Back on the Chain Gang

My contest entry for
The contest was to have two or more Les Mis characters from different versions of the story interacting with each other. I suppose they're not actually interacting, but...they're connected by a chain, so that's got to count for something. So, here are five little Valjeans from my favorite versions of the story.

1. Valjean from Victor Hugo's novel Victor Hugo didn't really give a detailed description of Jean Valjean (not like the time he spent describing Enjolras, anyway), but he mentioned long hair and the red tunic when he got out of prison. I thought, seeing as this Valjean was the one who started all the versions,he deserved a spot in the picture.

2. Colm Wilkinson The original Valjean on Broadway. I've sadly never seen the musical (or was even alive back then, for that matter), so all I could rely on were Google images. Unfortunately, the only good view of his prison clothes I could find was from the 10th anniversary concert, but at least it was still Colm Wilkinson.

3. Liam Neeson I know this version gets a lot of criticism (shush, I actually kind of liked Geoffrey Rush's Javert), but it was the first movie version of Les Mis that I saw. Even with all the changes they made (and completely getting rid of Eponine's part), it really is an enjoyable movie. That, and it had a darn good soundtrack, even if it wasn't a musical version.

4. Alfie Boe My all-time favorite Valjean. His eyes are freaking adorable, and his voice is amazing. He was the one to make me actually appreciate Valjean's character. As much as I like his role, I sadly don't have much to say about it. Sigh.

5. Hugh Jackman And, last but not least, the most recent version of Les Mis, the 2012 movie. Hugh Jackman did a good job, but I've always been a little sad that Alfie Boe couldn't get the part (I heard he tried out for the movie.). I love Russell Crowe's Javert, though. They really did a wicked good job with this movie.

And there you have it! All the little Valjeans. ...Five of them, anyway. I'm sorry for the, um, wrinkly appearance of the picture, though...the scanner washed out the colors, so I tried taking a picture, but it was difficult to do when the paper buckled from the paint. Oh well, I'm still glad I got to enter the contest.

Done with watercolors, colored pencils, and rooibos tea.