Classics Illustrated

Classics Illustrated were comic book adaptations from classic literature, a series that Russian-born Albert Lewis Kanter (1897-1973) began in 1941 for Elliot Publishing. Introduced under the heading Classic Comics, the series started October, 1941, with a 64-page adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers, followed by Ivanhoe and The Count of Monte Cristo. With the fourth issue, The Last of the Mohicans, Kanter began his own Gilberton Publications.

Related Topics:
Alexandre Dumas - The Three Musketeers - Ivanhoe - The Count of Monte Cristo - The Last of the Mohicans

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The first 12 issues had 64 pages, but wartime paper shortages forced Kanter to reduce each issue to 56 pages. In 1947, after the first 34 issues, Kanter changed the title from Classic Comics to Classics Illustrated, a logo with a high visibiity over the next 15 years because Kanter, unlike other comic book publishers, kept his titles in print, going back to press with occasional reprintings.

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In 1948, rising paper costs resulted in a reduction from 56 pages to 48 pages. In addition to the illustrated adaptations, the books featured biographical profiles, educational fillers and house ads (but no outside advertising). This 48-page format continued throughout the run.

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Between 1941 and 1962, sales totaled 200 million on Gilberton's Classics Illustrated adaptations of great works of literature, including Don Quixote, Frankenstein, Hamlet, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jane Eyre, Lord Jim, Macbeth, Moby Dick, Oliver Twist, The Red Badge of Courage, Silas Marner and A Tale of Two Cities. Kanter also began several spin-offs, including The World Around Us and the 77-issue Classics Illustrated Junior with fairy tales and folk tales for younger readers.

Related Topics:
Don Quixote - Frankenstein - Hamlet - The Hunchback of Notre Dame - Jane Eyre - Lord Jim - Macbeth - Moby Dick - Oliver Twist - The Red Badge of Courage - Silas Marner - A Tale of Two Cities

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Lou Cameron was the illustrator of War of the Worlds (#124, January 1955) and The Time Machine (#133, July 1956). Other artists who contributed to Classics Illustrated included Sid Check, Leonard B. Cole, Reed Crandall, George Evans, Graham Ingels, Henry C. Kiefer, Gray Morrow, Joe Orlando, Norman Nodel, Rudolph Palais, John Severin, Angelo Torres, Al Williamson and George Woodbridge.

Related Topics:
War of the Worlds - The Time Machine - Reed Crandall - George Evans - Graham Ingels - Gray Morrow - Joe Orlando - John Severin - Angelo Torres - Al Williamson - George Woodbridge

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Kanter's last new issue was Faust (#167, August 1962), and in 1967 he sold his company to publisher Patrick Frawley, who brought out two more issues but mainly concentrated on foreign sales. In 1990, First Comics partnered with Berkeley Publishing to acquire the rights and Classics Illustrated returned with new adaptations and a line-up of artists that included Gahan Wilson, Mike Ploog and Joe Staton. However, First's line lasted only a year.

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In 1997, Acclaim Books, the successor to Valiant Comics, began a series in digest format. In 2003, Toronto's Jack Lake Productions revived Classics Illustrated Junior with reprints from the original.

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