The original, best-selling series of comics adaptations of the world's greatest literature, Classics Illustrated returns in two new formats—the original, featuring abridged versions of classic novels, and Classics Illustrated Deluxe, featuring longer, more expansive adaptations. The books come from Papercutz, publisher of graphic-novel series such as The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Tales from the Crypt. The new line begins in November with Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows, adapted by French artist Michel Plessix.

The 144-page volume — available in both hardcover ($17.95) and trade paperback editions ($13.95) — collects Plessix’s four 32-page Wind in the Willows adaptations, published from 1998 through 2001. Art from the series is available at:
http://www.nbmpub.com/fairytales/plessix/grahamwillowprev1.html
http://www.nbmpub.com/fairytales/plessix/grah2prev.html
http://www.nbmpub.com/fairytales/plessix/willow3prev1.html

Plessix’s work has earned shining reviews such as:
“Excellent! Lively and fun!”—Children’s Bookwatch
“The classically detailed art invites the eye and the cozy charm of
the story soothes the modern nerves.”—San Antonio Express-News
“Immeasurably enhanced by the classic European illustration that
brings to mind the best storybooks of our childhood.”—Memphis
Commercial Appeal
“Adds dramatic flair to the beloved story.”—Publishers Weekly

Future volumes of Classics Illustrated will include Great Expectations by Rick Geary, followed by a compilation of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, The Invisible Man (by Geary), Oliver Twist, Tom Sawyer, and Robinson Crusoe.

Classics Illustrated was the creation of Albert Lewis Kanter (1897-1973), a visionary publisher. Inspired by the success of the early comic books published in the early 30s and late 40s, Kanter believed he could use the same medium to introduce young readers to great literature. In 1941, he launched Classic Comics (changed to Classics Illustrated in 1947). Soon, students and teachers were using his comic-book adaptations of Shakespeare, Stevenson, Twain, Verne, and other authors. For thirty years, over 200 publications in Kanter’s Classics Illustrated and Classics Illustrated Junior introduced young readers worldwide to literature, history, folklore, mythology, and science.

Classics Illustrated was re-launched in 1990 in graphic novel/book form by the Berkley Publishing Group and First Publishing, Inc. featuring all-new adaptations by such top graphic novelists as Rick Geary, Bill Sienkiewicz, Kyle Baker, Gahan Wilson, and others. Papercutz will reprint many of these excellent adaptations, which will comprise the new series of Classics Illustrated titles. Papercutz has also obtained rights to all-new adaptations of the classics by some of the world's finest graphic novelists. These new adaptations devote three to five times as many comics pages as the previous series and more fully capture the depth of the original novels. These adaptations will run as a separate series entitled Classics Illustrated Deluxe.