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Marvel Illustrated: The Last of the Mohicans #1-6
Last of the Mohicans
The very first Marvel Illustrated story, The House of Ideas' new foray into classic literature, featuring an adaptation of James Fennimore Cooper's renowned novel Last of the Mohicans tells the seminal story of a race on the brink of disappearance due to the inexorable push of civilization into the wilderness of the New World. It's a tale that will touch readers of every age with both its timeless realization of an important historical period-and with its powerful action and adventure This isn't your father's classic comics Adapted by writer Roy Thomas, who's a Marvel classic himself (Avengers, X-Men, Conan) with stunning art by Marvel newcomer Steve Kurth. Collects Marvel Illustrated: Last of the Mohicans #1-6.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published March 26, 2008
About the author
Roy Thomas
4,596 books280 followersRoy Thomas was the FIRST Editor-in-Chief at Marvel--After Stan Lee stepped down from the position. Roy is a longtime comic book writer and editor. Thomas has written comics for Archie, Charlton, DC, Heroic Publishing, Marvel, and Topps over the years. Thomas currently edits the fanzine Alter Ego for Twomorrow's Publishing. He was Editor for Marvel comics from 1972-1974. He wrote for several titles at Marvel, such as Avengers, Thor, Invaders, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and notably Conan the Barbarian. Thomas is also known for his championing of Golden Age comic-book heroes — particularly the 1940s superhero team the Justice Society of America — and for lengthy writing stints on Marvel's X-Men and Avengers, and DC Comics' All-Star Squadron, among other titles.
Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.
Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.
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August 20, 2025I picked this up from the library on a whim. The 1992 film adaptation is one of my all-time favourite movies and also that very rare kind of cinematic adaptation that diverges significantly from the source material in a way that (in my opinion) vastly improves upon it (also the single best on-screen chemistry of all times). So I do have that pro-movie bias, but I did read the novel long before I saw the film. However, my earliest exposure to James Fenimore Cooper's works was when I read the Leatherstocking tales in a huge collected edition of a comic book adaptation as a child. I remember being very taken with them (I had a long "frontier stories" obsession as a kid), so in a way picking up this graphic novel brought me full circle.
That being said, I'm not going to rate it because the original (Roy Thomas kept much of Cooper's language) just doesn't land that well these days. So much stereotyping and preaching, so much racism, so little agency for the female characters, so little nuance to any of the characterisation - it's a little hard to swallow now. The art was all right; the landscapes were lovely but I didn't love the way Cora and Alice were drawn (it very much came across as "one generically attractive female template fits all, just colour differently"), and Hawkeye looked like a hobo. The best parts were those focused on Hawkeye and Chingachgook's friendship, I think.
Nice for personal nostalgia's sake but probably would not recommend.
That being said, I'm not going to rate it because the original (Roy Thomas kept much of Cooper's language) just doesn't land that well these days. So much stereotyping and preaching, so much racism, so little agency for the female characters, so little nuance to any of the characterisation - it's a little hard to swallow now. The art was all right; the landscapes were lovely but I didn't love the way Cora and Alice were drawn (it very much came across as "one generically attractive female template fits all, just colour differently"), and Hawkeye looked like a hobo. The best parts were those focused on Hawkeye and Chingachgook's friendship, I think.
Nice for personal nostalgia's sake but probably would not recommend.
November 9, 2017
Roy Thomas decided to keep much of the same language used by James Fenimore Cooper for this graphic novel, which was an interesting decision. I think it was a great nod to the novel, and yet made for slow reading.
I didn’t really connect with The Deerslayer, and was at times even confused as to what was happening.
I appreciate the push by Marvel to illustrate these classics. While this one was a bit slow, I imagine it’s more succinct than the novel, so it may be easier to read.
I didn’t really connect with The Deerslayer, and was at times even confused as to what was happening.
I appreciate the push by Marvel to illustrate these classics. While this one was a bit slow, I imagine it’s more succinct than the novel, so it may be easier to read.
July 5, 2009
I picked up a graphic novel the other day of an American classic, James Fenimore Cooper's, The Last of the Mohicans. I haven't read the book for many years, but loved the movie with Daniel Day Louis. It's one of my favorites. The soundtrack is one of the best ever.
Anyway, the graphic novel was beautiful, with fabulous art. I really enjoyed how the adaptation tried to keep the flavor of the original book--with the archaic language and such. I can't remember the original book very well, so I can't discuss how true to the original story this was. There were huge differences between this work and the movie. No surprise there. I think the movie was actually better in some respects. The movie makers killed a lot more of the characters for one thing, and streamlined the plot, whereas this work is quite convoluted toward the end--which is more realistic. Hawkeye and Uncas were excellent characters and I enjoyed reading about them very much.
Overall, it was a quick and entertaining read, and I'd recommend it to those who are interested in reading a classic, but can't handle reading the actual book.
Happy Reading,
Paul Genesse
Author of The Dragon Hunters
www.paulgenesse.com
Anyway, the graphic novel was beautiful, with fabulous art. I really enjoyed how the adaptation tried to keep the flavor of the original book--with the archaic language and such. I can't remember the original book very well, so I can't discuss how true to the original story this was. There were huge differences between this work and the movie. No surprise there. I think the movie was actually better in some respects. The movie makers killed a lot more of the characters for one thing, and streamlined the plot, whereas this work is quite convoluted toward the end--which is more realistic. Hawkeye and Uncas were excellent characters and I enjoyed reading about them very much.
Overall, it was a quick and entertaining read, and I'd recommend it to those who are interested in reading a classic, but can't handle reading the actual book.
Happy Reading,
Paul Genesse
Author of The Dragon Hunters
www.paulgenesse.com
June 15, 2010
Very well done. I've read Last of The Mohicans several times and I was curious to see it illustrated. I wasn't disappointed. It is well worth a look as light reading or perhaps to introduce young readers to a classic. It was worth the money to me.
However, the story is neccesarily abieviated due to the nature of the medium. If someone wanted to get familiar with the broad strokes of the book I'd recommend they watch the Danial Day Lewis movie version rather than read this graphic novel. Either would take about two hours.
Bottom line, a movie or a graphic novel is not a substitute for the classic James Fenimore Cooper novel...but either may whet the appatite for more reading.
However, the story is neccesarily abieviated due to the nature of the medium. If someone wanted to get familiar with the broad strokes of the book I'd recommend they watch the Danial Day Lewis movie version rather than read this graphic novel. Either would take about two hours.
Bottom line, a movie or a graphic novel is not a substitute for the classic James Fenimore Cooper novel...but either may whet the appatite for more reading.
October 13, 2023
"[...] you don't expect a masterpiece from another era to read like one that was written yesterday; the essence of a classic is that it reads like nothing else." - Roy Thomas
"Last of the Mohicans", 2007, adapted by Roy Thomas, art by Steve Kurth (pencils), Cam Smith (inks), and June Chung
I've not read Fenimore Cooper so I can't compare the faithfulness of Roy Thomas' adaptation. Oddly, Cooper seems to keep a formula from one tale to the next, of a tragic romance, the budding secondary romance, the rescue mission of two sisters and a few colonists, etc. I can appreciate discussions between characters of redskins and pale skins, of ivory, bronze, olive, tawny, swarthy, dusky, and ebon descriptions when applied. I love the colors of God's people and am glad there are so many shades of the same skin. I can even get behind frank discussions of perceptions from one to the other and back. It's humbling for all to realize their unintentional prejudices to those they have not experienced before and to embrace their exposure to something new. With that, this tale had moments of clarity but also skewed moments that made either seem black-and-white that "pale skins" were civilized and struggling in the wilderness while "red skins" were savage panthers, warriors among the woods. Without taking away the obvious existence of different cultures, the coming together of them resulted for our world in more examples of Hawkeye than what we see here. I think we tend to find kinship in a loner who fits in with no side but the truth is, many detached from the crown and joined the wilderness, and many detached from tribal living and joined the colonies. It was interesting to see the racial prejudice of one tribe to another, showing how easy it was for the Indians to go to war against each other, to pick a pale-skin army to join in their own wars. I've heard criticisms of Cooper as writing about the lost indian myth because Europeans were the stronger race, but I get none of that here or from the reviews I have read of Cooper's actual tale. The Mohicans may be dying out but their are plenty of Indians throughout the span of the Leatherstocking Tales series that would put the lost indian narrative to rest. Alas, I go too far even for my own waxing. I enjoyed this historical setting and the adventure of five pale skins with three red skins, even with the tragic romance at hand. May Uncas and Cora live forever among God's great plains, or as the Delaware call Him, the Minotuak.
With Thomas' quote, I would agree that you can't modernize this tale so much that you lose the essence of the era. Cooper was closer to the events of the French and Indian War than a modern writer/reader, and our interpretations without study tend to create a skewed perception of what we expect life to have been like, of how we think people thought in regards to society, war, gender, ethnicity, etc.
Character reference:
-------------------------------------------------
"The Deerslayer", adapted by Roy Thomas, art by Denis Medri
A tale of Hawkeye's youth, how he became Hawkeye from the Deerslayer and also from his name of Natty Bumppo. Tom Hutter journeys across the Glimmerglass Lake Otsego, with his supposed daughters, Judith and Hetty. Knowing the Iroquois are seeking English scalps, "Hurry Harry" March comes to warn the Hutters while the young Deerslayer comes to meet up with Chingachgook. Ambushed by Iroquois, Tom and Hurry are abducted while Deerslayer slays his first redskin, resulting in the dying indian christening the Deerslayer as Hawkeye. The Deerslayer takes Chingachgook to make a trade with the Iroquois for Hurry and Tom, but covertly sneak away with Chingachgook's abducted love, Hist-oh-Hist, resulting in the Iroquois chasing after, mortally wounding Tom and abducting the Deerslayer. Cliffhanger reveals Tom's secret to the Hutter girls, and that the Deerslayer risks torture and death of the Hist-oh-Hist and Judith don't marry Iroquois men. I enjoyed Denis Medri's art a lot.
Character reference:
Mingoes character reference:
"Last of the Mohicans", 2007, adapted by Roy Thomas, art by Steve Kurth (pencils), Cam Smith (inks), and June Chung
I've not read Fenimore Cooper so I can't compare the faithfulness of Roy Thomas' adaptation. Oddly, Cooper seems to keep a formula from one tale to the next, of a tragic romance, the budding secondary romance, the rescue mission of two sisters and a few colonists, etc. I can appreciate discussions between characters of redskins and pale skins, of ivory, bronze, olive, tawny, swarthy, dusky, and ebon descriptions when applied. I love the colors of God's people and am glad there are so many shades of the same skin. I can even get behind frank discussions of perceptions from one to the other and back. It's humbling for all to realize their unintentional prejudices to those they have not experienced before and to embrace their exposure to something new. With that, this tale had moments of clarity but also skewed moments that made either seem black-and-white that "pale skins" were civilized and struggling in the wilderness while "red skins" were savage panthers, warriors among the woods. Without taking away the obvious existence of different cultures, the coming together of them resulted for our world in more examples of Hawkeye than what we see here. I think we tend to find kinship in a loner who fits in with no side but the truth is, many detached from the crown and joined the wilderness, and many detached from tribal living and joined the colonies. It was interesting to see the racial prejudice of one tribe to another, showing how easy it was for the Indians to go to war against each other, to pick a pale-skin army to join in their own wars. I've heard criticisms of Cooper as writing about the lost indian myth because Europeans were the stronger race, but I get none of that here or from the reviews I have read of Cooper's actual tale. The Mohicans may be dying out but their are plenty of Indians throughout the span of the Leatherstocking Tales series that would put the lost indian narrative to rest. Alas, I go too far even for my own waxing. I enjoyed this historical setting and the adventure of five pale skins with three red skins, even with the tragic romance at hand. May Uncas and Cora live forever among God's great plains, or as the Delaware call Him, the Minotuak.
With Thomas' quote, I would agree that you can't modernize this tale so much that you lose the essence of the era. Cooper was closer to the events of the French and Indian War than a modern writer/reader, and our interpretations without study tend to create a skewed perception of what we expect life to have been like, of how we think people thought in regards to society, war, gender, ethnicity, etc.
Character reference:
-------------------------------------------------
"The Deerslayer", adapted by Roy Thomas, art by Denis Medri
A tale of Hawkeye's youth, how he became Hawkeye from the Deerslayer and also from his name of Natty Bumppo. Tom Hutter journeys across the Glimmerglass Lake Otsego, with his supposed daughters, Judith and Hetty. Knowing the Iroquois are seeking English scalps, "Hurry Harry" March comes to warn the Hutters while the young Deerslayer comes to meet up with Chingachgook. Ambushed by Iroquois, Tom and Hurry are abducted while Deerslayer slays his first redskin, resulting in the dying indian christening the Deerslayer as Hawkeye. The Deerslayer takes Chingachgook to make a trade with the Iroquois for Hurry and Tom, but covertly sneak away with Chingachgook's abducted love, Hist-oh-Hist, resulting in the Iroquois chasing after, mortally wounding Tom and abducting the Deerslayer. Cliffhanger reveals Tom's secret to the Hutter girls, and that the Deerslayer risks torture and death of the Hist-oh-Hist and Judith don't marry Iroquois men. I enjoyed Denis Medri's art a lot.
Character reference:
Mingoes character reference:
November 8, 2025
I purchased this novel years ago thinking that I had to read it because it was a classic. I also started reading this book years ago and just now finished it...The lesson here being that one shouldn't read a work just because of its prestige or historical acclaim. I absolutely hated reading Last of the Mohicans. It was a ball and chain which prevented me from starting other more preferable fiction. Why?
I would feel guilty putting down a book and not finishing it. I should've went with the guilt. James Fenimore Cooper should've been a movie director if it were possible at the time with how much detail he crams onto every page. I'm saying he doesn't let you imagine much. Coop's a hand-holder. He's just as bad as Tolkien in that regard except Tolkien actually had something interesting to say. You want to go where Tolkien leads but the other guy is dragging you along kicking and screaming like your mom used to on one of her arduous outings when there were far more interesting things to do at home. Many boring HOURS.
Mr. Cooper basically throws a damsel in distress up on a pedestal as if she were God's gift to man and the whole Hudson Valley conflict essentially hinges on this person getting to safety. There's nothing wrong with a saving a damsel in distress trope (in my opinion)but this guy, this freaking guy must've inserted his crush into this novel . Yup, looked it up after writing that and his wife Susan was the one who put him up to it. Quick tip in life and writing-you don't put a woman or a man on a pedestal if you value your dignity. Know your worth my dude.
Why should I care if Cora gets to safety? Yeah, she's the governor's daughter but the backdrop of the French and Indian War seems wasted on the premise since Cora is such a flat character. Zero development and zero reason to keep reading. See the first two statements.
To James's credit, I went into this book blind. I completely forgot about the movie we watched in highschool and was expecting more drama from the perspective of the natives during The French and Indian War. There is that but without it being the focus, the journey is not all that interesting.
I just spent more than an hour of my time complaining about a dead guy. On to the next book. FINALLY!
I would feel guilty putting down a book and not finishing it. I should've went with the guilt. James Fenimore Cooper should've been a movie director if it were possible at the time with how much detail he crams onto every page. I'm saying he doesn't let you imagine much. Coop's a hand-holder. He's just as bad as Tolkien in that regard except Tolkien actually had something interesting to say. You want to go where Tolkien leads but the other guy is dragging you along kicking and screaming like your mom used to on one of her arduous outings when there were far more interesting things to do at home. Many boring HOURS.
Mr. Cooper basically throws a damsel in distress up on a pedestal as if she were God's gift to man and the whole Hudson Valley conflict essentially hinges on this person getting to safety. There's nothing wrong with a saving a damsel in distress trope (in my opinion)but this guy, this freaking guy must've inserted his crush into this novel . Yup, looked it up after writing that and his wife Susan was the one who put him up to it. Quick tip in life and writing-you don't put a woman or a man on a pedestal if you value your dignity. Know your worth my dude.
Why should I care if Cora gets to safety? Yeah, she's the governor's daughter but the backdrop of the French and Indian War seems wasted on the premise since Cora is such a flat character. Zero development and zero reason to keep reading. See the first two statements.
To James's credit, I went into this book blind. I completely forgot about the movie we watched in highschool and was expecting more drama from the perspective of the natives during The French and Indian War. There is that but without it being the focus, the journey is not all that interesting.
I just spent more than an hour of my time complaining about a dead guy. On to the next book. FINALLY!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2023
Dear gods. Natty Bumppo bragging that he's pureblooded English every time he kills a Haudenosaunee man ('For I am a warrior without a cross!'). I'm not sure whether to take that as racism, or whether he counts the skills of his Mohican allies so highly that he considers himself uncannily gifted, to be able to fight alongside them without the advantage of being indigenous himself. There are some bits that might lend themselves to the latter interpretation, ie. words about the Mohicans being surefooted. I'll have to make up my mind if/when I read the actual book.
Also way different from the 1990s movie...
Also way different from the 1990s movie...
September 16, 2020
Beautifully illustrated version of the novel, abridged in a way that covers the most important scenes of the novel although a lot of detail was obviously missing (and the original novel is dense). I've been revisiting my family tree again lately, after someone inquired about a past relative. I feel awe that my ancestors lived through events such as the French & Indian War (the setting for this novel in the 1750s). My oldest known ancestor, Thomas Harbour, migrated from Wales to Virginia in 1700. I guess I just didn't think about how primitive life was for colonists back then, but this novel (and GN) help to bring that world to life.
March 17, 2025
One of the great books in the American canon, in graphic novel form. The artwork is fantastic and adds a great deal to the story. While many people criticize the graphic novel form, if it helps a new generation of readers experience this novel, perhaps even serving as a gateway to picking up the original novel at some point, then the graphic edition has its own niche to fill. Highly recommended!
November 27, 2017
A tragic and gory tale. I feel bad for the Mohicans.
September 12, 2019
Hard to follow on Audible.
July 7, 2014
Most would say I took the "cheater's route". I read an adaption and not the actual tome.
And I would say to you: Come live in my neck of the woods and maybe you'll understand "You get, what you get."
We have no copy of The Last of the Mohicans in my local library, so I took the first chance they have available of ever reading the story.
It was riviting and awesome, I actually never wanted to put it down, but life has that funny way of getting between you and something important.
All I could think about was finishing this. At work, I would daze out and try to puzzle together for myself what was next - often ending with a fouled up burger order and vexed coworkers.
Menial tasked were also consumed with such thoughts until I could find the time of tackling another section.
Like most graphic novel collections, they included the individual covers - which were simply marvelous! I also like a little back story to the adapting of - also included, many thanks.
All-in-all, an enjoyable read that has me wanting to petition my library for the rest of The Leatherstocking Tales.
And I would say to you: Come live in my neck of the woods and maybe you'll understand "You get, what you get."
We have no copy of The Last of the Mohicans in my local library, so I took the first chance they have available of ever reading the story.
It was riviting and awesome, I actually never wanted to put it down, but life has that funny way of getting between you and something important.
All I could think about was finishing this. At work, I would daze out and try to puzzle together for myself what was next - often ending with a fouled up burger order and vexed coworkers.
Menial tasked were also consumed with such thoughts until I could find the time of tackling another section.
Like most graphic novel collections, they included the individual covers - which were simply marvelous! I also like a little back story to the adapting of - also included, many thanks.
All-in-all, an enjoyable read that has me wanting to petition my library for the rest of The Leatherstocking Tales.
December 30, 2010
This is the Graphic Novel version of “The Last of the Mohicans” and I enjoyed this version even more then the novel as the illustrations that went along with it where great. Also they cut out a lot of the endless history that was of no benefit to the story. There are some illustrations in the back of this book that are just stunning. Also there is a short addition of the “Tale of Hawkeye’s youth from the Deer slayer” which was a lovely back story of how Hawkeye got his name and it shows how he came to know Uncas and his father. It was a great addition to the story as I was always a little curious as to how all that came about.
February 2, 2009
I tried reading the novel a long time ago and really struggled with it so I thougth I might get more out of the graphic novel. Well, sort of. It's easier to read, but I still don't really like the story. I thought the adaptation was well done, so I think it's just not for me.
August 9, 2012
action, adventure, romance....not just for kids. follows 'hawkeye' raised by mohicans,and his adopted dad & brother as they escort 2 young ladies through the dangerous territory fought over during the french & indian war.
June 3, 2013
I don't read a lot of graphic novels but I am a huge Last of the Mohicans fan so I picked this one up. Loved it. Great art. Of course the story is great, I already knew that. This was a fun way to re-read one of my favorite stories.
December 30, 2013
A great adventure story, though I don't think it's my kind of genre, which is probably the reason why I enjoyed it more in graphic novel than I probably would in its regular novel form. Altogether the book is a well done adaptation, it's attractive and a fast read.
August 29, 2018
I've come to the decision I just don't like Roy Thomas. It was a little vague in some parts, but one part specifically had them getting captured without explaining why they had gotten captured. It's almost like a page was missing. Felt like the art could've been better, but still pretty good.
August 16, 2009
If you loved the movie, the book will blow you away. Plot is very different, but the spirit remains the same.
September 22, 2009
It was a good representation.
February 28, 2012
The classic is one of my favorite stories. This was the first graphic novel I bought and I loved the art and the story.
March 29, 2012
I guess this classic just wasn't my "thing".
June 7, 2012
I like this book because I am interested in the French - Indian War. I also read the chapter book and did a report on it for school.
August 2, 2015
Another Marvel Illustrated by Roy Thomas. Classic tale told in quality art. Excellent compliment to whatever sadistic book you're going through, helps take your mind off things.
November 14, 2011
This is one of the book that i like
Is the best book of the world
Is the best book of the world
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews