The Bottom Line
There have been several remakes of Andre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo over the years, and now animator Mahiro Maeda takes a shot at updating this classic story of betrayal and revenge. Maeda has set the tale in a space-traveling future, but other than a few sci-fi tweaks and anachronisms, Gankutsuou might as well have been set in 19th century Europe.
As if afraid to tinker too much with the original, Maeda sticks to Dumas' script, right down to their names and their preference for ascots and tailcoats. It's nicely done, but I can't help but wonder what could have been if he took a few more creative risks.
Pros
- A stylish retelling of Andre Dumas' classic tale of betrayal and revenge
- The Count's flashback sequences are especially detailed, dramatic and surreal
- Follows the original story fairly faithfully with a few sci-fi detours
Cons
- Other than some sci-fi torture, Gankutsuou looks about as futuristic as a Louis XIV chair
- Mahiro's sketchy, impressionistic art style takes some getting used to
- You'll need a scorecard to follow this vast cast and their tangled relationships
- Why does the Count have pointy ears like an evil elf?
Description
- Original Title: Gankutsuou (Japan)
- Author: Mahiro Maeda, Yura Arikawa, & GONZO
Artist: Mahiro Maeda - Publishers:
- Del Rey Manga (US)
- Kodansha (Japan)
- ISBN: 978-0345505200
- Cover Price: $10.95 US / $12.50 CANADA
- Age Rating:
OT – Older Teens, Age 16+
for mature themes, some violence and gore
More about content ratings. - Manga Genres:
- Seinen (Men's) Manga
- Action / Adventure
- Anime Tie-In
- Drama
- Fantasy
- Mystery / Suspense
- US Publication Date: November 2008
Japan Publication Date: December 2005 - Book Description: 224 pages, black and white illustrations
Guide Review - Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo Volume 1
While most teen readers think of classic literature as scholastic equivalent of castor oil ("...but it's good for you!"), the classics are often classic for a reason. Beneath the florid prose are some great stories that stand up to the test of time. Such is the case of The Count of Monte Cristo.
When it was first published, Andre Dumas' serialized novel of friendship betrayed and revenge served cold was considered to be pure entertainment, much as manga and anime is today. So perhaps it's fitting that animator Mahiro Maeda has adapted this tale in manga format to capture the imaginations of modern readers.
In order to give this story some visual sizzle, Mahiro set this version of Dumas' tale in the far off future, where spaceships are as common as 747s and the muggers carry rayguns. But other than a few nods to sci-fi technology like a Moebius-esque torture devices with zillions of tubes and wires, Gankutsuou might as well be set in a time-warped mélange of 19th and 20th century Europe.
The florid fashions and ornate interior decor? Late 1800's. The cars? Could pass for 1940's vintage. The festival? Might as well be modern day Rio or New Orleans. The elfin ears on the Count? Uh... 1970's Count Chocula? Mahiro has crafted an anachronistic mish-mash that works as long as readers don't think too hard about its contradictions. The rest of Gankutsuou plays it pretty straight with Dumas' story. If you've read the original, you won't be too surprised by this adaptation.
Mahiro's art is nice, but its storyboard sketchiness does take a bit to get used to. Many of the characters look very similar, which requires Mahiro to provide "name tags" for each character as they are introduced. Gankutsuou makes classic lit likeable, but I can't help but wonder what could have been if he attempted to do a more radical remix of this familiar tale.
