My first full-length graphic novel! I read it cover-to-cover in less than a week. For some, this is probably not an achievement. For me, this was speedy given my work schedule and the fact that I usually read slow. I was addicted to the story & the graphics were great. Admittedly, I am a novice when it comes to graphic novels but this pleased me from beginning to end.

"Classical Comics" offer "Original text", "Plain text" & "Quick Text". The text type varies based on whether you want to read the original/unaltered format. Plain & quick use more modern language with fewer words. Quick has smaller bubbles allowing one to appreciate the artwork without the larger dialogue bubbles.

I read the "Original text". I feel no less the adult for reading the graphic version of a Shakespeare novel. Cliffs Notes may have been necessary had I read a different version. I came away feeling enriched & cultured. (I might still make use of Cliffs Notes just to make sure I am right about of couple things that took place in French.)

I would recommend this to anyone of any age. Enlightening & enjoyable. I hope to find more novel by "Classical Comics." ( )

Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

In this version of Classical Comic's HENRY V, adapted by John McDonald, you're dealing with the Original Text. By that I mean that you get the entire play, just as William Shakespeare wrote it. Classical Comics has also published two other versions: Plain Text, which takes the original script and converts it into modern English, and Quick Text, which reduces the dialogue into as few words as possible (as many graphic novels do).

Thanks to the wonderful artwork of many talented illustrators (Neill Cameron for pencils, Bambos for Inks, Jason Cardy & Kat Nicholson for Coloring, and Nigel Dobbyn for Lettering), the result is a colorful, heavy-duty, true-to-the-script version of one of Shakespeare's most recognized plays.

This is the perfect book to introduce reluctant teen readers to Shakespeare. Whether they read it for fun or for a class, they're getting the original play, act by act, and they get it in a convenient, reader-friendly way. In this day of graphic novels, it's important to remember the classics, and HENRY V doesn't disappoint.

The additional information at the end of the story, including a short biography of William Shakespeare and one of Henry V, a detailed description of the Battle of Agincourt, and even a guide to the creation of the graphic novel's pages, only add to the value.

If you're looking for a well-made and instructional graphic novel based on HENRY V, look no further than this edition. ( )

Using the graphic novel format, Classical Comics gives teacher and students (plus those of us who love good literature) a fun and interesting way to enjoy the works of Shakespeare.

You might say that this has been done before and I agree it has been tried for all sorts of classics. But most of the time, they use abridged versions, dumbed down to fit on the page and leave more room for artwork. Not so Classical Comics. They give us not one version, but three. There is the unabridged version, best for the high school student or adult, the plain text version, which uses modern English to give us the gist of the Bard’s meaning, and the quick text version, which is a great way to introduce potential lovers of the classics, especially elementary age children.

I highly recommend reading Henry V as one of the greatest epics of all time, and I recommend these particular editions from Classical Comics as the best for understanding the plays, short of seeing it them performed live.

Full Review at Grasping for the Wind ( )