334. Grimm Fairy Tales Presents: The Jungle Book by Mark L. Millar
The Jungle Book, Volume 1
Pages: 172
Ages: 18+
Finished: Dec. 11, 2012
First Published: Oct. 16, 2012
Publisher: Zenescope
Genre: Graphic novel, fairy tales, reimagined classics
Rating: 5/5
Publisher's Summary: "A pirate ship carrying four children crashes on the shore of a mysterious and merciless jungle.
Each child is taken by a separate tribe of animals as a means to keep the peace between the warring species. It is a peace that will not last. Fifteen years later the children have now become young adults and each will have to face the destiny that awaits them. In an unforgiving jungle four human children will be tested to the limits of survival. Zenescope brings you their newest reinvention of a classic take that is going to blow you away!"
Acquired: Received an egalley from the publisher through Netgalley.
Reason for Reading: I have been interested and intrigued in The Grimm Fairy Tales series & spin-offs for some time now due to my enjoyment of Fables. These felt like they would be similar, but perhaps more serious.
What incredible artwork!! I am reading an ebook version but the gorgeous art makes me want to go right out and buy a print edition, which I intend to do but I'll wait until Vol. 2 comes out then I can read both volumes back to back. The art may not be for everyone though as it is "mature"; there is no nudity but there is a plethora of extremely scantily clad, provocatively posed, buxom women on every page. This sort of thing doesn't bother me in-and-off itself; it depends on how the women are portrayed and whether they are overly ogled in context or not. I didn't find it offensive here at all. Many will though.
This volume basically retells the Mowgli story most of us are familiar with but with many twists, having a nice wrapped up ending that also obviously lets us know there is more to come. Major re-imaginings that make this a unique and superb story include there being 4 babes who are raised in the Jungle, each one is given to a different animal clan: one to Shere Khan, another to King Louis etc., and to top it off, Mowgli is a girl! Very different dynamics here with a female Mowgli, however she has been given the same characteristics of the traditional Mowgli and is a wild and fierce "wolf cub". I just loved this book!! If I continue to write I'm just going to start gushing so I'll quit while I'm ahead. I've already visited the website and want to start delving into all the Grimm Fairy Tales and the various other books that take place in the same Universe. Fans of Bill Willingham's Fables may be interested in this one as long as they are aware that this series is more adult (in presentation though, Fables has more s*x) and is also more serious (there are light-hearted moments but it is does not contain the humour of Fables). Otherwise, if you are looking for a brilliant new take on the story of The Jungle Book and all it's familiar characters, this is an excellent book with the caveat of mature illustrations. I will be reading more of this series and the entire Grimm universe from Zenescope!
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