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blkmymorris's review
4.0
This was really cute. I loved the variety of art and storytelling from some great comic artists.
swash84's review
5.0
Fairy Tale Comics is a collection of fairy tales, re-imagined (and re-imaged) by various cartoonists- Raina Telgemeier (Smile), Craig Thompson (Blankets), and Brett Helquist (A Series of Unfortunate Events) to name a few.
The tales span from Grimm's Fairy Tales to Russian and Japanese folktales to Bre'r Rabbit tales from the South. The variety of illustrations is amazing, each with its own qualities. Some are narrative, some are mainly dialogue, some are wordless. Speaking of dialogue, "Hansel & Gretel"- illustrated by Gilbert 'Beto' Hernandez- is hilarious...at least I thought it was. It was...I don't quite know how to explain it. The only way I can think of is, like, overdramatic overacting. LOVED it! Luke Pearson's "The Boy Who Drew Cats" also had me chuckling- in a more adorable "Bartleby the Scribner" kind of way.
I went in not knowing much about certain cartoonists. When I got to "The Prince and the Tortoise" I thought "this is really similar to classic comics- like Prince Valiant or something." Turns out Ramona Fradon illustrated Aquaman in Super Friends. The same happened with the story "Sweet Porridge." "Hmmm...this is kind of nostalgic cartooning...reminds me of Popeye." Again, Bobby London illustrated the Popeye comic strip from the mid-80s to early 90s. I'm actually both proud and ashamed of myself for placing (yet not placing) these cartoonists. There's a great list of contributors in the back which is helpful for both recognizing artists, and noting future works of theirs to look into.
One of my favorites was Gigi D.G.'s interpretation of "Little Red Riding Hood." The artwork was beautiful and adorable. Like, in the event of future Little Sare-endipities...I'd love to do a nursery in this style. There was also some girl power in this version, which I am always happy about! I won't give the twist away, though! The same with Raina Telgemeier's "Rapunzel" [cue Spice Girls!]
The range of stories, the range of artistic styles and talent, the range of humor...this has something for everyone. If you love fairytales and folktales, bright colors, humor, and pure awesomeness- get this graphic novel. I have a feeling this will become as treasured as my Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales (and has much better illustrations!)
The tales span from Grimm's Fairy Tales to Russian and Japanese folktales to Bre'r Rabbit tales from the South. The variety of illustrations is amazing, each with its own qualities. Some are narrative, some are mainly dialogue, some are wordless. Speaking of dialogue, "Hansel & Gretel"- illustrated by Gilbert 'Beto' Hernandez- is hilarious...at least I thought it was. It was...I don't quite know how to explain it. The only way I can think of is, like, overdramatic overacting. LOVED it! Luke Pearson's "The Boy Who Drew Cats" also had me chuckling- in a more adorable "Bartleby the Scribner" kind of way.
I went in not knowing much about certain cartoonists. When I got to "The Prince and the Tortoise" I thought "this is really similar to classic comics- like Prince Valiant or something." Turns out Ramona Fradon illustrated Aquaman in Super Friends. The same happened with the story "Sweet Porridge." "Hmmm...this is kind of nostalgic cartooning...reminds me of Popeye." Again, Bobby London illustrated the Popeye comic strip from the mid-80s to early 90s. I'm actually both proud and ashamed of myself for placing (yet not placing) these cartoonists. There's a great list of contributors in the back which is helpful for both recognizing artists, and noting future works of theirs to look into.
One of my favorites was Gigi D.G.'s interpretation of "Little Red Riding Hood." The artwork was beautiful and adorable. Like, in the event of future Little Sare-endipities...I'd love to do a nursery in this style. There was also some girl power in this version, which I am always happy about! I won't give the twist away, though! The same with Raina Telgemeier's "Rapunzel" [cue Spice Girls!]
The range of stories, the range of artistic styles and talent, the range of humor...this has something for everyone. If you love fairytales and folktales, bright colors, humor, and pure awesomeness- get this graphic novel. I have a feeling this will become as treasured as my Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales (and has much better illustrations!)
librarianryan's review
4.0
August 7, 2017
This was a nice selection of fairy tales told in comic form. Each illustrator brought something unique to their tale. I really like how not all the stories are popular stories that everyone knows.
June 5 2013
2 Stars
I like the idea of this book. Various well known fairy tales graphically illustrated and compiled into one book. Overall it’s a nice work, but it has no continuity. Each story is told by a different illustrator and they each have their take on said story. Individually the stories are nice, but when they are all compiled it brings the page count to a whopping one hundred and twenty-eight which, I feel is too long for its intended audience.
This was a nice selection of fairy tales told in comic form. Each illustrator brought something unique to their tale. I really like how not all the stories are popular stories that everyone knows.
June 5 2013
2 Stars
I like the idea of this book. Various well known fairy tales graphically illustrated and compiled into one book. Overall it’s a nice work, but it has no continuity. Each story is told by a different illustrator and they each have their take on said story. Individually the stories are nice, but when they are all compiled it brings the page count to a whopping one hundred and twenty-eight which, I feel is too long for its intended audience.
brucefarrar's review
5.0
Using the brothers Grimm and some other sources Duffy has compiled a delightful and colorful variety of tales rendered in different styles and media by eighteen artists. Some are drawn and colored in traditional comic book layers of pencil, ink and colors and others are digitally painted. There’s a very funny wordless “Golidlocks and the three Bears.” Some use a limited palette of subdued colors, others a full bright one. There’s not a dull adaptation of a tale or art in the whole collection, but there is an abundance of droll humor that will appeal to readers of all ages.
reader_fictions's review
4.0
When I was in elementary school, I distinctly remember how popular Jon Scieszka’s The Stinky Cheese Man: And Other Fairly Stupid Tales was. Managing to get a hold of it at the school library was pretty much impossible, because everyone wanted to read it. I can easily imagine Fairy Tale Comics being similarly popular with the intended audience. The stories are light-hearted and funny, though with just enough of the cruelty of the original tales to delight kids, because, let’s be honest, children do tend to like watching people get hurt.
Most of the stories featured in Fairy Tale Comics were familiar to me and will be to other adult readers as well, being the most popular of the Grimms’ tales. However, Duffy also included a handful of tales from other sources, ones I’ve never encountered myself. This blend of the familiar and the new will be enchanting for kids and parents alike. Younger readers enjoy familiarity, and it helps make reading a bit easier if you know the story already. In fact, Duffy clearly had this in mind when he put the anthology together, because the first five stories are all Grimms’ tales, allowing the reader to get comfortable before springing something that might be new.
In most anthologies, there tend to be a few real clunkers, but all of the stories in Fairy Tale Comics were really fun reads. Sure, I had my personal favorites, but none of them were horribly boring or with artwork so annoying I couldn’t deal. The stories I enjoyed the most were “The Prince and the Tortoise” by Ramona Fradon and Chris Duffy, “Rapunzel” by Raina Telgemeier, and “Give Me the Shudders” by David Mazzuchelli. Two of them were entirely new to me, and Rapunzel had a nice twist to the ending that I rather enjoyed.
As is the case in “Rapunzel,” several of the tales feature clever little changes. These obviously will not stand out to those who are not well-versed in the tales, but I picked up on a few and they were all great improvements. Obviously much of the gore has been cut, but there are intentional revisions, most of which increase the role of the female characters in the fairy tales. In “Puss in Boots,” the reader learns right at the end that Puss is in fact a female cat. Similarly, the lumberjack in “Little Red Riding Hood” is a woman, rather than a man. These are small changes, but they’re excellently done, adding agency and strength to female characters.
Fairy Tale Comics will be enjoyed by both parents and children, or adults like me who do not get tired of clever retellings of fairy tales. Each tale is humorous and quick for younger readers, but with subtle jokes to delight maturer readers. A great readalike for Jon Scieszka’s fairy tale retellings or fractured fairy tales, like those included in Rocky & Bullwinkle.
Most of the stories featured in Fairy Tale Comics were familiar to me and will be to other adult readers as well, being the most popular of the Grimms’ tales. However, Duffy also included a handful of tales from other sources, ones I’ve never encountered myself. This blend of the familiar and the new will be enchanting for kids and parents alike. Younger readers enjoy familiarity, and it helps make reading a bit easier if you know the story already. In fact, Duffy clearly had this in mind when he put the anthology together, because the first five stories are all Grimms’ tales, allowing the reader to get comfortable before springing something that might be new.
In most anthologies, there tend to be a few real clunkers, but all of the stories in Fairy Tale Comics were really fun reads. Sure, I had my personal favorites, but none of them were horribly boring or with artwork so annoying I couldn’t deal. The stories I enjoyed the most were “The Prince and the Tortoise” by Ramona Fradon and Chris Duffy, “Rapunzel” by Raina Telgemeier, and “Give Me the Shudders” by David Mazzuchelli. Two of them were entirely new to me, and Rapunzel had a nice twist to the ending that I rather enjoyed.
As is the case in “Rapunzel,” several of the tales feature clever little changes. These obviously will not stand out to those who are not well-versed in the tales, but I picked up on a few and they were all great improvements. Obviously much of the gore has been cut, but there are intentional revisions, most of which increase the role of the female characters in the fairy tales. In “Puss in Boots,” the reader learns right at the end that Puss is in fact a female cat. Similarly, the lumberjack in “Little Red Riding Hood” is a woman, rather than a man. These are small changes, but they’re excellently done, adding agency and strength to female characters.
Fairy Tale Comics will be enjoyed by both parents and children, or adults like me who do not get tired of clever retellings of fairy tales. Each tale is humorous and quick for younger readers, but with subtle jokes to delight maturer readers. A great readalike for Jon Scieszka’s fairy tale retellings or fractured fairy tales, like those included in Rocky & Bullwinkle.
aconfundityofcrows's review
4.0
This is a really fun book that is exactly what the title says it is: multiple fairy tale comics. Some of the comics I enjoyed more than others and I'm sure most of those were because of the art.
Favorites are:
12 Dancing Princesses: I was surprised to realize after reading this one that it is by an artist I am already familiar with. I read all of her short online comics a few months back, but didn't make the connection until reading her bio at the back of the book. I really do recommend her comics if you liked her work in this one. They can be found here, but warning she has a definite horror slant in most of them.
Little Red Riding Hood: The huntswoman elbows the wolf in the stomach hard enough to send the grandma flying out! There is nothing else I can say about this one; it's just great. (And red riding hood's :D face is adorable.)
The Prince and the Tortoise: It is in the classic comic book style art and it looks good.
The Boy Who Drew Cats: He just wants to draw cats. I hadn't heard of this fairy tale before so between a positive first impression and good art, I enjoyed it.
Rumpelstiltskin: I've liked Brett Helquist's art ever since I first read A Series of Unfortunate Events and I think he did a great job on this comic like he does in all the art I've seen from him.
Rapunzel: The art is cute. The ending is different from the original and I like the idea that her and the prince are going to go have adventures hopefully the sort of adventures the Rapunzel in [b:Rapunzel's Revenge|2626492|Rapunzel's Revenge (Rapunzel's Revenge, #1)|Shannon Hale|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1388607695s/2626492.jpg|2651193] had.
The Small Tooth: This is another fairy tale I wasn't familiar with until this comic. The fairy tale itself is one where the parent must give away their child for reasons that left me shaking me head why (I think the author was aware of that, so it was kind of humorous the way it is portrayed). The art and overall layout of the comic was charming and I really enjoyed it.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears: It is entirely silent which really works because all the necessary information is conveyed through the character's facial expressions and body language. The art is also great and I really like the character design for the three bears; they are super cute.
Baba Yaga: I love Baba Yaga and her rooster foot house, so of course I liked this comic and the art.
Bremen Town: The final full page frame of them in a band was probably my favorite fun adaption in all of this book.
Overall this is a fun adaptation of the fairy tales and even though I don't always like adaptations I'm more willing to forgive it when the changes are fun and accompanied by great art; which they were.
Favorites are:
12 Dancing Princesses: I was surprised to realize after reading this one that it is by an artist I am already familiar with. I read all of her short online comics a few months back, but didn't make the connection until reading her bio at the back of the book. I really do recommend her comics if you liked her work in this one. They can be found here, but warning she has a definite horror slant in most of them.
Little Red Riding Hood: The huntswoman elbows the wolf in the stomach hard enough to send the grandma flying out! There is nothing else I can say about this one; it's just great. (And red riding hood's :D face is adorable.)
The Prince and the Tortoise: It is in the classic comic book style art and it looks good.
The Boy Who Drew Cats: He just wants to draw cats. I hadn't heard of this fairy tale before so between a positive first impression and good art, I enjoyed it.
Rumpelstiltskin: I've liked Brett Helquist's art ever since I first read A Series of Unfortunate Events and I think he did a great job on this comic like he does in all the art I've seen from him.
Rapunzel: The art is cute. The ending is different from the original and I like the idea that her and the prince are going to go have adventures hopefully the sort of adventures the Rapunzel in [b:Rapunzel's Revenge|2626492|Rapunzel's Revenge (Rapunzel's Revenge, #1)|Shannon Hale|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1388607695s/2626492.jpg|2651193] had.
The Small Tooth: This is another fairy tale I wasn't familiar with until this comic. The fairy tale itself is one where the parent must give away their child for reasons that left me shaking me head why (I think the author was aware of that, so it was kind of humorous the way it is portrayed). The art and overall layout of the comic was charming and I really enjoyed it.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears: It is entirely silent which really works because all the necessary information is conveyed through the character's facial expressions and body language. The art is also great and I really like the character design for the three bears; they are super cute.
Baba Yaga: I love Baba Yaga and her rooster foot house, so of course I liked this comic and the art.
Bremen Town: The final full page frame of them in a band was probably my favorite fun adaption in all of this book.
Overall this is a fun adaptation of the fairy tales and even though I don't always like adaptations I'm more willing to forgive it when the changes are fun and accompanied by great art; which they were.
lslanker's review
4.0
Little Red Riding Hood from Fairy Tale Comics is one of several traditional stories to be told in graphic novel format in the book. The tale follows the traditional tale where a young girl travels to her grandma's house, is stopped in the woods by a wolf, is tricked into slowing down her trip, and eventually saves her grandma from the fate of the wolf's stomach after a conversation about the wolf's various traits.
The book as a whole is written and drawn by several graphic novelists, which is an awesome way for students to be acclimatized to a variety of GN styles. The style that this story uses is full of cheery colors and fairly simple drawings to match the story. The only difference in the storyline is that the lumberjack at the end is a female, which is a touch I enjoyed. I would use this book with upper elementary students as an introduction to how to read graphic novels.
The book as a whole is written and drawn by several graphic novelists, which is an awesome way for students to be acclimatized to a variety of GN styles. The style that this story uses is full of cheery colors and fairly simple drawings to match the story. The only difference in the storyline is that the lumberjack at the end is a female, which is a touch I enjoyed. I would use this book with upper elementary students as an introduction to how to read graphic novels.
carols's review
3.0
I think I would've enjoyed these stories more if they'd been longer, though my eight-year-old loves this book. My favorite three (I'd give them each five stars) are The Boy Who Drew Cats, Rapunzel, and Baba Yaga.
depleti's review
4.0
A fun assortment of fairy tales, some I had never heard of. All of the artwork was really fun and cute.
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