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Doktor Jekyll & Mister Hyde
At last, the return of one of the most influential comic artists of the last two decades! Mattotti (Fires), along with long-time collaborator Kramsky, creates a spectacular adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson classic of horror, emphasizing it as a psychological thriller. At the height of his career, Dr. Jekyll pursues research on the duality of the soul. Secretly, he perfects a serum which he experiments with upon himself. Thus is he able to scientifically recreate the duality of the soul and bring to life, through extreme pain, the abominable Mr. Hyde. Powerless in front of the crimes committed by his alter ego, will Jekyll end up losing control of his destiny?
64 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
2 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
Lorenzo Mattotti
116 books90 followersLorenzo Mattotti is an Italian comics and graphic artist living in Paris. A frequent contributor of covers for The New Yorker, he's recognized as one of the most outstanding international exponents of comics art. Mattotti won an Eisner Award for his graphic novel Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. He collaborated with Lou Reed in re-imaging Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 31, 2021
Как будто Дали и Пикассо в далеких 1920-х в Париже как-то ночью напились, разболтались о природе добра и зла в человеке, и решили на хмельную голову нарисовать свой вариант произведения Стивенсона.
Получился ожидаемо визуальный оргазм, от которого, тем не менее, в силу описываемых в книге событий становится дурно и страшно уже на первой странице.
Визуализация преступлений Хайда, да и сама прорисовка персонажа - это то, чего первоисточнику, имхо, не хватало. У Стивенсона мы только слышим, что Хайд плохой и грубый, и выглядит как-то отталкивающе, и убил кого-то. У Маттотти же мы видим бордели, сцены насилия и жестокости, чувствуем, до чего Хайд - неуправляемая и абсолютно злая сила.
И наверное именно тут, а не в книге Стивенсона, особенно ясно начинаешь понимать, что на самом деле у этой истории нет жертв и протагонистов: что Хайд, что Джекидд - социопаты без толики совести. Просто одному по барабану на последствия своих действий, а второй - ссыкло.
P. S. Я веду канал на Youtube о литературе Reading Mary. Если вам понравились мои рассуждения - заходите в гости, у меня их там еще много таких. Также гарантирую интересные темы, книжные обзоры, топы и щепотку Гарри Поттера :)
Получился ожидаемо визуальный оргазм, от которого, тем не менее, в силу описываемых в книге событий становится дурно и страшно уже на первой странице.
Визуализация преступлений Хайда, да и сама прорисовка персонажа - это то, чего первоисточнику, имхо, не хватало. У Стивенсона мы только слышим, что Хайд плохой и грубый, и выглядит как-то отталкивающе, и убил кого-то. У Маттотти же мы видим бордели, сцены насилия и жестокости, чувствуем, до чего Хайд - неуправляемая и абсолютно злая сила.
И наверное именно тут, а не в книге Стивенсона, особенно ясно начинаешь понимать, что на самом деле у этой истории нет жертв и протагонистов: что Хайд, что Джекидд - социопаты без толики совести. Просто одному по барабану на последствия своих действий, а второй - ссыкло.
P. S. Я веду канал на Youtube о литературе Reading Mary. Если вам понравились мои рассуждения - заходите в гости, у меня их там еще много таких. Также гарантирую интересные темы, книжные обзоры, топы и щепотку Гарри Поттера :)
July 16, 2017
Very short and interesting to read. You can do it in one sitting.
Although the story is well known, the authors were able to make it kinda new to me. Very poetic and deep quotes and the art was unique with some really gruesome scenes. The grotesque technique made them even more violent and creepy than they already were.
Very good quick read.
Although the story is well known, the authors were able to make it kinda new to me. Very poetic and deep quotes and the art was unique with some really gruesome scenes. The grotesque technique made them even more violent and creepy than they already were.
Very good quick read.
October 31, 2024
"I feel nothing but horror..."
"...horror towards those links of community..."
"...with that kind of animal..."
The opening pages to Lorenzo Mattotti's and Jerry Kramsy's adaptation of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde spells out their intent to dig deep on the inner psychology of man's duality as they combat compassion and cruelty at once.
An comic adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's novella wouldn't necessarily be an easy task, no less to do so within the sixty-odd pages in this adaptation. Mattotti collaborates with Kramsy yet again (following previous comics like Fires and Murmur ) to deliver a slim downed graphic novel version of the original tale. Gone is the central narration from Gabriel John Utterson, a lawyer and close friends with Dr. Henry Jekyll, who makes the major observations that drive the story. Recognizing that the mystery behind Jekyll and Hyde is well known to readers, Mattotti and Kramsy forgo the concept of a slow reveal and instead get to the meat of the matter. This adaptation is much more tailored towards social and psychological analysis of the characters of Jekyll and Hyde.
That isn't to say that the creative team is willing to spell out the climax of the original story too quickly. Hyde is depicted as a monstrous, hulking shadow, silhouetted over the people he victimizes, and this serves to compound the idea of him being a dark reflection of humanity itself. Jekyll, in contrast, is presented with a rather mundane gaze, respectable in the communal eye and highly analytical. The ripple underneath though is apparent quickly, as those who disagree with his findings soon discover the snarling shadow that lies beneath. A credit to Mattotti for managing the expressiveness of the characters despite using his unique abstract and contorted forms for each character.
As with previous works, Mattotti shows once again that he's an artist who just happens to make comics. Engaging in his trademarked writhing expressionism and bold colors, the story here takes on a beautifully moody and gothic undertone throughout. Fluid lines and thick pastels craft an almost intoxicating new type of abstraction, one that is both clear to the viewer but also perplexing at times. The setting doesn't quite feel like the Victorian-era setting of the original story, but rather has more brutalist architecture to compound the heaviness of the narrative. It's a noticeable update to Stevenson's story, but not one that I really minded. The colors here aren't nearly as lush as it was in Fires, with reds and browns favored predominantly, but the choices worked for me.
Not entirely faithful to the original, but resonant enough thematically to say that Mattotti and Kramsy got the major concepts nailed down nearly perfectly. In any case, Mattotti's take on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is worth taking in for Mattotti's artwork alone.
"...horror towards those links of community..."
"...with that kind of animal..."
The opening pages to Lorenzo Mattotti's and Jerry Kramsy's adaptation of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde spells out their intent to dig deep on the inner psychology of man's duality as they combat compassion and cruelty at once.
An comic adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's novella wouldn't necessarily be an easy task, no less to do so within the sixty-odd pages in this adaptation. Mattotti collaborates with Kramsy yet again (following previous comics like Fires and Murmur ) to deliver a slim downed graphic novel version of the original tale. Gone is the central narration from Gabriel John Utterson, a lawyer and close friends with Dr. Henry Jekyll, who makes the major observations that drive the story. Recognizing that the mystery behind Jekyll and Hyde is well known to readers, Mattotti and Kramsy forgo the concept of a slow reveal and instead get to the meat of the matter. This adaptation is much more tailored towards social and psychological analysis of the characters of Jekyll and Hyde.
That isn't to say that the creative team is willing to spell out the climax of the original story too quickly. Hyde is depicted as a monstrous, hulking shadow, silhouetted over the people he victimizes, and this serves to compound the idea of him being a dark reflection of humanity itself. Jekyll, in contrast, is presented with a rather mundane gaze, respectable in the communal eye and highly analytical. The ripple underneath though is apparent quickly, as those who disagree with his findings soon discover the snarling shadow that lies beneath. A credit to Mattotti for managing the expressiveness of the characters despite using his unique abstract and contorted forms for each character.
As with previous works, Mattotti shows once again that he's an artist who just happens to make comics. Engaging in his trademarked writhing expressionism and bold colors, the story here takes on a beautifully moody and gothic undertone throughout. Fluid lines and thick pastels craft an almost intoxicating new type of abstraction, one that is both clear to the viewer but also perplexing at times. The setting doesn't quite feel like the Victorian-era setting of the original story, but rather has more brutalist architecture to compound the heaviness of the narrative. It's a noticeable update to Stevenson's story, but not one that I really minded. The colors here aren't nearly as lush as it was in Fires, with reds and browns favored predominantly, but the choices worked for me.
Not entirely faithful to the original, but resonant enough thematically to say that Mattotti and Kramsy got the major concepts nailed down nearly perfectly. In any case, Mattotti's take on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is worth taking in for Mattotti's artwork alone.
June 11, 2016
3.5 stars.
I've never actually read the original story but I enjoyed this version. The illustrations were DOPE.
(By the way, reading short books makes me believe that I can actually accomplish this year's reading challenge. Let's see how it goes.)
I've never actually read the original story but I enjoyed this version. The illustrations were DOPE.
(By the way, reading short books makes me believe that I can actually accomplish this year's reading challenge. Let's see how it goes.)
May 30, 2022
I haven't read the original book so I'm not sure whether or not many of the strengths come from Stevenson, but this is one of the best comic adaptations ever. Mattotti's art is surreal and horrifying, and he's clearly trying and succeeding to evoke Francis Bacon. He takes this story and gives it rough, sharp, painful fangs. You can feel the danger every time Hyde comes out to play, and the incredible sadness when Jekyll sobers up. Mattotti is one of the best artists who has ever touched the comics medium.
December 4, 2020
Как будто изменение сюжета глубины не добавило. Наоборот, все стало поплоще и попроще - ну никак, никак не решить проблему проклятой раздвоенности без порочной женщины. Ровно как и свести Зло к разнообразному физическому насилию - понятное для комикса, но очень уж простенькое решение. И конец какой-то смазанный.
А визуально - скорее, понравилось. Хотя так и тянет обывательски сказать, что очень уж все противные, хочется симпатии хотя бы к Аттерсону или там Пулу, но и у тех физиономии свинячьи.
А визуально - скорее, понравилось. Хотя так и тянет обывательски сказать, что очень уж все противные, хочется симпатии хотя бы к Аттерсону или там Пулу, но и у тех физиономии свинячьи.
May 5, 2009
This is a beautiful take on Stevenson's story, with exquisitely disturbing visual style. While the plot adaptation is I think based on dramatic or film versions more than the original text (i.e. there's a woman involved in the downfall), the narrative is concise, and Jekyll's journals have a great literary detachment from the vivid, horrific imagery of the graphics. It all feels very German with the expressionist colors and the proto-cubist-ness, like the story is taking place in the seedy cabarets of Weimar Berlin instead of London, and it fits perfectly. I particularly liked the first transformation sequence where everything goes sort of Dali-esque surreal and creepy. I'll definitely be looking for more work by these artists.
May 22, 2022
Second Printing
Kramsky angled the story in ways that made things confusing for me even though I've actually read the prose. (Listened to it while stocking shelves in the middle of the night, that is!)
The art is the only reason that it got **** total.
Kramsky angled the story in ways that made things confusing for me even though I've actually read the prose. (Listened to it while stocking shelves in the middle of the night, that is!)
The art is the only reason that it got **** total.
April 16, 2025
Z perspektywy czasu ocenił bym tę książkę niżej (3,5), ponieważ dostałem spoiler, ale nadal uważam, że książka warta przeczytania, a tajemniczy klimat jest dobrze zrealizowany.
July 27, 2018
An exceptional and certainly painstakingly-difficult-to-produce art style are far from the only things that make this graphic novel an exciting and unique experience to go through. Lorenzo Mattotti and Jerry Kramsky master the directness and shortness of the text that combines in blissful harmony with the distinct and ever enjoyable caricatures of Mattotti to create every panel an engaging and otherworldly masterpiece. Stevenson’s original novel does indeed seem to be a fantastic basis for the narrative of a comic book, and it is executed with perfection. It is only natural for any lover or reader of Stevenson’s writing to look into this book; a brief looking-through the dialogue and pictures may take less than hour, but a deep admiration of the often amorphous and surrealist and colourful illustrations certainly can take several. RLS’s original cast of characters is modified in the slightest bits here and there, but they take up effective roles and add spectacularly to the visual narrative of the novel. Explicitness and truly graphic depictions of scenes original and added-on help create an image of Mr Hyde’s malice and evilness that may not necessarily be satisfactorily conveyed in the book, but that is made to come out in full colour and solemnity and eroticism here. Certainly, I am left yearning for some more Mattotti.
June 21, 2025
Una straordinaria rilettura grafica del capolavoro di Robert Louis Stevenson, "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde", firmata da Lorenzo Mattotti (con testi adattati da Jerry Kramsky). Questo volume riesce in un’impresa rara: restituire intatta la potenza del testo originale attraverso una forma visiva profondamente autoriale.
I dialoghi e le atmosfere sono fedelmente tratti dal romanzo, ma è l’inconfondibile tratto di Mattotti – denso, vorticoso, espressionista – a imprimere nuova vita alla vicenda. Le sue tavole, più pittoriche che fumettistiche, sembrano emergere direttamente dagli abissi della coscienza di Jekyll, amplificando la tensione psicologica e la drammaticità della trasformazione in Hyde.
Mattotti, artista prestato al fumetto, dimostra come la graphic novel possa farsi vera arte. Il suo stile visionario si sposa perfettamente con l’oscurità dell’animo umano che Stevenson aveva così acutamente indagato. Una lettura consigliatissima, soprattutto per chi ama le contaminazioni tra letteratura e arti visive.
I dialoghi e le atmosfere sono fedelmente tratti dal romanzo, ma è l’inconfondibile tratto di Mattotti – denso, vorticoso, espressionista – a imprimere nuova vita alla vicenda. Le sue tavole, più pittoriche che fumettistiche, sembrano emergere direttamente dagli abissi della coscienza di Jekyll, amplificando la tensione psicologica e la drammaticità della trasformazione in Hyde.
Mattotti, artista prestato al fumetto, dimostra come la graphic novel possa farsi vera arte. Il suo stile visionario si sposa perfettamente con l’oscurità dell’animo umano che Stevenson aveva così acutamente indagato. Una lettura consigliatissima, soprattutto per chi ama le contaminazioni tra letteratura e arti visive.
October 25, 2021
Пока только открываю для себя мир комиксов и выбираю нетипичные супергеройские, а что-то более интересное. Одним из таких стал комикс-адаптация известного всеми романа "История Джекила и Хайда". Текст адаптировал Джерри Крамски, а иллюстрации нарисовал Лоренцо Матотти. Если вы не читали первоисточник, то все же я рекомендую сперва ознакомиться с ним, так как история в этом комиксе сжата. Объем страниц маленький и на прочтение не много времени.
Мне безумно понравились иллюстрации, на каждой задерживалась, рассматривала. Они необычные, интересные и даже несколько абстрактные. Рисовка стильная и качественная. Сама же история погружает в пучину тьмы и бесчеловечности. Хайд жесток, а доктор Джекил труслив. Он не способен признаться самому себе в том, что оба они являются одной личностью, тяготеющей к убийствам и разврату.
Искренне рекомендую уделить пол часа времени этому произведению искусства.
Мне безумно понравились иллюстрации, на каждой задерживалась, рассматривала. Они необычные, интересные и даже несколько абстрактные. Рисовка стильная и качественная. Сама же история погружает в пучину тьмы и бесчеловечности. Хайд жесток, а доктор Джекил труслив. Он не способен признаться самому себе в том, что оба они являются одной личностью, тяготеющей к убийствам и разврату.
Искренне рекомендую уделить пол часа времени этому произведению искусства.
February 1, 2021
I liked how they tried modernized the dialogue and weren’t afraid to abandon the original text. However it’s the illustrations are the standout which are a cross between Francis Bacon and German Expressionism (!)
February 23, 2018
the art makes this as great as the novel !!!!!
March 7, 2024
Trög som fan! Plot twisten??? Vet inte vad jag tycker…
+ Oväntad plot twist, så de va väl lite kul kanske????
- Gammalt språk så blir trög, inte så spännande bara? Tråkig enligt mig
+ Oväntad plot twist, så de va väl lite kul kanske????
- Gammalt språk så blir trög, inte så spännande bara? Tråkig enligt mig
April 14, 2018
Gostei do texto deste livro e da construção da história, mas penso que os desenhos, ainda que alguns sejam grotescos, como a própria história exige, não se adequam de todo. Penso que a razão principal é o facto de a paleta de cores escolhida tenha sido quente (vermelhos, laranjas, amarelos), o que festoa muito da cor "negra" do que se pretende narrar.
Não foi a melhor BD que li nos últimos tempos e penso que não irei guardar grandes memórias dela no futuro. E é pena...
Não foi a melhor BD que li nos últimos tempos e penso que não irei guardar grandes memórias dela no futuro. E é pena...
August 20, 2012
Безумна історія, намальована, здається, зсередини безуму, надзвичайно пластично і живо. Матотті не шкодує свого читача-глядача: тут є секс, насильство і непідробний жах.
Як це буває з історіями, новий переказ дає можливість наново розмітити акценти. Крім того, і зовнішні контексти (те, з чим ми для себе співвідносимо читання) розширюються. Тепер, гортаючи сторінки, де жваво й по-експресіоністськи енергійно розповідають історію про перевтілення, можна думати не тільки про комплекси і потаємні бажання (які суспільство давно оприявнило і унаочнило всіма доступними засобами).
Доктор Джекіл, виявляючи тваринну складову своєї людськості, зрештою, помирає. Лікар-наркоман у Булгакова страждає від своєї залежності. А от постмодерна версія контроверсійного ескулапа і нонконформіста за сумісництвом може (подейкують) хіба що імітувати власну смерть, залишаючись живою поп-іконою.
Словом, хороший комікс не для дітей.
Якщо вас цікавлять графічні історії, обов'язково перегляньте.
Як це буває з історіями, новий переказ дає можливість наново розмітити акценти. Крім того, і зовнішні контексти (те, з чим ми для себе співвідносимо читання) розширюються. Тепер, гортаючи сторінки, де жваво й по-експресіоністськи енергійно розповідають історію про перевтілення, можна думати не тільки про комплекси і потаємні бажання (які суспільство давно оприявнило і унаочнило всіма доступними засобами).
Доктор Джекіл, виявляючи тваринну складову своєї людськості, зрештою, помирає. Лікар-наркоман у Булгакова страждає від своєї залежності. А от постмодерна версія контроверсійного ескулапа і нонконформіста за сумісництвом може (подейкують) хіба що імітувати власну смерть, залишаючись живою поп-іконою.
Словом, хороший комікс не для дітей.
Якщо вас цікавлять графічні історії, обов'язково перегляньте.
August 22, 2011
This was, not surprisingly, weird and disturbing. The art is alarming, which, I suppose, is appropriate. But I didn't feel like the art told enough of the story. The book was pretty reliant on the original text (and lots and lots of words), without delving deeper with the images. Still, an interesting take on the classic tale.
May 24, 2014
A graphic novel that tells a story where Dr Jekyll drinks a mysterious concoction that transforms him into a beast that is really the dark side of Dr Jekyll, Mr Hyde. The book is filled with pictures that are very rich in colour but they would sometimes distract me from the dialogue boxes. There are some parts that are not for those that dislike seeing slightly gory scenes.
February 25, 2013
preso in biblioteca
Il sempre ottimo tratto di Mattotti e una delle storie che amo di più.
E allora perchè solo 3 stelline? Proprio per gli stessi motivi: mi aspettavo ancora di più!
Il difetto maggiore: il solito problema del rapporto pagine-prezzo dell'Einaudi.
Il sempre ottimo tratto di Mattotti e una delle storie che amo di più.
E allora perchè solo 3 stelline? Proprio per gli stessi motivi: mi aspettavo ancora di più!
Il difetto maggiore: il solito problema del rapporto pagine-prezzo dell'Einaudi.
January 8, 2008
Fun, quick adaptation of the novel. Art is vibrant, vaguely cubist, and appropriately disturbing.
December 30, 2016
Tomo 35 de Clásicos de la Literatura en Comics. J&H según Mattotti.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews