|
In 1973, Walt Disney Pictures produced an animated version of Robin Hood featuring a fox as the hero, a vixen as Maid Marian, a bear as Little John, a badger as Friar Tuck, a lion as Prince John... and so on and so forth. It's a fun, gentle movie featuring songs written and sung by Roger Miller (as the rooster minstrel Alan O'Dale), and has been an inspiration to many fans of cartoon animal art. In recent years the movie fell out of favor with the newer execs at WDP and has not received the attention enjoyed by most Disney animation; but it is still fun to watch and is available on VHS and DVD for viewing in your own home. (A dream come true for those of us who grew up in the age of dinosaurs, when movies were only seen on the Big Screen.)
When the film came out, and in the years surrounding its periodic re-release to the theatres (and before it was buried by WDP), a number of books and comics came out featuring characters from the movie. What follows is a list of the publications we've managed to track down, including those foreign editions which never appeared in the States. While this is not a complete list of all publications featuring Disney's foxy Robin Hood, it will provide a guide to those who are curious as to What's Out There and what they are about.
THE BOOK OF THE MOVIE
Walt Disney Studios
Robin Hood
Western Publishing Co., 1973, Golden Books (16816)
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 73-83836
Illustrated by Walt Disney Studios
Authorized edition, 93 pages. Large size, lavish on-model illustrations and storytelling.
Full movie story with added chapters and sections that do not appear in the movie, such as "How Prince John Came to Nottingham" and "How Maid Marian Became Queen of the Tournament". This is the book to own for a well-written, well-illustrated adaptation of the movie. Unlike many of the properties based on this movie, the characters are on-model - as if someone who had worked on the film had drawn the illos using model sheets from the film. (This includes the illustrations from the added scenes!)
The additional scenes and chapters add considerably to the continuity of the story. For example, the chapter "How Prince John Came to Nottingham" does not appear in the film, but details how Prince John was found by the Sheriff of Nottingham after Robin plundered the coach. During a dialogue among the three villians, Sir Hiss remembers Robin Hood as a nobleman at court who once loved a fair lady - Maid Marian, the King's ward. The villians thus plot to have Marian brought to Nottingham to stay in the castle as bait to lure Robin to his doom.
At least 2 similiar versions of this adaptation have been printed:
Purnell Books, Bristol; 1983
ISBN: 0-361-05595-1
In 78 pages, this book retells the same story and uses many of the same illustrations: but the story is reworded and the illustrations are cropped differently. Overall, the storytelling and layout are not nearly as well done as the original.
Also reprinted in:
"Great Moments in Fiction", one of four books from "The Walt Disney Parade of Fun, Fact, Fantasy, and Fiction."
Golden Press; New York, 1977
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 76-23592
A condensed version of the original publication, with many of the same illustrations.
ROBIN HOOD IN THE COMICS
Besides a comic-book retelling of the movie story, several new, original adventures were published as: "The Adventures of Robin Hood" under the Gold Key label from Golden Press. These comics took liberties with the continuity of the movie story (as when Robin visits Marian in the castle), and in one or two issues they gave Robin a band of generic outlaw followers. Not all the movie characters appeared in every comic.
The storytelling in most of the comics is exciting, funny, and worthwhile reading, and the layouts and pacing carry the stories well. Unfortunately, the art itself varies widely: it is quite good in "The Mystery of Sherwood Forest" and "The Lucky Hat" but is only fair in the other issues; and it is marginal at best in "The Wizard's Ring", "The Enchanted Sword" and the movie adaptation.
All the comics were published by Western Publishing Company. The movie adaptation was first published in a Golden Comics Disney Digest in 1973, featured as "Based on the all-new Disney Cartoon feature movie."
Following is a synopsis of the follow-up comic series, "The Adventures of Robin Hood".
#1 - "The Mystery of Sherwood Forest" (Gold Key, 1974, 1973)
Pursued into the mysterious Wildwood by mercenaries hired by the Sheriff, Rob and Little John meet a friendly goat named Gillingham. Gillingham is hiding from his evil cousin, the Duke of Darkmoor, who mistakenly thinks Gillingham knows how to turn lead into gold. Sneaking back into Nottingham, Robin and Little John eavesdrop on the Sheriff and his visitor - a sinister boar, the Duke of Darkmoor - who has heard of the scary happenings in the haunted forest. Rob and Little John team up with their new friend to make sure that the Duke, the Sheriff, and their hired thugs will never dare set foot in the Wildwood again.
#2 - "In King Richard's Service" (May, 1974)
Robin sneaks into Nottingham Castle to deliver a gift to Marian -- homing pigeons, so Marian will always be able to get a message to him if need be. (This adds an interesting paradox of non-anthropomorphic creatures in an anthropomorphic world!) Prince John also has a visitor, the hyena doctor Kurlat Saah, who has come to heal Prince John's thumb, shriveled from so much thumb-sucking. When Kurlat Saah almost captures Robin, Robin realizes that the "healer" has some other agenda. Marian also suspects the cur when she sees Kurlat eyeing the display of King Richard's jewels. Prince John finds himself teaming up with his hated enemy to save the Royal heritage.
#3 - "The Wizard's Ring" (July, 1974)
The Baron de Malin, a hefty boar, visits Nottingham intending to make the fair Maid Marian his bride. Prince John is quite agreeable, especially when he discovers that the Count has a wizard's ring that can show the location of anyone when asked, and demands the ring in exchange for Marian's hand. Robin and his friends scheme to stop the wedding and keep the Wizard's Ring out of the villianous hands of Prince John.
#4 - "The Lucky Hat" (plus: "Skippy: Ring Out Glad Bell") (August, 1974)
Skippy's hat - his special birthday gift from Robin - is accidentally blown into the hands of the Sheriff. Thinking the hat is Robin's, the Sheriff places it in a cell with a straw effigy of Robin, hoping to have the real Robin imprisoned soon. Skippy's efforts to get his hat back only lands himself and Tagalong in prison, bait to trap Robin - but Robin creates chaos in Nottingham to rescue his youthful friends.
Backup feature: Skippy: Ring Out Glad Bell. When Friar Tuck is threatened by thugs in his church, Skippy and the kids (hiding in the bell loft) figure out a clever way to call for help.
#5 - "The Golden Arrow" (plus: "Skippy: Mirrors and Other Magic Things") (September 1974)
Robin follows the trail of Friar Tuck after finding out that Tuck, depressed over his poor abilities as an archer, has gone into the Misty Mountains to seek the magical Golden Arrow. Ruffians along the way find Robin and Tuck a formidable pair; but it is Friar Tuck who must save the day when Robin is captured by the fierce gorilla, King Churl the Cruel.
Backup Feature: Skippy: Mirrors and Other Magic Things. Lady Kluck and Skippy play a joke on the Sheriff when the Sheriff seeks a new mirror for Prince John.
#6 - "The King's Ransom" (plus: "Skippy - The Imp of Doom" ) (November, 1974)
Robin and Little John are elated with Friar Tuck's news that King Richard is returning home. However: after stopping a suspicious traveler, the outlaws find out that King Richard is being held for ransom by the wicked pirate crow, Hawkeye. Robin knows that Prince John will never pay any ransom to save Richard, and the pirates are ready to drown the King if anything goes awry. It's up to Robin and his friends to figure out a way to collect a ransom payment and save England's future.
Backup Feature: Skippy: The Imp of Doom. The discovery of an ancient curse on Nottingham Castle gives Skippy a mischevious plan.
#7 - "Robin Hood and the Baron of Bottomly" and "The Enchanted Sword" (January 1975)
This comic featured 2 shorter stories, and no 'main' story
In The Baron of Bottomly, Robin finds out a tax-collecting baron is not only bleeding the peasants dry, but also hiding a goodly portion of the taxes from Prince John.
In The Enchanted Sword, thugs kidnap Marian, then demand that Robin seek out the Enchanted Sword of the Castle of the Mystic Moors for her ransom. If Robin and Little John are able to find the Sword, dare they allow such an dangerous device to fall into evil hands - when even Robin might fall under it's sinister influence?
|
These comics were reprinted in a 4-book series as "A Golden Special." The books featured new art for the covers and reprinted the comic stories on higher-quality stock. The books are:
Robin Hood: Based on the all-new Disney Cartoon feature movie. This reprinted the comic adaptation of the movie, and also included the comic story "The Enchanted Sword."
Robin Hood: The Mystery of Sherwood Forest Also included "The Lucky Hat."
Robin Hood: In King Richard's Service Also included "The Golden Arrow."
Robin Hood: The Wizard's Ring Also included "The King's Ransom."
|
While all the comics make for enjoyable reading, my personal favorites are "The Mystery of Sherwood Forest" and "The Lucky Hat" for art. For storytelling: "In King Richard's Service" and "The Golden Arrow" are exciting and have some very funny bits, like Robin frantically diving for cover to avoid Friar Tuck's archery practice. "The Enchanted Sword" was was worthy of a full-length story for such an exciting premise; unfortunately, the artwork doesn't do it justice, either. "The Baron of Bottomly" ranks at the bottom of the list for both art and storytelling.
OTHER SIGHTINGS
The Plot to Capture Robin Hood
Golden Press; Western Publishing Co.; 1973 (13754)
45 pages. An exciting retelling of the archery tournament scene. Pretty good illustrations, though not on-model.
Robin Hood to the Rescue
Golden Press, Western Publishing Co.; 1973 (15004)
30 unnumbered pages. The story of the castle rescue. Illustrations are good, though Rob is sadly not on-model. This edition originally was packaged with punch-out figures so kids could make a diorama scene of the adventure.
Robin Hood
1975
24 pages. A children's book for Japanese readers, printed on heavy board stock. An excellent collection of movie stills, even if you don't read Japanese!
Robin Hood
Gallery Books, Twin Books series. Publishing date circa 1989
95 pages. One of a series of books based on Disney animated movies.
Retells the story of the movie. Colorful illustrations, with some effort made to get Robin and Marian on-model from time to time.
Robin Hood by Derry Moffatt
Pyramid Books; 1976 (paperback); New English Library Limited; 1974
127 pages. A novelization of the movie story, although with some curious discrepancies - for example, Skippy's name somehow came out as "Bitsy" ...
The illustrations throughout the book are black-and-white line work and very much on-model, as if taken directly from movie stills.
Robin Hood by A. L. Singer
Disney Press, 1992
ISBN: 1-56282-138-5
58 pages. Alan-a-dale the minstrel relates the movie story in first person. Includes an 8-page section of movie stills.
Robin Hood by Walt Disney Studios
Golden Press, Western Publishing Co.; 1973 (A Golden Book) (10492)
24 unnumbered pages. A large-size picture-book retelling of the movie.
Some good illustrations.
Robin Hood
Golden Press, Western Publishing Co.; 1973 (A Little Golden Book) (D126)
24 unnumbered pages. The story of the movie. The illustrations are not bad, though Robin is nowhere near on-model.
Robin Hood and the Daring Mouse
Golden Press, Western Publishing Co.; 1974 (A Little Golden Book) (D128)
24 unnumbered pages. The story of Friar Tuck's arrest and the castle rescue is told through the eyes of the sexton mouse, here named "Oliver." Slightly better illustrations than some of the other picture books.
Republished in a collection of stories: Disney's Adventureland (A Golden Treasury Book), 1991; ISBN: 0307657523
Robin Hood and Skippy's Best Birthday
Western Publishing Co.; 1973 (Whitman Tell-a-Tell Book)
24 unnumbered pages. The story of Skippy's birthday party as told from Skippy's point of view.
Robin Hood Viewmaster booklet
Publishing date: 1973
Viewmasters were a popular "slide-show" toy for children from the 50's to 70's, and in the 70's even came out with "Talking Viewmasters." Robin Hood was also given a Viewmaster presentation, with the scenes illustrating the movie appearing to be 3-D models or cutouts. A little booklet accompanied the reels, giving a quick but well-told retelling of the movie story.
Robin des Bois
Hachette (France); 1974
A comic book retelling of the movie, totally different from the Gold Key publications. The artwork is nicely done in parts, though the characters rarely come anywhere near model. However, the wraparound cover and front and back cover interior illustrations, while not on-model at all, have delightful energy and humor. An enjoyable find even if you can't read French.
Robin des Bois
Beaux Films, (France); 1982 (Dans la Meme Collection)
24 pages. A large-size book, retelling the movie (in French), with a very nice selection of movie stills for illustrations.
Robin des Bois
1984 Fernand Nathan Editeur, Paris; Disney Educatif series; 32 (unnumbered) pages
Brief children's book retelling in French. Interior illustrations of this book the same as those used in the Gallery Books publication. Includes 7 pages of questions, games and puzzles for youthful readers.
Robin des Bois
Text by Francais d'Olivier Sechan
Hachette, Bibliotheque Rose series, 1974; 190 pages
French retelling of the movie story, apparently with the same added scenes as the Authorized Edition. Interestingly, each page of text is mirrored with the same part of the story in comic-book format -- making for plenty of illustrations! Interior drawings are of reasonable quality, with some good energy.
Robin Hood
Horizont Verlag GmbH (Micky's Junior-Buch): 1992 (WDP 1985); 140 pages
A German retelling of the movie. Includes some color illustrations and lots of black-and-white line drawings. The characters are not on-model, but the drawings have enjoyable energy and expression.
Robin Hood: A Golden Adventure
A Whitman Book; Western Publishing Co.; 1973
The castle rescue story features a cut-out of Skippy's coin that stays prominent in every illustration. Characters are not very on-model, though this is one of the better representations of Rob.
Robin Hood
IPC Magazines, London; 1973 (The Walt Disney Picture Treasury)
29 pages. The story of the moive is presented in a magazine-style publication. Illustrated with lots of excellent movie stills.
Robin Hood (Coloring Book)
Golden Book, Western Publishing Co., 1973
The movie is told with word balloons, and the characters are nowhere near on-model. Republished sometime in the 90's for K-Mart.
Robin Hood (Dot-to-Dot Book)
Golden Books, Western Publishing Co., 1973
A connect the dots coloring book.
|
Random House published several books featuring Robin Hood as part of their series, Disney's Wonderful World of Reading. These books are all simply-written stories for young children. The illustrations unfortunately do not do the characters justice, though it looks as if someone used movie stills as reference.
The books in the series are:
Robin Hood and the Great Coach Robbery
Random House, 1974
Retells the story of the coach robbery.
Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow
Random House, 1978
Originally published in Denmark as "Robin Hood og Den Gyldne Pil" by Gutenburghus Bladene, 1977
ISBN: 0-394-83928-5
Retells the story of the archery tournament.
Robin Hood Spins Gold
Random House, 1979
Originally published in Denmark as "Robin Hood Spinder Guld" by Gutenberghus Bladene, Copenhagen, 1978
ISBN: 0-394-84160-3
A new adventure for Robin as he and Little John, in disguise, trick Prince John out of his gold.
Robin Hood Saves the Day
Random House, 1980
Originally published in Denmark as "Robin Hood Slar Til Igen" by Gutenberghus Baldene, Copenhagen, 1979
ISBN: 0-394-84454-8
Retells the story of the castle rescue.
Robin Hood and the Birthday Penny
Random House, 1982
Originally published in Denmark as "Robin Hood Hjaelper Skippy" by Gutenburghus Gruppen, 1981
ISBN: 0-394-84845-4
Extended adventure of the story of Skippy's birthday, with Robin and Skippy having adventures with Prince John, stealing gold, and retrieving Skippy's birthday penny.
Robin Hood Wins Again
Random House, 1983
Originally published in Denmark as "Robin Hood Og Lady Marian"
ISBN: 0-394-85830-1
An original story, quite different from the movie, involving the archery tournament and how Marian got to Sherwood Forest.
|
If you are interested in purchasing any of the books listed above - well, good luck! They're rather hard to come by, but they will pop up in the oddest places sometimes. You can start by checking out these sites:
If your budget does not allow for purchases, it is highly recommended that you contact your local public library and take advantage of their Interlibrary Loan program. Using this (usually free) service, you can obtain nearly any book to be found in libraries across the country, and most of the books can be obtained without fees.
|
