I absolutely love this manga series! It turns classics into mangas, that may be more attractive to the youth, then old literature (except for me, obviously). It is also a great way to refresh your memory of the story, without having to read the whole book again. You may also enjoy your favourite classic novel as a manga, which is quite exciting! Very big recommendation!

A thorough adaptation, including many details from the book which are omitted in movie or musical productions. I think it does an especially good job of portraying Valjeans struggle to leave his past behind and Javert's obsession with tracking him down.

The story is easy to follow, and the little kids are so cute!

Thank you to NetGalley and UDON Entertainment for sending the eBook manga version of Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables to me for an honest review.
I requested several classic manga’s and have really been enjoying them. I am embarrassed to say that, while I own the originals, I haven’t read them yet. After reading this beautiful adaptation, I am adding Les Miserables to my 2020 to-be-read list.
I can’t state whether or not this is an accurate adaptation, but I can say that this manga was well written and illustrated. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and fell in love with the characters more and more as I read through to the emotional ending.
I think this format creates an interest in classics for all ages; it’s a great way to introduce young people to these treasures.

I think this was a very successful adaptation of the classic. The art style was adorably charming and the storytelling was crisp and cleverly succinct. I think this medium is an excellent way to introduce young readers to the wisdom of classic literature. I will be looking for more of these retellings in the future, definitely.

On the story side, as for The Count of Monte Cristo, it’s been too long since I’ve read or seen an adaptation to remember the story precisely (for example I didn’t remember at all that Gavroche was Thenardier’s son), but I still had a feeling of skimming quite present at time. At the end of the manga, the team charged with the adaptation talks about the difficulties in having such an massive book fitted in a manga that’s only one third of its size, and about the choices that had to be made. Please note that in some reviews readers remark upon the fact some scenes were moved from the original timeline, but I didn’t noticed it at all.

On the drawing side, the style is what we can usually see in mangas, with especially characters who look much younger than they are. The details are really well-made, each character is drawn in a unique and recognizable way, and the settings represent the period. The only detail that annoyed me: when we see again Eponine Thenardier now grown-up, the rags she’s wearing form an asymmetrical dress reaching only mid-thigh on one side. Of course it shows she’s very poor but that seemed strange for the period IMO.

To conclude I’d say this manga is probably not the best adaptation of the novel if you want to discover a maximum of the story, there are movies that are more complete. However it’s a good approach that will always seem more accessible to those who could be discouraged by the thickness of the original novel.

The artwork is beautiful but the story didn't cut it for me. I was planning on reading the original version after finishing the Manga Classic but now I'm reconsidering as I really really didn't enjoy the small amount I was able to finish.

I loved this. It basically broke down a really complex story into a nicely wrapped package. I was never able to get through the actual novel, so this was a great substitute to get the gist of the story.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

I really loved reading the manga adaptation of Les miserables. The story is moving and brilliant and the artwork is from the talented SunNeko Lee. The drawings and adaptation is really good and the artist was able to convey the characters' emotions through a perfect artwork.

Jean Valjean, an ex convict (he was arrested for stealing a piece of bread) is haunted and tormented by the policeman Javert after breaking his parole. During his life, while escaping him, he adopts various identities and try to redime himself from his past, becoming an honest and loving man. A loving mayor, doing charity, helping poor people.
His fate crossed Fantine's, a young mother forced to work as a prostitute to get the money to help her illegittimate daughter, who lived with a couple she thought were kind. But Cosette Is mistreated and abused and when Fantine died Valjean decided to find the girl and give her a good life. Their fates are deeply intertwined with those of Javert, obsessed with Valjean, still believing him to be a villain even though the man was never one, and of Marius, the son of a man whose life was saved during a battle by the same man who mistreated Cosette as child. Set during a time of revolution, it's a tragedy of love, redemptionzl, Truth and vengeance.

The artwork is perfect, the story adapted on point and I loved It.

Manga Classics: Les Miserables by Crystal S. Chan, 337 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL
Udon Entertainment, 2014. $20.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Jean Valjean is an ex-convict, struggling to live a good life while still being pursued by his former prison guard. On the run, Valjean takes on many different roles, including father as he adopts an abused orphan. He becomes even more desperate to live well with his new daughter dependent on him, but can Valjean ever do enough to break free from his past?
Les Miserables is a classic, and it seems to me that the majority of people have seen the musical or have heard the plot line from others but few actually read the full story by Victor Hugo -- which is nearly 1500 pages long. This manga version makes the intimidating book more approachable and plants the desire to read through the original. With such a long story being told in the manga style, putting all the details in is impossible, and I found myself with a couple questions by the end, which a friend told me are addressed by the full book. So, no, this version is not perfect, but I mourned and rejoiced with the characters and found beauty in both the story and the illustrations.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Les Miserables Manga is graphically and honestly portrayal of the original novel by Victor Hugo. I found the mostly black and white illustrations a very honest aspect of the time period in which the novel is based. The drawings capture the complex characters and allow a unique view of the tale. I honestly feel that turning classics in mangas and graphic novels allows people who would normally be wold be turned away from these sometimes large and dry books a chance to see them in a different way. I honestly enjoyed the Manga and would recommend it to anyone who feels that traditional classics aren't for them.

I'm a huge fan of Les Miserables the Musical, but I've also read Victor Hugo's novel. This was a great adaptation of the story - true to the original and easy to read. This version explains enough of the politics in the story to make it understandable, while focusing on Jean Valjean's struggle to redeem himself. Victor Hugo as manga? I say it's a yes!

A great introduction to the book and for those who have only seen the musical the story line is along the lines of how the musical played out. You are not looking at a big thick book like the original. Character sketches and adapting the book into manga is at the back of the book which is cool to see.

I have tried to read Les Miserables on more then one occasion, but have always abandoned it. This is the perfect way to experience the story. The graphics helped me keep the story straight and I loved it. I read the entire book in one sitting. I can't wait to read more of these.

*~.Book Analysis.~*
Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader :)

Rating: 5 stars
Reading period: Sept. 24th, 2019
Format: ebook
Source: NetGalley – I have received this copy in exchange for an honest review.
Release date: Sept. 17th, 2014

PROS
This was a beautiful take into another heavy and sad classic that everyone should read at least once in life. I specially loved the art, that mixes manga and french details so well. I loved how everything was detailed without making the story aloof.

CONS
Why must such a perfect story have such a sad ending again?? It was just the manga adaptation and I cried!

COVER ANALYSIS
I honestly don't think that the cover did this story justice this time, even though I understand their message with it. Cosette is a cutie, but she alone in the cover has a week appeal for me.

RECOMMENDED FOR
Manga, Comics and Classic lovers!

These graphic novels by Stacy King and UDON Entertainment are a wonderful introduction to some of the world's greatest literature. The art is emotive and smart. The adaption is respectful of the original story. This artistic approach opens up the literature to an entirely new audience. Les Miserables is a tragic, sad and beautiful book and this graphic novel is a wonderful tribute to the original. If you have young people who refuse to look at the classics this would be a perfect way to give them a nudge.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the digital ARC in exchange for my review.

Thank you Netgalley and UDON Entertainment for the e-ARC, in exchange for an honest review!
Les Miserables is a timeless classic near and dear to my heart. This Manga classics adaptation is beautiful and perfectly done. The art is gorgeous, simple, and beautifully suited to the classic tale. I thoroughly enjoyed that the manga adaptation started out with the story of Fantine before Cosette came into the custody of the innkeeper and his family. I would highly recommend this adaptation for anyone interested in diving into the world of Les Miserables but terrified of the page count of the original novel.

Thank you, NetGalley, for a complementary advance copy in return for an honest review!

I am soooooo glad that I applied for an ARC for this book!! I had been too scared to read Victor Hugo's original, but this manga has encouraged me to put it on my to-read list!!! It was a sad but heartwarming story. The art was fantastic even at low resolution. This was only my second manga, but my first novel-length one and it will not be my last!! I love graphic novels that make classics easier to digest for readers too scared to pick up the actual classic. It's also a great way to get younger readers interested in the classics.

I’m going to say the most important thing first. This is my favorite of the Manga Classics selections I’ve tried so far, I can’t imagine how it can be outmatched, and I recommend it to practically anyone.

After 17+ years of reading manga, I’m not often moved by a series these days. I am beyond impressed by this adaptation of Les Miserables.

The art style is adorable when it needs to be adorable, the child version of Cosette is aww-worthy and incredibly cute. It can be serious when it needs to be serious, Jean Valjean is drawn in a way that is mature, poised, and fatherly. As is his more sinister-looking adversary, Javert. I really adored the art style for its clean lines and just aesthetically, it completely worked for me. It just looks polished and vetted for quality. But it’s definitely not a style for everyone. The cute aspects might be too cute, especially when it comes to the adult female characters. Subjectively speaking, I liked EVERYTHING to do with this art style. If I could draw, I would want to draw my characters like this. Hoping the artist will or has done other work with Manga Classics.

Now about the storyline and characterization. Lets start by stating that Les Miserables is a 1,400+ page behemoth of classical literature. Unfortunately, not all of the sub-stories were included in this adaptation. The end notes mention some of the sub-plots that were unfortunately missing. This manga volume is 337 pages. I wish it had been 600+ or split into multiple volumes but I can see how that could be an issue, not to mention counter to Manga Classics symmetrical record of keeping to one extra-large volume per classic retelling. That said, I would have totally been open to 600 or 800 pages of this. But what was already present- particularly the character development of the main character, Jean- was already enough to make me tear up at the emotional ending.

I went in blind. No prior interest in nor exposure to the story of Les Miserables. After reading this, I have a determination to read the classic novel someday. Now I know how worthwhile and suited to my interests the storyline is. I’ve mentioned something like this before in another review of another Manga Classics volume, but the broader value of an exercise like this (adapting classics to a manga format) is that within a 1.5 to 3 hour span (however your reading speed is) one can get a fulfilling experience of a classic that might otherwise be overlooked due to length or the difficult prose within. This is what makes adaptations so special. I feel like I have a working knowledge and admiration of the plotting and characterization and am up for the challenge.

Overall Rating – 10/10

Why You Should Try It – Clean, cute, yet versatile art style. Perfectly paced and quick-flowing yet detailed panels, and a storyline that’s so good I’m kicking myself for not pursuing some adaptations of it earlier.

Why You Might Not Like It – The late 2000s-2010s-style cuteness/roundess of some characters (aka moe) might be off-putting. The relentless suffering in this story (it does translate as The Miserables after all) can be hard to stomach.

I have always loved manga and always found the classics hard to get through at times. After finding the Manga Classics I have been able to read the classic stories in a fun and enjoyable way. I always found the classics to be a bit boring and made it seem like I was trying to read a history book, which is my least favorite subject. However, reading them in manga form has made them easier to read.

As someone who’s never read Manga before, I thought this was such a fun way to read a story like Les Mis!