Fairy Tale Comics: Classic Tales Told by Extraordinary Cartoonists

Duffy has assembled a dazzling lineup of comics versions of more than a dozen fairy tales in this hilarious follow-up to Nursery Rhyme Comics. Favorites like "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" and "Rapunzel" (whose heroines gain welcome agency) join rarities like "The Small Tooth Dog" and "The Boy Who Drew Cats." The stories' visual styles range from Gilbert Hernandez's straightforward, flat-color cartoons for "Hansel and Gretel" to Brett Helquist's elaborately rendered Rumpelstiltskin; the bewildered stares of the bear family say it all in Graham Annable's wordless "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." Karl Kerschl conceives "The Bremen Town Musicians" as a down-home romp ("Me and Abel talked it over and we ain't goin' near no haunted house"); Ramona Fredon crafts a formal, Classics Illustrated-style version of "The Prince and the Tortoise"; while Vanessa Davis capitalizes on the absurdities of "Puss in Boots" ("Bunny!" the king shouts inanely, hearts dancing around him, when Puss presents him with his first gift). Most stories are in the six- to eight-page range, and children will probably beg their parents to read the whole thing in one sitting. Ages 6-12. (Sept.)

Nineteen cartoonists re-envision the world of "once upon a time" in this collection of 17 fairy tales. Stories are chiefly from Grimm and other European sources, but a few represent Middle Eastern, Asian, and American lore. The rich potpourri of interpretations presented in various mediums, styles, and settings makes the anthology unique. Some stories remain true to conventional retellings, while other adaptations have a decidedly fanciful aspect. Readers will note marked differences in the approaches to the Grimm tales. For example, Emily Carroll dresses her "12 Dancing Princesses" in elegant renaissance gowns while the wicked stepmother in Jaime Hernandez's "Snow White" has a futuristically styled gown and headdress. Graham Annable's wordless "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" illustrates the effectiveness of images in nuanced storytelling. "The Prince and the Tortoise" echoes the classic realistic scenes of Prince Valiant, while subdued monochromatic colors and simple drawings of the Japanese "The Boy Who Drew Cats" complement the tale's Asian origins. Several artists inject playful humor: Puss in Boots motors around on a Vespa scooter while the King and Queen travel in a pickup truck bed. The "Bremen Town" setting is the Wild West with outlaws stating, "We ain't goin' near no haunted house." While many traditional stories feature young maidens as beautiful brides, Raina Telgemeier's contemporary "Rapunzel" finds her own version of happily-ever-after when she realizes that "I've got the whole world to explore." These adaptations are sure to enchant devotees of comics and those who like a fresh and distinctive approach to fairy tales.—Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY