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Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey: Marvel Adaptations #1-5
Northanger Abbey
Lovingly adapted from Jane Austen's most humorous work, Marvel Comics is proud to present literature lover Catherine Morland's quest to be the leading lady of her own great romance. Can real life prove the equal of the Gothic novels she finds so enchanting? Can Catherine find true love amid the fictions of others and her own wild imagination? And what dread secrets lie in wait in Northanger Abbey itself?
Award-winning author Nancy Butler continues her quest to reinvent Jane Austen's Regency world in the Mighty Marvel Manner. With exquisite illustrations from Janet Lee, 19th-century England comes alive like never before. Discover - along with Catherine Moreland - that while truth may not be stranger than fiction, it can be no less surprising!
Collecting NORTHANGER ABBEY #1-5.
Award-winning author Nancy Butler continues her quest to reinvent Jane Austen's Regency world in the Mighty Marvel Manner. With exquisite illustrations from Janet Lee, 19th-century England comes alive like never before. Discover - along with Catherine Moreland - that while truth may not be stranger than fiction, it can be no less surprising!
Collecting NORTHANGER ABBEY #1-5.
112 pages, Paperback
First published November 9, 2011
11 people are currently reading
930 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Butler
63 books71 followersNancy Butler also writes under her real name, Nancy J. Hajeski.
Nancy Butler has been an Anglophile since she was nineteen, when she traveled to England to see Carnaby Street. (“I blame it on the Beatles!”) Her frequent visits to an American friend living in London have furnished her with enough inspiration to keep writing Regencies well into the new millennium.
Butler resides in northern New Jersey with two cats, Aja and Puck, surrounded by her collection of artwork, funky antiques, and books. When she manages to get away from her computer, she can usually be found riding her quarter horse mare, Ginger, through the scenic wilds of Bergen County.
Butler is the 1998 Golden Leaf Award winner for Best First Novel.
Nancy Butler has been an Anglophile since she was nineteen, when she traveled to England to see Carnaby Street. (“I blame it on the Beatles!”) Her frequent visits to an American friend living in London have furnished her with enough inspiration to keep writing Regencies well into the new millennium.
Butler resides in northern New Jersey with two cats, Aja and Puck, surrounded by her collection of artwork, funky antiques, and books. When she manages to get away from her computer, she can usually be found riding her quarter horse mare, Ginger, through the scenic wilds of Bergen County.
Butler is the 1998 Golden Leaf Award winner for Best First Novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
March 4, 2023
The story was well done but the inside illustrations are terrible (and aren't like the cover at all).
August 20, 2024
Not my usual jam other than the fact that it's Austen! I'm always up for Austen in any form.
If all the art inside the book had been in the same style as the cover, I would have loved it. But it wasn't and I didn't.
However, the actual story was well adapted. The aurhor kept a lot of Austen's language and stayed true to the essence of the story.
If all the art inside the book had been in the same style as the cover, I would have loved it. But it wasn't and I didn't.
However, the actual story was well adapted. The aurhor kept a lot of Austen's language and stayed true to the essence of the story.
February 28, 2019
This graphic novel is a lovely adaptation of Jane Austen's famous novel.
I'm a huge fan of Jane and I owe her a lot, like a lot a lot. She's the writer of my heart.
"Northanger Abbey" is one of the novels that I love the most. It's witty, ironic and it's a defense of novels in general.
This adaptation is very accurate. I loved how Janet Lee brought the characters to life: her illustrations are really amazing!
The style and genius of Jane Austen are here celebrated!
I'm a huge fan of Jane and I owe her a lot, like a lot a lot. She's the writer of my heart.
"Northanger Abbey" is one of the novels that I love the most. It's witty, ironic and it's a defense of novels in general.
This adaptation is very accurate. I loved how Janet Lee brought the characters to life: her illustrations are really amazing!
The style and genius of Jane Austen are here celebrated!
July 7, 2015
Jane Austen writes an endearing whimsical story about a young girl coming of age and her first encounters out in the world away from home. For a fun re-read of the tale, I picked up this graphic novel. The author and artist do a fantastic job of recapturing the original story.
The graphic novel follows the path of the original telling how young Catherine Morland journeyed to Bath with the Allens, a couple from the neighborhood for his health. There her adventure begins which leads to amusements, friendships, misunderstandings, and maybe love.
The storyline and dialogue are lively and interesting. It is an abbreviation of the original yet all the highlights are there giving the spirit and heart of the story. I loved the exact quotes.
The artistic renderings took a bit for me to get used to, but the artist had obviously paid attention to description so that the characters were easily known. Their expressions and movements were fun.
All in all, I had a good time reading this as a diverting way to enjoy a familiar and loved story.
The graphic novel follows the path of the original telling how young Catherine Morland journeyed to Bath with the Allens, a couple from the neighborhood for his health. There her adventure begins which leads to amusements, friendships, misunderstandings, and maybe love.
The storyline and dialogue are lively and interesting. It is an abbreviation of the original yet all the highlights are there giving the spirit and heart of the story. I loved the exact quotes.
The artistic renderings took a bit for me to get used to, but the artist had obviously paid attention to description so that the characters were easily known. Their expressions and movements were fun.
All in all, I had a good time reading this as a diverting way to enjoy a familiar and loved story.
June 9, 2017
Avevo questa graphic novel in casa da un po' ed ammetto che mi ero affezionata alle bellissime immagini di copertina e di quarta. La mia delusione è stata grande quando, aprendo il libro, ho trovato delle illustrazioni diverse. In generale non mi piace molto la pratica fumettistica di far disegnare copertine e storia da artisti diversi, ed in questo caso il contrasto tra i disegni di Julian Totino Tedesco (che si è occupato delle cinque copertine degli albi) e quelli di Janet Lee (che si è occupata della storia) è enorme.
Devo ammettere, però, che superato il disappunto iniziale ho cominciato ad apprezzare i disegni più spiritosi di Janet Lee, che ben si adattano alla storia fresca e simpatica di Catherine Morland e Henry Tilney.
La trama è fedele all'originale di Jane Austen. Come già in Orgoglio e pregiudizio, Nancy Butler ha adattato questo classico a volte mantenendo le stesse parole della scrittrice inglese. Jane Austen, però, è ineguagliabile, anche quando altri autori le si avvicinano con il massimo rispetto.
In questa graphic novel ho avuto l'impressione che, per necessità di sintesi, la trama avanzi un po' a scatti e gli eventi siano giustapposti in modo un po' noioso; cose che non avvengono nel romanzo originale, dove tutto fila liscio come in un meccanismo ben oliato. Infine, nonostante le citazioni di interi passaggi, ho avvertito la mancanza della brillante ironia austeniana.
Concludo dicendo che è stata lettura piacevole, che mi sento di consigliare più a chi già conosce l'originale e vuole magari tornare tra le sue pagine in modo diverso, meno a chi non ha ancora letto Northanger Abbey.
Devo ammettere, però, che superato il disappunto iniziale ho cominciato ad apprezzare i disegni più spiritosi di Janet Lee, che ben si adattano alla storia fresca e simpatica di Catherine Morland e Henry Tilney.
La trama è fedele all'originale di Jane Austen. Come già in Orgoglio e pregiudizio, Nancy Butler ha adattato questo classico a volte mantenendo le stesse parole della scrittrice inglese. Jane Austen, però, è ineguagliabile, anche quando altri autori le si avvicinano con il massimo rispetto.
In questa graphic novel ho avuto l'impressione che, per necessità di sintesi, la trama avanzi un po' a scatti e gli eventi siano giustapposti in modo un po' noioso; cose che non avvengono nel romanzo originale, dove tutto fila liscio come in un meccanismo ben oliato. Infine, nonostante le citazioni di interi passaggi, ho avvertito la mancanza della brillante ironia austeniana.
Concludo dicendo che è stata lettura piacevole, che mi sento di consigliare più a chi già conosce l'originale e vuole magari tornare tra le sue pagine in modo diverso, meno a chi non ha ancora letto Northanger Abbey.
March 4, 2015
This Graphic Novel was so cute. It was a wonderful way to re-read a beloved book, and see favorite characters a new way. Northanger Abbey is a great book to put in this format, be cause the characters and the plot are already kinda over the top so you can really play with it and make it fun. My only criticism is that I didn't like the drawing of John Thorpe. It just looked really weird.
This is a great read if you want to re-familiarize yourself with the story, but don't have time to read the whole book.
This is a great read if you want to re-familiarize yourself with the story, but don't have time to read the whole book.
August 27, 2016
love Austen and loved reading her in a new format. the art perfectly captured her wit and sarcasm and the characters were portrayed perfectly.
July 3, 2022
After reading Northanger Abbey a few months ago, I thought this graphic novel/comic would be great to read here in July for Jane Austen July. I was right! I really loved this a lot and it helped me remember a lot from the main novel as well as upped my overall enjoyment of Northanger Abbey quite a bit. Obviously not a word for word novel, but it captured the main points and events from the novel. HIGHLY recommend esp if you like the original. The artwork was cute and very well done.
It also made me like Henry Tilney more. ;) *swoon* I love a man who can make me laugh (such as the one I'm married to).
It also made me like Henry Tilney more. ;) *swoon* I love a man who can make me laugh (such as the one I'm married to).
November 28, 2018
It's Jane Austen and I adore her! A big plus to the gorgeous illustrations.
June 5, 2020
I've always kind of leaned toward Northanger Abbey being my favorite Jane Austen story but didn't even totally understand the story until I read the adaptor/ illustrator intro in this book. Northanger Abbey is a satire on the different people of the time as well as on the new popular gothic novel of the time. Which explains why I find the characters slightly ridiculous (all extreme examples of the people we normally see in these types of novels), and why the plot does a weird dip into the supernatural and creepy.
This is a great graphic adaptation of it! I read this a long time ago and couldn't remember the whole story, but as I was reading this, reading the original came flooding back to me.
Great to use as an intro to Jane Austen, or a fun way to read an old favorite again.
This is a great graphic adaptation of it! I read this a long time ago and couldn't remember the whole story, but as I was reading this, reading the original came flooding back to me.
Great to use as an intro to Jane Austen, or a fun way to read an old favorite again.
January 5, 2020
I have a confession, I've never actually read Northanger Abbey - yet. I've seen the Felicity Jones and JJ Field's adaptation, which I enjoyed and inspired me to finally read NA! I thought this was an excellent introduction to the original, and that Catherine is a likeable heroine (even if she causes second hand embarrassment)!
For the art, the covers were stunning, and the main art was good, but not the same. I am not sure if it's suppose to be or if that's a diversion from most standard graphic novels.
I have now read all four of Nancy Butler's graphic novels, and now I'm sad there's no Persuasion nor Mansfield Park!
For the art, the covers were stunning, and the main art was good, but not the same. I am not sure if it's suppose to be or if that's a diversion from most standard graphic novels.
I have now read all four of Nancy Butler's graphic novels, and now I'm sad there's no Persuasion nor Mansfield Park!
February 2, 2014
So I loved the cover and back cover art in this, which is ultimately why I took it out of the library, but wow the art on the inside shows little to no care. It comes across awkward and sloppy and it breaks my heart because Northanger Abbey is a great story that just doesn't get enough love. Really disappointed with this. At least the story was the same and the characters were still good? Seriously Marvel, give some of these classics a better treatment.
July 10, 2016
Rating: 3.5
I wanted to love this book, I really did, but OMG I hate to say this, but I didn't like the book. Maybe it was the graphics because I had a hard time following what was happening and the writing as so small I had to use my magnifying glass to read most of it. I'm going to try another version and hope it helps because I do really want to love this story.
I wanted to love this book, I really did, but OMG I hate to say this, but I didn't like the book. Maybe it was the graphics because I had a hard time following what was happening and the writing as so small I had to use my magnifying glass to read most of it. I'm going to try another version and hope it helps because I do really want to love this story.
August 2, 2013
3.5
I was obviously not expecting the graphic novel to be as good as the book, but I was disappointed with how badly much of the humor translated (or didn't translate, I should say) in the graphic novel.
I liked it, but was hoping for more.
I was obviously not expecting the graphic novel to be as good as the book, but I was disappointed with how badly much of the humor translated (or didn't translate, I should say) in the graphic novel.
I liked it, but was hoping for more.
January 1, 2018
Very faithful to the book but I did not particularly enjoy the art style at all...the comic covers were beautiful but misleading since the actual art of the comic is extremely different and somewhat poor. The humor and charm of the original book also didn't transfer well to graphic novel format.
July 26, 2017
4.5 stars
November 2, 2017
It's a decent adaptation, but I don't care for the art.
January 20, 2022
Didn't vibe with the art style
March 18, 2021
This review is for the Marvel graphic novel adaptation, not the original novel.
I simply adore Northanger Abbey. Catherine Morland is a delightful little heroine and her friendships really shine here. As a satire of the Gothic novel, Northanger is just hilarious.
Nancy Butler has adapted the text quite closely from Austen's text. The original syntax and mannerisms of the language are preserved in speech bubbles and some letters. Naturally, much of the narration is lost, but that's where the art steps in. The coloring is fantastic. John Thorpe, in particular, is marvelously drawn. He looks just like the used car salesman he is. However, I was underwhelmed by the portrayal of Catherine. She looks nothing like the cover. While the artists captured her awkwardness, they aged her right out of 17 and into her late 20s. Nearly all Austen adaptations age the heroines, but it's especially bad for Catherine in Northanger, because her youth is what makes the story believable. I'm sure the artists were aware of Catherine's age, but they gave her features that read as older, and in a visual medium, that can overshadow the story.
The clothing is nothing special, but it does evoke the period, and there was some nice movement in the dresses. I appreciated that they took the care to keep the ladies' hair up and portray bonnets, so often neglected by films. The colors were bright and often deep, a lovely break from the pale earth tones that so many adaptations choose.
I'd recommend this to reluctant Austen readers, especially younger readers who are comfortable with graphic novels. No liberties were taken with the story itself. Butler carefully preserved Austen-esque vernacular, which is lovely. However, as a Northanger fan, I was disappointed. Failing to capture Catherine's youth really changed the story.
I simply adore Northanger Abbey. Catherine Morland is a delightful little heroine and her friendships really shine here. As a satire of the Gothic novel, Northanger is just hilarious.
Nancy Butler has adapted the text quite closely from Austen's text. The original syntax and mannerisms of the language are preserved in speech bubbles and some letters. Naturally, much of the narration is lost, but that's where the art steps in. The coloring is fantastic. John Thorpe, in particular, is marvelously drawn. He looks just like the used car salesman he is. However, I was underwhelmed by the portrayal of Catherine. She looks nothing like the cover. While the artists captured her awkwardness, they aged her right out of 17 and into her late 20s. Nearly all Austen adaptations age the heroines, but it's especially bad for Catherine in Northanger, because her youth is what makes the story believable. I'm sure the artists were aware of Catherine's age, but they gave her features that read as older, and in a visual medium, that can overshadow the story.
The clothing is nothing special, but it does evoke the period, and there was some nice movement in the dresses. I appreciated that they took the care to keep the ladies' hair up and portray bonnets, so often neglected by films. The colors were bright and often deep, a lovely break from the pale earth tones that so many adaptations choose.
I'd recommend this to reluctant Austen readers, especially younger readers who are comfortable with graphic novels. No liberties were taken with the story itself. Butler carefully preserved Austen-esque vernacular, which is lovely. However, as a Northanger fan, I was disappointed. Failing to capture Catherine's youth really changed the story.
September 11, 2021
I’ve found these Marvel adaptations of Jane Austen’s novels to be a really enjoyable way to tackle these great American classics, especially for reluctant readers of these thick, wordy tomes. Her romantic entanglements and comedies of manners ring out clear and in context, and can be enjoyed on their own; as a good preemptive Cliff-Note type study aid to read first before diving into the real thing; or if you just want to learn enough to run the Austen category on Jeopardy!
Northanger Abbey itself is very entertaining with characters like John Thorne, who will remind you of Biff from Back to the Future and Catherine, who loves spooky Gothic novels so much that she freaks herself out the first night she gets to sleepover in a castle.
Wonderful art, writing and pacing-I read it in one sitting. I think even English teachers would approve.
Northanger Abbey itself is very entertaining with characters like John Thorne, who will remind you of Biff from Back to the Future and Catherine, who loves spooky Gothic novels so much that she freaks herself out the first night she gets to sleepover in a castle.
Wonderful art, writing and pacing-I read it in one sitting. I think even English teachers would approve.
July 16, 2024
had to read this and one another adaptation for a comparative essay this shit SUCKED. like so badly 😭😭😭😭 and it’s not just because of the medium, the other one was beautiful (core themes of female friendship and gender hierarchy via The Novel in the 18th century lost for sure……. but whatever)
April 9, 2021
Excellent art to support a nice story.
July 26, 2022
I thought this was a good graphic novel, but some parts were a little long. ~ Lizzie 😀🎮
June 11, 2023
Fun take on a classic. Not my favorite, but an good rainy day read.
Read
December 6, 2025Deadass read this to prep for my exam. I regret nothing
May 22, 2018
Northanger Abbey is my favorite Jane Austen Novel, you would think that’s I would love this comic. Nope! When I saw the cover page I thought the art nice! However the art in the covers does not even match the poor art in the actual novel! The story itself is lovely but the art- gosh the art is so bad I couldn’t enjoy it! It was more exaggerated type art that took me away from enjoying the book. Honestly the art really kills the enjoyment as the style of it is more suited for satirical cartoons on newspapers than a Jane Austen novel.
April 28, 2021
Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. I wasn’t always wild about the art style, but I still really enjoyed this adaptation.
February 6, 2017
The story adaptation part was excellent.
I found the art inconsistent. The half page splits were very cool, where the scenes were cut like pie slices (sorry - I can't think of the word for it). Mr. Thorpe was very well done. Then, other times, the art was so crowded that I couldn't tell what was going on, and it was hard to tell the details or get any sense of context or reaction.
The narrative parts of the story were impossible for me to read without a magnifying glass. I'd get a headache whenever I'd try to read them, which was frustrating. The tiny font with the italics was really tough on my eyesight.
Honestly, this should have been a longer book, about another 15-20 pages. That way, each of the individual slides could have been a little bigger, letting the fonts be bigger. There was too much done in such a tiny space.
I found the art inconsistent. The half page splits were very cool, where the scenes were cut like pie slices (sorry - I can't think of the word for it). Mr. Thorpe was very well done. Then, other times, the art was so crowded that I couldn't tell what was going on, and it was hard to tell the details or get any sense of context or reaction.
The narrative parts of the story were impossible for me to read without a magnifying glass. I'd get a headache whenever I'd try to read them, which was frustrating. The tiny font with the italics was really tough on my eyesight.
Honestly, this should have been a longer book, about another 15-20 pages. That way, each of the individual slides could have been a little bigger, letting the fonts be bigger. There was too much done in such a tiny space.
March 5, 2021
La storia è piuttosto fedele all'originale di Jane Austen e i disegni di Janet Lee sono più gradevoli rispetto a quelli di Hugo Petrus (Pride and Prejudice). Inoltre i colori più forti mi sono piaciuti molto di più rispetto a quelli acquarellati di Emma (sempre di Janet Lee), ma troppo approssimativi, tanto che fino a metà fumetto non ho avuto ben chiara l'idea dell'immagine di Henry Tilney, che pure è il protagonista!
Bella la rappresentazione architettonica di Bath.
Fonte di risate incontenibili il ciuffo del generale Tilney...
Bella la rappresentazione architettonica di Bath.
Fonte di risate incontenibili il ciuffo del generale Tilney...
January 19, 2015
It is a very nice idea to tell the story of "Northanger Abbey" as a graphic novel! What is missing, though, is the gothic-feeling and a bit of romantic. It is very weird because the cover tells you, that this is what you get. But it is a different illustrator than the one who did the pictures inside. It's a pity.The one who did the cover should have done everything else as well. It would have been a better fit to the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews