The Last of the Mohicans

James Fenimore Cooper's classic novel of the colonial American frontier, "The Last of the Mohicans", comes to life as a thrilling Marvel graphic novel courtesy of author Roy Thomas and illustrator Steve Kurth. Set in what would become upper New York State, the novel concerns an incident in the French and Indian War, a conflict already legendary when Cooper wrote about it in the early 1800's. "The Last of the Mohicans" features Cooper's signature hero, Natty Bumpo, AKA the Deerslayer, and his Mohican companions, the Delaware Indian chief Chingachgook and his fine and fierce son Uncas. When a French and Indian military expedition closes in an isolated British fort, the commanding officer, one Colonel Munro, attempts to move his beautiful daughters Cora and Alice to safety under the supervision of the stalwart Major Heyward. They are guided through the forest by the Huron Indian Magua, who proves to be treacherous. The Deerslayer and his companions intercede to protect the party, but they are soon trapped and forced to split up by a large and blood-thirsty band of Indians led by Magua. The Deerhunter and his Mohican companions, accompanied by Major Heyward, will pursue Magua and the kidnapped daughters through many adventures to a fateful confrontation in a hostile Huron village. Roy Thomas has carefully preserved the best of the original novel's dialogue, along with Cooper's version of the strict code of honor governing the behavior of both the Indians and white frontiersmen such as Bumpo. Steve Kurth's muscular artwork perfectly captures the drama and suspense of the story. A bonus tale about the young Natty Bumpo and the origin of his Indian name is included. This reviewer wishes the graphic novel had been published in a larger format and notes that the violence and treachery of the story are intended for young adults. "The Last of the Mohicans" is very highly recommended to that audience as a superb introduction to an early classic of American literature.

This graphic novel is an excellent adaptation of Cooper's most renown work. Thomas, Kurth, and Medri use Cooper's original text when possible, which means the reader will have to think to understand what is happening, although the art will help. At the end there is a bonus comic that is an adaptation of "The Deerslayer," another Cooper novel with Natty Bumpo as the main character. Reading the graphic novel inspired me to purchase the complete "Leatherstocking Tales," all five of the novels featuring Natty Bumpo.