From Hell: Master Edition

Having first read From Hell when it was being published as a limited comic book series, and having then re-read it as a collected edition, and now, having re-re-read the current colorized edition, I find this latest version to be my personal favorite. The colors are understated and, rather than overpowering the original line art, they merely accentuate it. The story remains a classic, but I found this edition a bit easier on the eyes from a reading perspective. The fonts are all hand-drawn and in the earlier edition the printing was not quite as crisp as in this new edition. So I found myself not having to squint to read some of the small text boxes, of which there are many. The paper quality is great. I thought I would dislike the glossy nature of it, but it actually helps make for a better reading and viewing experience. My only complaint is that the publisher didn't bother to issue the book with a dustjacket. A book of this scope and magnitude deserves as much. It's also a heavy book, but to those who find it too heavy to maneuver, I can only shake my head. I mean, it's not THAT heavy. So for now, this would, in my opinion, be the version to purchase. I suspect that within the next five years we'll see a new edition, most likely oversized. I'll likely purchase that version too, as I've always felt that the epic magnitude of the story as well as the detailed art, deserve much more than a standard comic book-sized publication. I guess we'll just wait and see.

I read this back when the graphic novel was published. I like Jack the Ripper stuff, so I was interested. There is now a color added ebook version, which is really nicely done. There are a lot of layers in this book. The artwork tends to be very raw, almost unfinished pen and ink that evokes the names and lunacy of the story. But then, unexpectedly, there are a few panels done in soft pastels that have a dreamlike quality. We get a few info dumps, a geography and history of London, more about Freemasonry than they would probably like you to know, and some philosophical digressions. Unlike most comics, there are extensive endnotes, and a further comic about the confusion that is Ripperology and Ripperologists. Overall, its a good read. I won't go so far as to call it enjoyable, as a lot of it is designed to put the reader in a state of discomfort. But it is GOOD. Damned good, for being From Hell.

I’m not done with this graphic novel. However I can say that some of the words need definitions. How they spoke during that period. Keep in mind this is London 2 centuries back give or take a decade or two. And reading it from Americans somethings don’t make sense. It is a really good read and they tried to put things together which are not guaranteed, because of what I know they still haven’t determined who Jack the Ripper was. It is fiction make no mistake. When this novel says graphic, they mean it. They have put sexual content into it it’s nothing an adult hasn’t seen before or even an older teenager for that matter. I don’t know if it’s actually needed in spots, but it does give you a good sense of the mentality and what people expected during that time period. Also the scene does depict and doesn’t hide the lack of plumbing back then. It’s really good so far in my opinion. I highly recommend it for any graphic novel collector. There are a lot of players, so try and keep up. Update: I finished the main book, but there are two more sections in the back, both worth reading. So the first section is the graphic novel. The second segment is just describing the images and liberties taken I just writing. The third section goes back to graphic novel form and tells how people have come to the conclusions that they have. So basically the third part is about the books and history of theory’s and books written about Jack the Ripper. Loved the whole thing.

Above all, I wish a softcover version of this book would be available to buy for people who are not into electronic reading. I bought it because I wanted to spend a quiet fall evening reading it by my fireplace. That didn't happen. The hardcover version is extremely cumbersome to hold and read, just too heavy for comfort. It is also annoyingly glossy. I couldn't read it on my sunny desk -- the pages would glint too much. I couldn't read it under my usual lamp because the glossy print and writing would be lost in the reflected glare, no matter how I held the book (and it is a heavy book indeed). It took great effort to hold to read because of its weight. So all of these factors took the pleasure out of reading it. Even if this had been a thoroughly enjoyable book, its weight and gloss alone would have taken the joy out of reading it. When you read a book, you want to focus on the content and not on the physical form of the book itself or on the light falling on it at every turn of page... Then there's the content. What can I say. It is psychologically disturbing. The story zips past fast, in a few panels, and then intermittently slows down to a crawl and goes on and on page after page after page about some action of the main character. You see pages and pages relishing a single murder -- blood, gore, intestines, viscera, bloody panel after bloody panel until you ask yourself -- is this book really about Jack the Ripper or a release of the author's morbid interest in the act itself in the name of artistic portrayal? It is not a story for this reason -- it is a movie set in two dimesional pictures sequenced on paper. The general layout of the book, the colors etc are depressigly dark. The details are hard to see. Mostly dark colored panels throughout. Its almost as if there were no bright days in the 1800s, and everything was grisly and blackish, even the sky. This book is a very one-sided and very sickening portrayal of life, almost as if there is something psychologically not quite ok with the world it exists in. I can't put my finger on what that is. I nevertheless give it a 4 star because It is certainly a poignant whatever-it-is, and so probably deserves the awards it received. Also, creating a graphic novel is extremely difficult. It takes hard work and an immense amount of talent. Every graphic novel, and every graphic novelist out there is a force to be admired. I totally admire that aspect of the content in this book. But personally, I am sorry I bought this book. I am sorry I saw the morbid panels in it, I am sorry I let it into my life and mind. I am sorry I wasted precious time trying to justify it as I read it, and read it because I didn't find that justification, and felt cheated in the end. It did give me, and will give me those occassional nightmares for years to come. I once saw a deer hit by a car and it was alive, and I put that event in the same category as reading this book. It is not a book to pleasantly spend an evening with. It is not a companion, it is a sickness spilled on the cold stones of a dirty street in the 1800s., it is the blood gushing out of a fatal wound, it is the kind of force that draws a cult. It deserves an award for all of that, but I wouldn't wish it upon my world. I am sorry I read it.

From Hell is a gripping graphic novel with a strong, well told story and striking illustrations that perfectly match its dark tone. It’s an engaging and memorable read, and a must-have for any graphic novel collector.

Nonostante sia un lettore di romanzi e meno di graphic novel ho deciso di avventurarmi in questo viaggio nella Londra vittoriana e l'esperienza è stata davvero inquietante. Graphic novel lunga, talvolta potrebbe annoiare, e complessa sia per il tema trattato ma anche per il numero di personaggi. Un viaggio da incubo nella mente del medico sospettato di essere lo Squartatore che vi lascerà senza parole ma con tante domande. In generale mi è piaciuto, l'edizioni a colori aggiunge quei dettagli che il b/n non dà, disegni gradevoli e talvolta crudi.

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The story was written really well and the art work was great

Review for the book & delivery, not the story. Will be comparing the book to the deluxe edition of Watchmen and V for Vendetta also by the Mad Wizard Mr Moore. The Good 1. The quality of the paper and printing are fantastic. Especially compared to the Watchmen and V for Vendetta deluxe edition. Both watchmen and V for Vendetta quickly pick up fingerprints on the print/images. With V for Vendetta it's the worst, where I tried to remove some finger print with a soft, clean and dry microfiber cloth, and it actually removed some of the black paint. 2. The font is very nice and readable. Watchmen was incredibly frustrating to read, because everything was in all caps and the punctuation almost invisibly small. V for Vendetta wasn't much better, but still, it was better. This is far more readable and the font looks very pretty to boot. 3. The book lays flat on the table! It's glued apparently but it has some heft to it and it lays flat on the table with no issues, even before breaking it in, which you should always do with large, hardcover books. (Put the book flat on the table with both sides of the cover opened up, holding all the pages upright in the middle, open one page left, then right and continue till you've reached the middle, intermittently slightly pressing on both sides of the book). Watchmen and V for Vendetta were much tighter. 4. The margins are large enough so the art does not get obfuscated in the middle, which is a huge problem with watchmen and v for vendetta. You have to literally pull and press on the pages to see the art in the middle properly. And this in turn causes finger prints, which those books easily pick up. This book has great margins in the middle so all art is easily visible. The bad 1. I expected the book to be a little larger, like watchmen and v for vendetta. Esp because it's a "master edition" I figured the book would be roughly the same size as those making the art and text larger. Unfortunately it's not so, I figure this is the size it was originally published or the standard size for comics. I'm not really a comic book person, so I'm not sure. But to me, larger is better. 2. The book doesn't come wrapped in cellophane, which means it's basically impossible to get a copy that is in mint condition. The cover will have some scracthes or scuffs, not damage perse. But things a book would have from having been in storage, stacked in between other books etc. The ugly 1. Amazon was a bookstore. How is it possible that they don't know how to properly package a book? They put it in a cardboard envelope. I'm thankful thise book was large enough to not fit through the mail slot, because otherwise the heavy book lands on the stone floor and you can imagine what happens next. But still, it came with a very small dent in the top middle of the front cover. I'm someone that is very quick to send stuff back and reorder them, but this was so little damage I let it go. Mainly because I know the chances of the next copy having even more damage is very high. It's a gamble when you order from Amazon. Esp when the book isn't wrapped. I don't get why it's so hard to at least put some bubble wrap or something around the book before putting it in a flimsy cardboard envelope. I'll gladly play a couple of pennies more. So why order from Amazon? Well, the reality is that Amazon often has the best prices for book other sites or retail you're somewhat guaranteed good delivery (or at least packaging), but you might pay 30/50% more for the same book. Moreover, Amazon has an absurdly good return policy. I've never, ever had an issue with sending something back and getting back my money. This is a very good thing. But, I also wonder if it wouldn't be better if amazon put a little bit more effort into packaging books. Because that way there would be far less returns, which would likely save them a lot more money. Because those returned books can't be sold as new (although, I suspect .. they are, even though they deny it. Same for Amazon like Dutch sites like bol, which are as bad when it comes to book deliveries). Look at any review for any book/hardcover or special edition. Even the most expensive ones and you will see countless angry reviews from people who had their books delivered with extensive damage. Often not because of poor delivery but because Amazon storage and careless amazon packaging. Overall, I'm happy with the book. I do wonder if it was worth the 40+ euro. I didn't enjoy Watchmen or V for Vendetta as much as I hoped. Nor am I a fan of the art style of either (esp v for vendetta is horrible in that regard). So far From Hell looks to have pretty cool art (which is why it's a shame that it isn't in the bigger format). But the art in From Hell is also not very impressive. I hope the story is fun though, I imagine I will enjoy it due to the esoteric and adult nature. But will I enjoy it 40 euro's worth? IDK. I could have gotten a cheaper paperback, but I don't think that one is the new color version that is supposedly also closer to the original vision by Mr Moore. And I much prefer hardcovers on my shelves in the end of the day.