The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, By Mark Twain, Classics Illustrated.
BEHIND A cheesy-grinned cover of Huck by an unknown artist we are greeted by interior art courtesy of Mike Sekowsky and Frank Giacoia adapting Twain’s follow-up to Tom Sawyer.
An abridged story it cuts to the chase, keeping things simple, but not hiding Twain’s cautionary tale about child abuse (Huck’s father) or such topics as slavery (racial prejudices were still high on America’s list of social problems when it was first published in the sixties, so distribution first time round might have been limited in the South). But it does lack the humour of Twain’s original, and that was always one of his great strengths.
Sekowsky was the original artist for around the first seventy issues of the Justice League of America, and subsequently edited/part-scripted and drew Wonder Woman during her Diana Prince goes Emma Peel phase. A remarkable artist whose application of anatomy and foreshortening in perspectives were unique and unto themselves – Rarely appreciated by Kirby and Adams style fans, but admired by fellow professionals and those fans seeking something a little more abstract. Inked by Giacoia, an artist renowned for correcting the anatomy of other artists, he doesn’t interfere too much on this outing, and the results are an easily understood visual tale.
It’s not a great translation from one medium to another, but it’s a fair enough primer for kids unaware of the book, and worthy of collection by Sekowsky fans.
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