Synopsis
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife... " Tailored from the adored Jane Austen classic, Marvel Comics is proud to present Pride & Prejudice! Two-time Rita Award-Winner Nancy Butler and fan-favorite Hugo Petras faithfully adapt the whimsical tale of Lizzy Bennet and her loveable-if-eccentric family, as they navigate through tricky British social circles. Will Lizzy's father manage to marry off her five daughters, despite his wife's incessant nagging? And will Lizzy's beautiful sister Jane marry the handsome, wealthy Mr. Bingley, or will his brooding friend Mr. Darcy stand between their happiness?
Collects Pride & Prejudice #1-5.
Library Journal
It is a truth universally acknowledged that the United States is not Japan, and certainly this is no multivolume manga. We don't savor at length Lizzie's inner monologs or hover along through the Regency social dailiness that contextualizes Austen's comedy of matrimony. To be fair, the basic plot is pretty much here, bonsaied down from Austen's 400-plus pages. And Butler does quite a good job at keeping the continuity while letting each major character have a chance in the spotlight. But Austen's women don't come off well—they all have a similar "superhero female character from central casting" look, seeming even to wear lipstick. The muddy coloring doesn't help either, with too many browns and ochres slathered together to scream, "IN THE PAST." (We shouldn't blame Petrus, a capable Spanish artist who perhaps received misleading direction.) VERDICT This P&P packages Austen's classic for fanboys and newbies. Women readers and Austenites are likely to want more story, more appealing art, and more distinctive female characters. For teens and up.—M.C.