A colleague recently recommended the graphic novel Kill Shakespeare. It was a great recommendation. Having limited familiarity with this genre (graphic novel), I was pleasantly surprised by all of the action, artistry, and drama that this medium affords. The story is simple. Many of the villains of Shakespeare’s plays (Richard III, Iago, and Lady MacBeth, for example) have banded together to kill the Bard, or more accurately, steal his magic quill and thus steal his power, which is the ability to control the world. They are opposed by the “good” characters (Hamlet, Falstaff, Othello, and Juliet, among others), who have allied to oppose them. The story unfolds in truly great comic book fashion, with lots of honor, blood, battles, and glory, with a fair bit of homage paid back to the Bard (in the form of references, quotes, specific plot points, etc.). These graphic novelists pull it off, avoiding the “cheese” factor (for example, tired Shakespeare quotes all over the place) as well at the ivory tower factor (for example, brainy, obscurely academic Shakespearean references all over the place). It works.
One thing I loved so much about it was the way these characters were made into such total badasses. In this graphic novel, Juliet is a complete force of nature. Othello? Forget about it. Complete. Ass-kicking. Warrior. This is cool, and does not debase what Shakespeare is about (which is a criticism I have heard). Why not show these characters in all their strength and potency, which is what they are. Why not take that ball and run with it, especially when you can do it such justice in comic book form? Such larger-than-life casting, perfect for a comic and perfect for the Bard. Shakespeare would have loved it I’m sure.
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