THE GALLERY

One of the first Classics Illustrated issues I ever read, and still one of my favorites. The story of Frank Buck's dealings with leopards, cobras, rhinos, elephants, man-eating tigers, all with full-color illustrations-what animal-loving kid wouldn't love it?

Drawn by A. A. Blum, this generic adaptation of the Arthurian legends suffers from an inevitable problem that bedevils all children's versions of the Round Table tale-Lancelot and Guinivere's love affair is omitted, so Lancelot's falling-out with Arthur and the ultimately tragic outcome must be brought about by other (and highly contrived) means.

This comic is ample proof that Classics Illustrated adaptations didn't "dumb things down" for the kids. This adaptation of one of Sir Walter Scott's classic poems takes its dialogue and narration, nearly word for word, from the poem itself, retaining much of Scott's large and rich vocabulary. Henry Kiefer is the illustrator, and does a fine job.

This issue features some of the best and most vivid artwork in the entire Classics Illustrated series (unfortunately, the artist isn't credited). The adaptation follows Cooper's story faithfully, right down to the melancholy ending.

Possibly the only adaptation of this Jules Verne novel that follows the surviving-on-a-remote-island theme of the original; screen versions of the story tend to interject giant animals or space invaders into the plot. Illustrated by Robert Webb and David Heames.

A very good adaptation of a great novel, with excellent drawings (the illustrator is uncredited again on this one). Only one quibble-Fagin's Jewish ethnicity is eliminated from this version, no doubt to avoid any charges of anti-Semitism.

This is probably my favorite of all the Classics Illustrated issues. Not based on any particular author's version of the Robin Hood tales (though it borrows a bit from Howard Pyle), this is a well-written and well-illustrated (sadly, the illustrator is yet again anonymous) version of the merry outlaw's exploits. It's as much fun on its own terms as it is as an adaptation of anything.

Another nice thing about Classics Illustrated was their habit of adapting lesser-known novels for their series, such as the works of Charles Boardman Hawes and G. A. Henty. Here, we have an adaptation (drawn by Kurt Schaffenberger) of one of Richard Harding Davis' many forgotten adventure novels. Doesn't the hero on the cover look like Clark Gable?

This comic follows Scott's novel very faithfully and without much simplification or abridgement, a considerable achievement when you realize the difficulties of compressing a two-volume novel into a comic book.

Well-drawn (by Homer Fleming), this comic nevertheless falls short as an adaptation, by completing omitting the religious elements of Thomas Hughes' novel (the 1940 American film version does the same thing).

Another good illustrating job by Henry Kiefer, with some great underwater artwork. The adaptation follows Verne's book closely, and shows restraint in not attempting to clumsily "reveal" Captain Nemo's tragic and mysterious past history (unlike a later Marvel adaptation of Leagues that I've read).

Like the Lady of the Lake comic, this adaptation takes its dialogue directly from its source-a translation of Schiller's great play, blank verse and all. It's also very well illustrated by Maurice Del Bourgo.