have seen one of the films based on it. This graphic novel certainly makes me want to read the source material though. I'm generally not a fan of revenge stories, but I loved this one. An amazing retelling!

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrew McMeels Publishing for this ARC!

You have to be really brave to take an extremely famous novel and not only make it a graphic novel but also give it a horror twist. I’m happy to say, they pulled it off. Very compelling, great artwork and a satisfying ending.

A riveting retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. This time Edmond is a Haitian man and Faria is a demon who joins him on his journey. The artwork can feel a bit disjointed at times but I feel it works in this case. Highly recommend this if you're a fan of the story.

Trigger warning: Slavery, imprisonment, beatings, blood & violence, murder, racism, cannibalism, violence against women, implied attempted rape.

This story is a story about how a good man turns evil—all in the name of vengeance.

I found Edmond’s backstory very interesting. The fact that he was a slave who escaped his fate by getting rescued by a mythological man named the “Boatman” who everyone assumes is a myth. They even have a nursery rhyme about him that makes him even more mysterious and intriguing: “He’ll ferry you to the land of the dead or a new life, free of dread. Later, there would be a toll, likely your immortal soul.”

The boatman ferries Edmond to a new life in Paris… but his life doesn’t end up being all sunshine and rainbows. Edmond Dantes ends up getting sentenced to life in a fortress-type prison for treason and inciting people to rebel against authority.

At some point in his imprisonment, he starts going mad and talking to bugs, which I got a good chuckle from. It was like a nod to Renfield from Dracula.

Faria was a mystery, and I assumed he was a hallucination Edmond kept seeing or a vivid daydream to help himself cope—like an imaginary friend—since no one could see him but Edmond. I liked the twist of who Faria is and how the story incorporates the Boatman into it and really liked the reveal of why the title of this comic is called, “The Curse of Monte Cristo,” and his reasoning behind naming his ship the “Tartarus.” I love Greek mythology, so I loved that little tidbit.

The art style is great—it’s the type of detail, lining, and coloring that I enjoy in comics.

I enjoyed the story and the art style and would highly recommend this one to horror fans and those who like to see bad men get what's coming to them!

I'll admit to being nervous about reading "The Curse of Monte Cristo." The class it's based on is one of my favorite stories. I've read it many times, and so my fear of seeing that story "messed up" had me biting my nails. So, what happened? I fell head over heals for this graphic novel version!

"The Curse of Monte Cristo" is refreshing. I'm in awe of how deftly the horror genre was blended with the tale. The artwork... I don't know enough adjectives to praise it. Together, David Dabel and Carlton Holder brought twists and turns to a classic known for its twists and turns. I admire how they portrayed Edmond, his naivete, his faith, and then his absolute and necessary path to vengeance.

I devoured this graphic novel, gobbling up familiar scenes. But the new layers, oh those gloriously dark layers, were my favorite. This is a graphic novel to gift someone "allergic" to literary classics. At the very least, they will get a taste for why "The Count of Monte Cristo" is legendary. But I believe this version would push them to check out the original story by Dumas, too.

I'll be buying a print copy for my bookshelf.

I've never read or watched The Count of Monte Cristo. There is no specific reason for that; I just never did. However, this graphic novel caught my attention, and I was glad I was able to read it as an ARC.

Edmond is a very likable character, and I was rooting for him the entire time.

Even though I'm not familiar with the story, I was very interested in the book. I believe not knowing anything about it made it even better. I read it in basically one sitting. The art style is absolutely stunning, and the storytelling was fascinating. Since I'm not familiar with the story, I feared for the ending, but it was very pleasing.
It got me interested enough to read the original book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this ARC

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.