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The Hobbit: Graphic Novel

by Chuck Dixon

The Hobbit: Graphic Novel is a fully painted comics adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's 1937 fantasy classic, scripted by comics writer Chuck Dixon (with Sean Deming) and illustrated by David T. Wenzel. It follows the same story… more

First published 1989 · 133 pages · English

10 quotes ★ 4.51 (279,992) Classics

Quotes from the Book

His rage passes description - the sort of rage that is only seen when rich folk that have more than they can enjoy suddenly lose something that they have long had but have never before used or wanted.
To think I should have lived to be goodmorninged by Belladonna Took's son, as if I was selling buttons at the door!
Adventures only make you late for dinner.
I don't think I know your name.' 'Yes, yes my dear sir and I do know your name Mr. Bilbo Baggins. And you do know my name, though you don't remember that I belong to it. I am Gandalf, and Gandalf means me.
In those days of our tale, there were still some people who had both elves and heroes of the North for ancestors and Elrond, the master of the house, was their chief. He was as noble and as fair in face as an elf lord, as strong as a warrior, as wise as a wizard, as venerable as a king of dwarves and as kind as summer.
What do you mean?" he said. "Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?" "All of them at once," said Bilbo. "And a very fine morning for a pipe of tobacco out of doors, into the bargain.
Hush, hush! Good People! and good night!" said Gandalf, who came last. "Valleys have ears, and some elves have over marry tongues. Good night!
If the elf-king had a weakness it was for treasure, especially for silver and white gems; and though his hoard was rich, he was ever eager for more, since he had not yet as great a treasure as other elf-lords of old.
Back now to the mountain!" cried Thorin. "We have little time to lose." "And little food to use!" cried Bilbo, always practical on such points. In any case he felt that the adventure was, properly speaking, over with the death of the dragon.
Yes, yes and i want to get unlost... As soon as possible!

Did you know?

  • The adaptation was first released by Eclipse Comics in 1989 as a three-issue series before being collected.
  • The three original issues were bound into a single trade paperback in January 1990.
  • David T. Wenzel provided fully painted watercolor artwork for the adaptation.
  • Wenzel had previously worked as a comic penciler on Marvel titles including The Avengers and Savage Sword of Conan.
  • A redesigned edition with new artwork was released by Ballantine/Del Rey in 2001, and a further edition appeared in 2012 to coincide with Peter Jackson's Hobbit films.
  • The collected graphic novel runs to 133 pages, tracing Bilbo's journey from Book One's riddle-game to the story's conclusion.

About Chuck Dixon

Chuck Dixon is an American comic book writer known for long runs on titles such as Batman, Nightwing, and The Punisher; he adapted Tolkien's The Hobbit into comics form, illustrated by David T. Wenzel.

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About the book

The Hobbit: Graphic Novel is a fully painted comics adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's 1937 fantasy classic, scripted by comics writer Chuck Dixon (with Sean Deming) and illustrated by David T. Wenzel. It follows the same story as the novel: the home-loving hobbit Bilbo Baggins is swept up by the wizard Gandalf and a company of thirteen dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield on a quest to reclaim their treasure from the dragon Smaug, meeting trolls, goblins, giant spiders, and the creature Gollum along the way.

The adaptation was first published by Eclipse Comics in 1989 as a three-part series, then collected into a single trade paperback in January 1990. Wenzel's lush watercolor artwork renders Middle-earth in a soft, storybook style, condensing Tolkien's prose into paneled scenes while preserving the arc of Bilbo's transformation from timid homebody into a resourceful adventurer who discovers unexpected courage in himself.

Widely regarded as one of the most successful graphic adaptations of a classic novel, the book has been reissued repeatedly, including a redesigned Ballantine/Del Rey edition in 2001 and a further edition in 2012 timed to Peter Jackson's films. Its enduring popularity rests on making Tolkien's beloved tale accessible in visual form without losing the themes of home, greed, and personal growth that define the original.

Key characters

  • Bilbo BagginsA comfort-loving hobbit who becomes the company's burglar and reluctant hero
  • GandalfThe wandering wizard who sets the quest in motion
  • Thorin OakenshieldProud dwarf leader determined to reclaim his people's treasure
  • SmaugThe fearsome dragon guarding the dwarves' stolen hoard
  • GollumA twisted cave-dweller who loses his magic ring to Bilbo

Book details

First published
1989
Length
133 pages
Reading time
1 hour
Goodreads rating
4.51 (280k ratings)

If you liked this, read…

  1. 1
    The Lord of the RingsTolkien's own sequel following the same world and the ring Bilbo found
  2. 2
    The HobbitThe original 1937 novel this book faithfully adapts

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