Publication
Imprint: New York : Ballantine Books, 2001, c1990. Responsibility: Story adapted by Charles Dixon and Sean Deming, illustrated by David Wenzel, based on the original work The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien. Physical: Text : 1 volume : 135 pages : color illustrations ; 26 cm.
Call number
Graphic / Dixon
ISBN
0345445600 / 9780345445605
Original publication date
1991 (collected edition)
Collections
CSS Library Notes
Description: Bilbo Baggins, a quiet and contented hobbit, embarks on a grand and dangerous adventure when he joins the wizard Gandalf and a group of dwarves on their quest to reclaim a stolen treasure. Presented in graphic novel form.
FY2017 /
FY2017 /
Physical description
135 p.; 26 cm
Media reviews
In the Hobbit we get as close I think as possible to the roots of the Fantasy genre without going back to the original myths, and epic poems, and legends themselves. What were stock charachters and plots are new and fresh ideas.
Description
Bilbo Baggins, a quiet and contented hobbit, embarks on a grand and dangerous adventure when he joins the wizard Gandalf and a group of dwarves on their quest to reclaim a stolen treasure. Presented in graphic novel form.
Language
Original language
English
Lexile
1000L
User reviews
LibraryThing member swelldame
Ever since my teens, I have been an avid reader of fantasy novels. And the granddaddy of the genre is J.R.R. Tolkien. Sadly, I have never been able to actually finish one of his novels (in fact, I started The Hobbit at least twice). While his storylines are always fascinating and his characters are
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iconic, I find his prose style to be overwrought and inaccessible. For this reason, I was excited to see a graphic novel interpretation of The Hobbit. I thought that format would be an excellent way to convey the adventure without getting bogged down in the prose. I was not disappointed. The story was as exciting as I have always heard it was and the artwork was beautiful. I am so glad I now know the story of The Hobbit and can understand it’s place within the framework of the history of the fantasy genre. Show Less
LibraryThing member TimmyP
Received the french version of graphic novel version of The Hobbit as a gift. It is awesome. Great graphics and almost none of the story is left out. The paper is thickand glossy and the cover very nice. My eight year old son also loves it. Truly a book for the whole family.
LibraryThing member DarthDeverell
In 1989, Eclipse Comics had Charles Dixon and Sean Deming adapt J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit with art by David Wenzel. The story is as faithful to the source material as it can be in an adapted format, though it far surpasses Peter Jackson's three-movie adaptation. Wenzel's watercolor artwork
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recalls Hal Foster's Prince Valiant, visually setting Bilbo's adventures in the same heroic tradition as other classic stories, and each page is a work of art on its own, with particularly gorgeous splash pages depicting Smaug, the raft men of Dane, and others. Fans of Tolkien will enjoy this and it would work well to introduce younger readers to the Middle Earth legendarium. Show Less
LibraryThing member janetvisser
The graphic novel adaptation of "The Hobbit", originally published in three parts, was compiled into one volume in 2006. Bilbo Baggins is a hobblt quietly going about his life, when a knock on the door changes everything. Led by the wizard Gandalf, Bilbo joins a company of dwarves on a great
The full color illustrations are beautiful animations with lots of detail and imagination. They give a three-dimensional feel to the story and do a great job of bringing Tolkien's characters and world of Middle Earth to life.
The story has been simplified to suit the format which makes it seem choppy at times. Although the comic book feel and easy-read language will make "The Hobbit" accessible to young readers, the detail and description of Bilbo's adventures are missing. Only his underground encounter with Gollum and the riddle game they play is portrayed in any depth. There is much more to this story that will be missed if readers are only familiar with the graphic novel version.
Author J.R.R. Tolkien was a professor at Oxford who, although he published several books throughout his career, is best known for "The Hobbit" and the trilogy "Lord of the Rings".
His book was adapted by Charles Dixon, a comic book author who has produced original stories for many major comics companies, as well as various children's books for Golden Books and Walt Disney.
Illustrator David Wenzel is a highly regarded artist who has contributed to a number of children's books and comics. He is best known for his work on "The Hobbit".
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adventure, complete with elves, goblins, trolls, a dragon, a magical ring, and an evil little creature named Gollum. The full color illustrations are beautiful animations with lots of detail and imagination. They give a three-dimensional feel to the story and do a great job of bringing Tolkien's characters and world of Middle Earth to life.
The story has been simplified to suit the format which makes it seem choppy at times. Although the comic book feel and easy-read language will make "The Hobbit" accessible to young readers, the detail and description of Bilbo's adventures are missing. Only his underground encounter with Gollum and the riddle game they play is portrayed in any depth. There is much more to this story that will be missed if readers are only familiar with the graphic novel version.
Author J.R.R. Tolkien was a professor at Oxford who, although he published several books throughout his career, is best known for "The Hobbit" and the trilogy "Lord of the Rings".
His book was adapted by Charles Dixon, a comic book author who has produced original stories for many major comics companies, as well as various children's books for Golden Books and Walt Disney.
Illustrator David Wenzel is a highly regarded artist who has contributed to a number of children's books and comics. He is best known for his work on "The Hobbit".
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LibraryThing member patrick.brautigan
Summary: A Hobbit named Bilbo is visated by the wizard Gandalf. Gandalf asks Bilbo to accompany him on an adventure. The quest is to help dwarvs reclaim their ancient home under lonely mountain. Bilbo's role in this journey is as a thief. Goblins, Dragons and many other dangerous enimies, and
Personal Review: I have read the actual book many times a wonderful vivid story. The graphic novel did not dissapoint. The imagry and amazing graphics only added to a story that i already loved. An easy favorite among my collection of Fantasy novels.
Classroom extensions: Can be used to show just because you are small that doesnt mean that your actions will be sa=mall as well. Even the smallest of people can make a big or the biggest contrabutions.
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untold riches and powerful treasures await Bilbo and his companions on their journey.Personal Review: I have read the actual book many times a wonderful vivid story. The graphic novel did not dissapoint. The imagry and amazing graphics only added to a story that i already loved. An easy favorite among my collection of Fantasy novels.
Classroom extensions: Can be used to show just because you are small that doesnt mean that your actions will be sa=mall as well. Even the smallest of people can make a big or the biggest contrabutions.
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LibraryThing member maggie1944
I need to write a little bit more about having finished The Hobbit: An Illustrated Edition of the Fantasy Classic. The story, of course, was great. We all love our Bilbo Baggins, don't we. What a fine man he is, all the while valuing peace and quiet, a good song, something nice to eat and drink,
This book does an excellent job of sticking to the story and illustrating it in a skillful, and artistic, manner. The watercolor and pen illustrations were all quite good. The handwritten text was also very well done, although my elderly eyes did appreciate a magnifying glass from time to time. I have a much fresher appreciation of the story. And I have a very warm appreciation of this lovely book.
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and a cosy home. What more could any of us want, except perhaps an Adventure from time to time. And he does get his adventure.This book does an excellent job of sticking to the story and illustrating it in a skillful, and artistic, manner. The watercolor and pen illustrations were all quite good. The handwritten text was also very well done, although my elderly eyes did appreciate a magnifying glass from time to time. I have a much fresher appreciation of the story. And I have a very warm appreciation of this lovely book.
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LibraryThing member sturlington
Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf, Fili and Kili, Bifur, Bofur, and all the other dwarves fought trolls, went to see the elves, got captured (many times). Bilbo was happy when he got home. I liked this because it was cool. My favorite character was Gandalf because he turned the trolls into stone. -- review
This is a review of the graphic novel version of the classic fantasy novel, which I have read a few times. I enjoyed reading this version out loud to my son and giving him his first taste of the great epic that begins with The Hobbit. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, and the story is faithfully retold, although perhaps a little long-winded for a comic. All in all, it is an excellent adaptation. -- addendum by mom
Read out loud to my 5-year-old son (2013).
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by Sean, age 5This is a review of the graphic novel version of the classic fantasy novel, which I have read a few times. I enjoyed reading this version out loud to my son and giving him his first taste of the great epic that begins with The Hobbit. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, and the story is faithfully retold, although perhaps a little long-winded for a comic. All in all, it is an excellent adaptation. -- addendum by mom
Read out loud to my 5-year-old son (2013).
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LibraryThing member mccandlessn
Good images, good story, far surpassed by the lord of the rings trilogy in both scope and language
LibraryThing member linsleo
I had this unread graphic novel on my shelf and decided that it was time to check out the graphic version of "The Hobbit". I was not disappointed. I recently finished reading "The Magical Worlds of The Lord of The Rings; The Amazing Myths, Legends, and Facts Behind The Masterpiece" by David Colbert
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and decided to go back to my shelves for another Tolkien read. Great illustrations and adaptation. Show Less
LibraryThing member Michael.Rimmer
A faithful rendition, though it naturally loses some of the richness of the book.
Wenzel's artwork is certainly proficient, and I enjoyed the look of his watercolour technique but (you knew there was a but coming!) I was less enamoured of his characterisations. Bilbo looked a little too homely -
Despite my grumbles, this is a worthwhile adaptation and an enjoyable read.
Wenzel's artwork is certainly proficient, and I enjoyed the look of his watercolour technique but (you knew there was a but coming!) I was less enamoured of his characterisations. Bilbo looked a little too homely -
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perhaps an indication of my own prejudice in regard to what a 'heroic protagonist' should look like - the elves not ethereal or other-worldly enough. Gandalf and the dwarves were very good, though, and the illustration of Smaug on page 101 is magnificent.Despite my grumbles, this is a worthwhile adaptation and an enjoyable read.
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LibraryThing member SESchend
Very very good adaptation of Tolkien's HOBBIT I finally took down from the shelves after 11 years. I wanted to reread the actual novel but didn't have time, so this was my fall-back. Good storytelling with great art by David Wenzel.
LibraryThing member ed.pendragon
I scarcely need to introduce the story of Bilbo Baggins, a halfling who is persuaded by a wizard and thirteen dwarfs to go on a long and dangerous journey to an isolated mountain, where treasure is guarded by a wicked dragon, and who finally returns home (as the subtitle proclaims).
First published
Each medium has its advantages and drawbacks and so the question to ask when confronted by David Wenzel's most famous work is, what does it add to the experience of Tolkien’s original saga?
First off, most of the original text is present, so you won't be small-changed there, or not by much. There is some adapting - tenses changed, reordering of sentences and phrases, a few excisions (some verses from the songs, for example) - but this is largely Tolkien's own words. Occasionally the text overloads the images, showing how difficult a compromise it is to remain faithful to the original in a medium in which the guiding principle is 'show, don't tell'.
Next, how enamoured one may be with the illustrations depends on characterisation and on the artwork itself. If you've accepted the image of Bilbo from the Peter Jackson films then you may be disconcerted by the appearance of Wenzel's Hobbit, middle-aged and with a Beatle haircut. (On the other hand, this may be closer to Tolkien's vision, who probably thought of Bilbo as a aspect of himself.)
Gandalf is hard to get wrong but the Rivendell elves are less fay and more medieval than the movie versions while the Mirkwood elves could be extras for a Robin Hood film. The dwarves (this is Tolkien's preferred spelling) are neither Disneyesque nor Jacksonesque, more like grumpy garden gnomes in Lapplander clothing, and Gollum is as you'd expect, bug-eyed and tricksy.
Wenzel goes for a pen-and-ink with colour wash approach, a style associated more with children's picture books (think Raymond Briggs) than with comics or graphic novels. The page layout is never the same twice, occasionally going for a full page illustration as with our first view of Smaug (more impressive than Tolkien’s painting, though clearly inspired by it).
So, what's the final verdict? Certainly this is an enjoyable way to envisage Bilbo's epic voyage to and return from Erebor, the Lonely Mountain, and once you get used to the finish misses little out in the retelling. When the text dominates the presentation too much that's to its disadvantage, but to my mind this is a more successful adaptation than, for example, that of the Ralph Bakshi fotonovel of The Lord of the Rings, however innovative the truncated animated film was.
First published
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in 1937, revised in 1951 and adapted for radio, animated and live action films, and for the stage, The Hobbit has been around in in its many guises for over 80 years now. As a graphic novel illustrated by David Wenzel it first began to be issued three decades ago, in 1989, and was reissued with revisions and thirty pages of new artwork in 2006.Each medium has its advantages and drawbacks and so the question to ask when confronted by David Wenzel's most famous work is, what does it add to the experience of Tolkien’s original saga?
First off, most of the original text is present, so you won't be small-changed there, or not by much. There is some adapting - tenses changed, reordering of sentences and phrases, a few excisions (some verses from the songs, for example) - but this is largely Tolkien's own words. Occasionally the text overloads the images, showing how difficult a compromise it is to remain faithful to the original in a medium in which the guiding principle is 'show, don't tell'.
Next, how enamoured one may be with the illustrations depends on characterisation and on the artwork itself. If you've accepted the image of Bilbo from the Peter Jackson films then you may be disconcerted by the appearance of Wenzel's Hobbit, middle-aged and with a Beatle haircut. (On the other hand, this may be closer to Tolkien's vision, who probably thought of Bilbo as a aspect of himself.)
Gandalf is hard to get wrong but the Rivendell elves are less fay and more medieval than the movie versions while the Mirkwood elves could be extras for a Robin Hood film. The dwarves (this is Tolkien's preferred spelling) are neither Disneyesque nor Jacksonesque, more like grumpy garden gnomes in Lapplander clothing, and Gollum is as you'd expect, bug-eyed and tricksy.
Wenzel goes for a pen-and-ink with colour wash approach, a style associated more with children's picture books (think Raymond Briggs) than with comics or graphic novels. The page layout is never the same twice, occasionally going for a full page illustration as with our first view of Smaug (more impressive than Tolkien’s painting, though clearly inspired by it).
So, what's the final verdict? Certainly this is an enjoyable way to envisage Bilbo's epic voyage to and return from Erebor, the Lonely Mountain, and once you get used to the finish misses little out in the retelling. When the text dominates the presentation too much that's to its disadvantage, but to my mind this is a more successful adaptation than, for example, that of the Ralph Bakshi fotonovel of The Lord of the Rings, however innovative the truncated animated film was.
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LibraryThing member Shahnareads
Love this.