The graphic novel adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is getting a brand-new expanded edition September 16. The upcoming hardcover edition has nearly 50 pages of new content that will appeal to longtime Tolkien fans and anyone who enjoys behind-the-scenes looks at the creative processes of artists. The Hobbit: A Graphic Novel – Revised and Expanded Edition is available to preorder for $31 (was $35) at Amazon.
Publisher William Morrow reissued The Hobbit: A Graphic Novel in paperback last year. If you haven’t read the adaptation, you can purchase the paperback edition from Amazon for $14.72 (was $23). The Revised and Expanded Edition is 192 pages, whereas the 2024 paperback edition is 144 pages.
$31 (was $35)
The Hobbit: A Graphic Novel was adapted by Charles Dixon and illustrated with full-color paintings by Dave Wenzel. The cover art for the Revised and Expanded Edition features Gandalf approaching Bag End in The Shire. This artwork was used for earlier editions, but it appears to have been remastered for this release.
In the pages unique to this edition, illustrator Dave Wenzel looks back on the creation of the adaptation. Eclipse Comics published The Hobbit as a three-issue comic series back in 1989. The upcoming hardcover edition includes previously unreleased artwork created for the original comics. Wenzel also provides commentary and insights on the origins of the adaptation and how he approached illustrating scenes from Tolkien’s iconic novel.
Since its original publication, The Hobbit: A Graphic Novel has offered a great way to introduce younger readers to J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy world. I’ve read the graphic novel adaptation to both of my children, and they loved it.
The Hobbit: J.R.R. Tolkien’s Original Novel
If you want to revisit Tolkien’s original 1937 novel before diving into the graphic novel adaptation, you have many different editions to choose from, including a wide selection of collectible and illustrated editions. We rounded up notable editions of The Hobbit at Amazon, from regular paperbacks and illustrated hardcovers to display-worthy collector’s editions with lavish designs. One notable upcoming release to have on your radar is The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings Illustrated Gift Set, which includes artwork by Alan Lee and will be published in the US for the first time on October 14. This box set was originally published in the UK in 2020 and is available from resellers on Amazon for as low as $89. The US edition is currently $139 (was $150).
The Hobbit Editions & Companion Books
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the editions featured in the Amazon hub we created.
The Hobbit + Lord of the Rings Book Box Sets
The graphic novel has been reissued numerous times over the years, but there are far more variations of Tolkien’s original novel. Since its publication in 1937–nearly two decades prior to The Lord of the Rings–The Hobbit has captivated readers and publishers. The Prelude to The Lord of the Rings has countless collectible, deluxe, and illustrated editions. In terms of illustrated editions, editions of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with artwork by Alan Lee are often viewed as the best among fans. Lee illustrated the 60th Anniversary Edition published in 1997 and the 2020 Illustrated Edition, which only released in the UK but is available on Amazon for around $30.
As mentioned, William Morrow is publishing a four-volume hardcover box set of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit in the US on October 14. All four volumes feature Alan Lee’s illustrations, so this box set could wind up being viewed as the definitive LOTR and The Hobbit box set. It arrives almost exactly a year after William Morrow published The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set, a remastered version of the 1992 box set illustrated by Alan Lee (The Hobbit isn’t included). We’d also recommend checking out The Hobbit Sketchbook, a 192-page collection of drawings and paintings Alan Lee created while illustrating the novel.
In addition to the versions illustrated by Lee, all big Tolkien fans should have the unique Tolkien Illustrated Edition of The Hobbit in their personal collection. Published in 2023, this beautiful edition features 50 sketches, paintings, and maps by the author himself. It also has foil-stamped cover art, stained page edges with Dwarvish script, gold-foil trim, and a ribbon bookmark. Inside the front and back covers, you’ll find foldout maps drawn by Tolkien.
There are plenty of other noteworthy editions of The Hobbit, including the 2024 Collector’s Edition with foil-stamped cover art, stained edges, and a ribbon bookmark. William Morrow also released matching hardcover Collector’s Editions for all three parts of The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.
