Macbeth: In Comic Book Format

by William Shakespeare

Simon Greaves (Editor)

Macbeth presents an edited version of one of Shakespeare's most famous plays. The fact that it is edited is an essential aspect of its success. Skilful cutting preserves key speeches and retains the work's shape and momentum while avoiding passages that may have less relevance to modern audiences. The edited original text is accompanied by a modern English translation throughout. This simplified version puts Shakespeare's work into understandable, contemporary language. It goes for clarity of expression rather than poetic effect and is a brilliant support for those who would otherwise struggle to comprehend Shakespeare's verse. Both Shakespeare's text and its modern translation are presented throughout in comic book style. The vivid two colour illustrations have their own intrinsic appeal, but also provide important information about setting, historical context, atmosphere and character. The Shakespeare Comic Book Series has become an established and popular part of the English curriculum in many UK schools. Mainly used by teachers at KS 2-4, the comic book approach to his work has been described by one teacher as 'the perfect introduction to Shakespeare.'

• ISBN13: 9780954432508
• Publish Date: 31 January 2003 (first published December 1909)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Timber Frame Publications Ltd
• Edition: New edition
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 56
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

I received a copy of Manga Classics: Macbeth in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I know I’ve said this time and time again, but I sincerely adore the concept behind Manga Classics. I love that it gives me a new perspective on many of the classics I know and love. And for those I haven’t read it gives me an excuse to try them out and not be quite so intimidated (we’ve all come across that one classic that was so large it was impossible not to be intimidated by it).
I think it’s great that they’re working so hard to help expose more people to the classics by making them more approachable. Plus it’s fun seeing something so well known turned into a different medium (after all, that’s why movie and TV adaptations are so popular, right? Well, one of the reasons at least).
I can’t get enough of the Manga Classics, truth be told. It felt like I waited a year for the next one to come out, when it was really only a few months (which is a very fast turnaround time, I’d like to point out).
I’ve been hoping for a while now that they would do a manga version of Macbeth, and it looks like I finally got my wish! I’ll admit that even though I was looking forward to it, I was shocked by just how well it adapted into manga form.
It’s always interesting to see how these classic characters would translate into manga characters. I was a bit surprise by Macbeth’s, but I think that has more to do with how I picture him versus how he was described. I adored the representation of almost all of the characters, but some of the side characters in particular really stood out to me as being amazingly accurate (and no, I’m not really sure why they stood out to me in particular). I love the more stylized manner in which the witches were drawn as well. It really suited their more ethereal nature, and frankly it made them look creepier, so it was a brilliant choice all around.
The artist’s choice of including imagery in the background during specific scenes (usually the ones with more dialogue than most) was brilliant. It helped convey the deeper meaning and implications of the words, while not disrupting the emersion.
Overall I really loved this adaptation. It was everything I could have hoped for and more. And the best part? In the back of the book they listed the upcoming classics, and A Midsummer’s Night Dream is shown! All of my wishes and dreams have come true! I’m the happiest girl ever. Now I just have to be patient and wait for its release!

For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[celinenyx]

Had a version with sentence to sentence explanations, which is definitely the way to go for me. Lots of people died. It was fun.

[anastasia]

:)

[clementine]

At my first Intro to Shakespeare conference, my TA made us all go around and say what our favourite Shakespeare play is, and why. I didn't even have to think about my answer: I told everyone that Macbeth is my favourite, because it has insanity, witches, and murder. My TA laughed and said, "Everything you look for in a play," and I was like, "Well, YEAH," because... well, YEAH.

A lot of people know that I love Macbeth. Love love love. I first read it in the fall of 2009. At the time I hated the teacher, but looking back, he taught it so well that it made it immensely enjoyable to me. Over three years later, there are still huge chunks of dialogue that I know very well.

I'm not a Shakespeare buff. This we have established. I enjoy some of it, some of it's okay, some of it leaves me cold. I'm sort of in the middle. I'm Shakespeare apathetic. But I will sing the praises of Macbeth very, very loudly. And constantly. Because I just think it's such a goddamn good time. It really does have everything you could possibly want: witchcraft, prophecies, insanity, lots and lots of murder, a decapitation, a walking forest, a ghost... I mean, COME ON. It's just so ridiculously great.

I also love the language of this play. There are particular sections of it that I really enjoy reading slowly and carefully, soaking up the metaphors and allusions and meanings that aren't immediately clear. Basically everything Lady Macbeth says is the best ever.

It's just a goddamn great play, okay? And I will forever hold any and all Shakespeare I read up to its standards, which probably isn't fair, because I was taught it really well and part of that included seeing, like, seven different versions, including one live in Stratford, Ontario (a town renowned for its Shakespeare festival and also the fact that it created Justin Bieber). But, whatever. Macbeth is forever my measure of excellence. Because it is freaking excellent.