More Shakespearean Comics

Shakespeare will never escape from other media such as films, so it makes sense he will not escape the Western comic book world too. Classical Comics offers Shakespeare's works such as Macbeth and King Henry V in graphic novel form. Just click on the hyperlinked text in this post and see!

- Kristopher

Manga Shakespeare

First off, I am a huge fan of the Japanese manga, or "comic," medium. There are numerous series that I am fond of, most of which do not directly reference Shakespeare. So that is a different subject entirely!

Manga Shakespeare is a line of comics from artists in the United Kingdom. Titles such as Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet have been adapted into the manga medium. Of course, they are not direct adaptations, as the artists take liberty to setting the familiar storylines in modern-and futuristic-situations where the original dialogue is still present.

For example, Manga Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet takes in the Shibuya District in Tokyo, focusing on two rival Yakuza families. Romeo is a rock star and still of the Montague clan, while Juliet remains a Capulet. The mangatized Hamlet takes place in the year 2017, where global warming has thrown the world into chaos but the story taken from the Shakespeare classic remains the same.

The "Manga Shakespeare" series is done by different artists but the written material is undeniably Shakespeare. Personally, I think this was a daring new approach to look into the world of Shakespeare. The art work for the comics themselves is not shabby either!

Below is a sample image, so click for a closer view:

- Kristopher

Themes of Witchcraft and Mythology in Shakespeare

In Shakespeare class, Dr. Clemente pointed out comparisons between the play we are currently reading in class, King Lear, and the Three Weird Sisters from Macbeth. The reason this was brought up was the mentioning of Hecate, who in Greek mythology was the patron of witchcraft. King Lear takes place before Christianity touched England so her inclusion would not be out of place.

Lear himself mentions her:

"Well, let it be so. Thy truth then be thy dower,
For by the sacred radiance of the sun,
The mysteries of Hecate and the night,
By all the operation of the orbs,
From whome we do exist and cease to be,
Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
Prpinquity, and property of blood,
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee from this forever. The barbarous Scythian,
Or he that makes his generation
Messes to gorge his appetite, shall be
As well neighbored, pitied, and relieved
As thou my sometime daughter."

This also illustrates Lear's optimism and idealistic nature, which will most likely be his downfall concerning the management of his three daughters Cordelia, Goneril and Regan. He is a man who wants good things to happen but fails to see the darkness envelop around him.

Part of the reason of why I am growing to like Shakespeare more than I used to is his use of references and themes from mythology and legend. King Lear itself is an old folktale derived from ancient times. A Midsummer Night's Dream makes liberal use of Greek mythology, and other plays make good use of key figures in mythology to make important points in their dialogue.

The amazing thing about Shakespeare's works is that the author unwittingly created his own mythology, his legend, that allowed characters from different plays to leap into films and other mediums that are not directly associated with Shakespeare. Puck for instance is a regular recurring character in the classic cartoon Gargoyles and other characters like Titania make their appearance in the show. Other writers' characters have been "borrowed" for storylines and Shakespeare is no exception.

- Kristopher