Synopses & Reviews
Praise for Manga Shakespeare
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
and#160;
and#8220;Reluctant readers who appreciate manga and who would not think of picking up the work of Shakespeare are sure to gravitate toward these titles. Even if the text puts them off, they will be drawn to the illustrations. These adaptations would make wonderful additions to any school or public libraryand#8217;s manga collection.and#8221; and#8212;VOYA
and#160;
and#8220;Refreshingly clear, this adaptation is recommended for all libraries serving teens.and#8221; and#8212;Kirkus Reviews
and#160;
and#8220;This fresh new way of looking at a classic will draw new readers to Shakespeare, hopefully to discover that his plays are really quite entertaining.and#8221; and#8212;YAbookscentral.com
and#160;
Shakespeareand#8217;s most commonly studied plays, now the latest additions to the innovative Manga Shakespeare series
and#160;
and#8220;Double double, toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble . . .and#8221; So say the eerie trio of witches in Shakespeareand#8217;s Macbeth, a story full of ghosts, witches, bloody ambition, and nonstop action. After Macbeth hears the witchesand#8217; prophecy that he will be king, he will stop at nothing to make it so. Vividly adapted using Shakespeareand#8217;s own words in the fast-paced and immediate style of manga, Macbeth is the perfect addition to the Manga Shakespeare seriesand#8212;ideal for students and manga fans alike.
FandP level: Z
Synopsis
A comedy of mistaken identity and thwarted love,
Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare's most beloved plays and is frequently performed and studied across the country. When Viola finds herself shipwrecked, she pretends to be a male servant and falls in love with Duke Orsino. The Manga Shakespeare interpretation, which incorporates fresh ideas and thoughtful settings, will introduce the classic play to a new audience of Shakespeare fans.
Praise for Twelfth Night
"This manga adaptation of Shakespeare's romantic comedy is as enjoyable as the Bard intended. Li's sweet shojo art style fits the story perfectly, and the pseudohistorical setting is fun. Her deft touch with facial expressions, comic inserts, and chibis (cute little cartoon characters) will help readers understand the Elizabethan dialogue. This solid entry in the Manga Shakespeare series will make a useful addition to class studies, especially for teachers reluctant to use adaptations with simplified language." -
BooklistSynopsis
Adapted by Richard Appignanesi and illustrated by Nana Li, the Manga Shakespeare interpretation of Twelfth Night incorporates fresh ideas and thoughtful settings to introduce the classic play to a new audience of Shakespeare fans. A comedy of mistaken identity and thwarted love, Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare's most beloved plays and is frequently performed and studied across the country. When Viola finds herself shipwrecked, she pretends to be a male servant and falls in love with Duke Orsino.
"This manga adaptation of Shakespeare's romantic comedy is as enjoyable as the Bard intended. Li's sweet shojo art style fits the story perfectly, and the pseudohistorical setting is fun. Her deft touch with facial expressions, comic inserts, and chibis (cute little cartoon characters) will help readers understand the Elizabethan dialogue." --Booklist
Manga Shakespeare series:
Romeo and Juliet
Hamlet
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Much Ado About Nothing
Othello
Twelfth Night
Macbeth
Julius Caesar
Synopsis
In
Much Ado About Nothing, Beatrice and Benedick trade insults and fall in love in the sunny Italian court of the Dukeand#8212;but the Dukeand#8217;s brother has devious plans to ruin the happy mood. Manga readers can now enjoy the wit and drama of these plays firsthand.
FandP level: Z
Synopsis
Othello and
As You Like It are the newest additions to the imaginative world of
Manga Shakespeare. In the face of the false evidence produced by the conniving Iago, Othello cannot trust his wife, and his mistrust leads to the playand#8217;s tragic conclusion. In
As You Like It, Rosalind, dressed like a boy, falls in love with Orlando. A mistaken-identity comedy follows, with a happy ending (or the ultimate justice served) for those who deserve it. Both plays have been refreshingly updated in the style of manga while maintaining Shakespeareand#8217;s beautiful language.
FandP level: Z
Synopsis
Praise for Manga Shakespeare
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
and#160;
and#8220;Reluctant readers who appreciate manga and who would not think of picking up the work of Shakespeare are sure to gravitate toward these titles. Even if the text puts them off, they will be drawn to the illustrations. These adaptations would make wonderful additions to any school or public libraryand#8217;s manga collection.and#8221; and#8212;VOYA
and#160;
and#8220;Refreshingly clear, this adaptation is recommended for all libraries serving teens.and#8221; and#8212;Kirkus Reviews
and#160;
and#8220;This fresh new way of looking at a classic will draw new readers to Shakespeare, hopefully to discover that his plays are really quite entertaining.and#8221; and#8212;YAbookscentral.com
and#160; Shakespeareand#8217;s most commonly studied plays, now the latest additions to the innovative Manga Shakespeare series. and#160;
In Shakespeareand#8217;s enduring tale of ancient Rome, Julius Caesar is at the height of his powersand#8212;but there are men plotting his destruction. Is Caesar a tyrant or a dynamic leader? Are his enemies greedy or noble? The Manga Shakespeare adaptation of this important work maintains the languageand#8212;and the fierce political intrigueand#8212;of the original while including a fresh perspective through the style of modern manga.
FandP level: Z
Synopsis
Combining manga and the timeless texts of Shakespeareand#8217;s plays, this series translates some of the greatest works of literature into a new format. In
King Lear, the aging kingand#8212;here a Native Americanand#8212;must decide how to split his kingdom among his daughters. When he scorns his one dutiful daughter and trusts the two selfish ones, he pays a steep price.
FandP level: Z
Synopsis
The latest in the breakout series
Manga Shakespeare, introducing teens to a new kind of Bard.
In one of Shakespeareand#8217;s funniest, most enduring stories, meddling fairies create unexpected love triangles among a group of teenagers. Hermia is in love with Lysander. Demetrius is in love with Hermia. Helena is in love with Demetrius. Add to the mix Puck, a fairy with a powerful love potion, and chaos is sure to follow. Now everyoneand#8217;s in love with Helena, Hermia is hopping mad, and the fairy queen Titania is in love with a man with a donkeyand#8217;s head! Using the style and visual language of manga, Kate Brown transforms Shakespeareand#8217;s world into something new and vibrant. Itand#8217;s the perfect introduction to Shakespeareand#8217;s work for reluctant readers and manga fans alike.
FandP level: Z
About the Author
Mustashrik is an artist and designer who recently produced a series of original animated shorts for the band Nizlopi to promote the launch of its new album. He lives in the United Kingdom. Robert Deas won second place in the print comic category in the prestigious IMAF competition, and he has sat on various manga panels in London to promote the UK manga scene. He lives in London.