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A powerful modern day reimagining of Charlotte Brontë's classic novel Jane Eyre. Jane learns that in the world of New York's elite, secrets are the greatest extravagance and she must decide if she should trust the man she loves or do whatever it takes to protect her best friend from the consequences of his deception.
When an older, problematic book is modernized, I have a habit of hoping for the best. I should have learned better by now, though. Despite being adapted by a writer I adore, I still couldn't like the story.
A large part of the problem is that I don't much care for JANE EYRE. I hate Mr. Rochester, and have never been able to understand why Jane Eyre would return to him after his heinous actions are revealed. He's a jerk, and she's gotten away from him. I'd like the story to end there. It never does. Logically, it would follow that I wouldn't like JANE, a modernized adaptation of the classic. I suspect that readers who are fans of Brontë's original will enjoy this version far more than I did.
On to the objective part of this review! The art is similar to gothic classics or the romance comics of the 70's, full of painted scenes with bold brushstrokes and evocative color choices. Panel size and placement is varied throughout, with curious closeups and several two page splash spreads. The writing is fine, but as with most comics, the art carries the emotional weight of the story. The panels leading up to a kiss are tinted red and orange, with closeups that are a bit blurred and hard to decipher, illustrating the chaotic swirl of emotion between the pair.
All of this said, I still hate Rochester, regardless of the pretty art and updated Happily Ever After. Your mileage may vary.
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