Classics Illustrated Deluxe #10: Edgar Allan Poe
Papercutz; $17.99 hardcover & $13.99 soft cover

Classics Illustrated #17: The Secret Agent
Papercutz; $9.99

“The Murders in Rue Morgue,” “The Gold Bug” and “The Mystery of Marie Rogét” by Edgar Allan Poe take center stage in the newest Classics Illustrated Deluxe volume from Papercutz.

The writing for this 144-page issue is handled by Classics Illustrated veteran Jean David Morvan and Corbeyran. Morvan’s previous work includes the adaptation of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer in #4 and The Three Musketeers in #6. The art for “The Murders in Rue Morgue” and “The Mystery of Marie Rogét” is by Fabrice Druet and “The Gold Bug” was drawn by Paul Marcel.

While the series is noted for the quality of its kid-friendly adaptations of the classics, it is inherent in Poe’s work that some parents may want to limit their younger child’s exposure to this version.

The Classics Illustrated Deluxe is not the only Classics Illustrated line published by Papercutz. They are also responsible for reprinting the series published by First Comics (working in partnership with Berkely Publishing) back in the early 1990s, and as part of that project the company just released a new edition of Joseph Conrad’s The Secret Agent. The adaptation by John K. Snyder III is considered by many to be among the best issues to be printed by First Comics.

– Columnist Mark Squirek submitted this review.

Editor’s note: To learn more about the genesis of Classics Illustrated, take a minute to read a brief history published here in Scoop just a few months back.