In the mid 20th century, "Classics Illustrated" comics were the salvation of many a student faced with the grim prospect of a book report on the likes of "Silas Marner" or "Moby Dick." Now hundreds of literary classics adapted and illustrated as comics in the pages of "Classics Illustrated" are going digital.

Classics Illustrated's adaptation of H.G. Wells' "The War of the Worlds" is one of dozens of vintage comic-book versions of literary classics that will be available on digital devices via comics purveyor Comixology. Uncredited / Today

Comics purveyor Comixology said Wednesday it made a deal with Trajectory Inc. to bring the entire 120-issue run of "Classics Illustrated" to its digital storefront within several months, with the first titles to include adaptations of H.G. Wells' "The War of the Worlds," James Fenimore Cooper's "The Last of the Mohicans" and Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre," among others.

The adaptions were originally published from 1941 through 1971, first as "Classic Comics" before adopting the current title in 1947. Publisher Albert Kanter decided to adapt the works into comic form in a bid to introduce young readers to the classics.



