“Beauty is not only on the outside…but what you can feel inside.” – the Frog Prince. This traditional
fairy tale by the
Brothers Grimm has been retold many times under different names, including
The Princess and the Frog,
The Frog Prince and
The Frog Princess. This adaptation stands out because it is presented in
graphic novel format. The beautifully colored comic book art gives this classic story a whole new dimension...
Once upon a time there lived a handsome young prince who treated his subjects well. But an evil magician named Gnarl casts a spell on the noble prince - all because the prince wouldn’t appoint him as the Royal Wizard.
“A frog you’ll be until a maid’s kiss will set you free!” The newly transformed frog prince hops around until he finds a home in an abandoned well, which happens to be near the castle of a wealthy king. One day a beautiful young princess is tossing a golden ball up and down. Suddenly she misses the catch, and the ball accidentally plops into the well and disappears. The princess is heartbroken. Then she hears a voice say, “I’ll get it for you!” A slimy, green frog appears, offering to get her precious ball if she promises to love him and let him eat at her table and sleep in her bed. The princess is disgusted at the thought, but wants her ball of gold back so badly that she makes the promise (even though she has no intention of keeping it). As soon as the frog retrieves her ball, the princess turns her back on him and heads for the castle - without so much as a "Thank you"! Later, while the princess and the King are eating supper, they hear a knock on the door. Guess who? The princess refuses to let the frog in. The King demands an explanation, so the princess tells her father about the promise she had made to the frog. The King commands her to keep her promise. The princess reluctantly allows the frog in to eat at the royal table and sleep in her royal bed. The frog is nice and polite, but the pampered princess doesn’t like it one bit! When the frog leaps onto her shoulder, the princess screams and throws him across the room. The frog lays motionless on the floor. Feeling remorseful, the princess kisses the frog, breaking the spell. The frog transforms back into the handsome prince. With the curse broken, the evil Gnarl fades away. The prince and princess marry and, of course, live happily ever after.
About the Author / Illustrator Will Eisner (1917 – 2005) was considered internationally as one of comic art’s giants. Eisner created the first comic book syndicated to newspapers called
The Spirit. In 1999 he received the prestigious Reuben Award for Cartoonist of the Year.