By Herman MelvilleClassics Illustrated, which actually began life as Classic Comics, was a comic book series that took classic literary works – such as, and – and adapted the storylines into comic panels ideal for young readers.The series was the brain child of Albert Kanter, a Russian-born publisher who oversaw the series from its first issue in 1941 until it was finally retired in 1971. The stable of artists working on the comics included, and.Kanter’s first issue of Classic Comics was a telling of Alexander Dumas’ classic tale of the musketeers but he swiftly adapted novels by Rudyard Kipling, Robert Louis Stevenson, Walter Scott, Victor Hugo, Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins. His simple goal was to introduce young readers to great books. We will never know how many youngsters who read Classic Comics and Classics Illustrated are now confirmed bibliophiles with homes full of literature, but we suspect the figure is high.The comics were instantly recognizable for their gaudy, but entertaining line-drawn covers. They were cheap and popular.
Find the value of the First comic Classics Illustrated volume 1. What is your Classics Illustrated comic book worth?
Today these comics are ideal for collectors keen on revisiting their childhood or interested in a special slice of popular culture stretching across 30 years.