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Kill Shakespeare #2
Kill Shakespeare, Vol. 2: The Blast of War
And so the curtain falls... Hamlet, Juliet, and Shakespeare all facing death Can Othello rally the Prodigals to defeat Richard and Lady Macbeth's now-fractured army? But even if he does, will anyone be left alive to celebrate victory? The critically acclaimed series ends its first run in this second volume collection.
148 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
January 30, 2020
To read, or not to read?
That is the question.
Whether ‘tis nobler for the mind
To suffer the slings and arrows of watching Netflix
Or to take a bath in a sea of bubbles
And, by opposing, pop them?
A solid conclusion to the story begun in volume 1, though it didn’t exactly tighten my hose, if you know what I’m saying (because those dudes wore hose…and doublets…and probably kernafuffles*, at least in some cases). I was hoping it would wow me, but it hasn’t thus far. Still, solidly entertaining, and lots of little Shakespearean Easter eggs for the Bardishly inclined.
*Those are not a thing; I made that up to see if you were still paying attention. Turns out you weren’t.
That is the question.
Whether ‘tis nobler for the mind
To suffer the slings and arrows of watching Netflix
Or to take a bath in a sea of bubbles
And, by opposing, pop them?
A solid conclusion to the story begun in volume 1, though it didn’t exactly tighten my hose, if you know what I’m saying (because those dudes wore hose…and doublets…and probably kernafuffles*, at least in some cases). I was hoping it would wow me, but it hasn’t thus far. Still, solidly entertaining, and lots of little Shakespearean Easter eggs for the Bardishly inclined.
*Those are not a thing; I made that up to see if you were still paying attention. Turns out you weren’t.
December 2, 2023
Slightly better than the first one, but still not great.
May 6, 2020
*3.5
This is not where I thought Vol. 2 was going to go.
Juliet and Hamlet have an evening of confessing their tragic pasts to each other. I really liked how they opened up to each other but the romance afterwards seemed very fast. On the other hand, there was a reverse balcony scene with Juliet climbing up to kiss Hamlet so I suppose it's forgiven. While Juliet's prodigals, and Richard and Lady Macbeth (what is her first name?) forces gather, Hamlet goes to find Will Shakespeare in the Globe theatre. And find him he does! Along with Romeo and his band of violent religious zealots.
Shakespeare, drunk and slovenly in a hovel, is uninterested in playing in part of whatever war his creations have cooked up. Hamlet is earnest in trying to get either Will, or his magic quill, to this battle. Eventually he succeeds and Will's interventions saves the day.
Iago plays Lady Macbeth false, because he loves her and doesn't want her to be killed by Shakespeare. His reward is to be brutally tortured by Richard and the Lady, then beheaded by Othello. Richard thinks he has outsmarted Lady Macbeth by gaining the loyalty of her feared black guard, but Lady Macbeth has magic, and is the only "bad guy" to survive the battle to fight another day.
I thought it would take a lot longer to find Shakespeare and I thought it would take longer before Juliet's forces fought King Richard's. I suppose whatever happens next will be Lady Macbeth's plan to regain power but otherwise I have absolutely no idea where this is going. Hamlet has regained some confidence in both his place in this new world, and as Juliet's new paramour and is much less annoying for it.
This is not where I thought Vol. 2 was going to go.
Juliet and Hamlet have an evening of confessing their tragic pasts to each other. I really liked how they opened up to each other but the romance afterwards seemed very fast. On the other hand, there was a reverse balcony scene with Juliet climbing up to kiss Hamlet so I suppose it's forgiven. While Juliet's prodigals, and Richard and Lady Macbeth (what is her first name?) forces gather, Hamlet goes to find Will Shakespeare in the Globe theatre. And find him he does! Along with Romeo and his band of violent religious zealots.
Shakespeare, drunk and slovenly in a hovel, is uninterested in playing in part of whatever war his creations have cooked up. Hamlet is earnest in trying to get either Will, or his magic quill, to this battle. Eventually he succeeds and Will's interventions saves the day.
Iago plays Lady Macbeth false, because he loves her and doesn't want her to be killed by Shakespeare. His reward is to be brutally tortured by Richard and the Lady, then beheaded by Othello. Richard thinks he has outsmarted Lady Macbeth by gaining the loyalty of her feared black guard, but Lady Macbeth has magic, and is the only "bad guy" to survive the battle to fight another day.
I thought it would take a lot longer to find Shakespeare and I thought it would take longer before Juliet's forces fought King Richard's. I suppose whatever happens next will be Lady Macbeth's plan to regain power but otherwise I have absolutely no idea where this is going. Hamlet has regained some confidence in both his place in this new world, and as Juliet's new paramour and is much less annoying for it.
December 24, 2011
Kill Shakespeare vol.2 improves somewhat on volume 1, but it still fails to live up to the potential of its basic premise. The heroes get fleshed out in this volume with some actual depth, but the villains become so one-note that they practically vanish into the background. The characters still aren't Shakespeare's, but if you forget that little detail the book becomes a fun fantasy read.
As far as what happens when the characters meet Shakespeare himself - well, it's still a wasted opportunity. In the story, Shakespeare is treated as a flawed god, but Hamlet and the rest never actually come to grips with their own existence as fictional characters. If that kind of meta-fictional encounter between a character and his author is what you were hoping for, let me recommend Grant Morrison's run on Animal Man so you can see how it's supposed to be done.
As far as what happens when the characters meet Shakespeare himself - well, it's still a wasted opportunity. In the story, Shakespeare is treated as a flawed god, but Hamlet and the rest never actually come to grips with their own existence as fictional characters. If that kind of meta-fictional encounter between a character and his author is what you were hoping for, let me recommend Grant Morrison's run on Animal Man so you can see how it's supposed to be done.
August 22, 2022
still holds up
December 9, 2019
SPOILERS BELOW!
If you've read my thoughts on the first volume of this series, know that many of the same problems apply to its sequel. Although more entertaining than the first, it doubles down on the old tired cliche's by setting up a love connection between Hamlet and Juliet. Granted, it was obvious they would end up together from the moment they met in the first book, but this volume was the one that followed through with that easy prediction.
The main plot see's the final battle between Juliet's rebellion and Richard the Third's army unfold, and while the fight scenes provide some mindless entertainment, it isn't any more memorable in the long run. A few days after reading this volume, I struggle to remember many of the events that happened in it.
The villains are hilariously one note. I am not familiar with Richard the Third's character, but I think Shakespeare would roll in his grave if he knew how one of his characters was made into a flat antagonist with no redeemable qualities whatsoever. Lady Macbeth, too, both in the original source material and other reinterpretations, kept her in a somewhat sympathetic light by having her feel inconsolable guilt over her actions. Here, she's just as diabolical and serpent-like as "Richard 3".
The few compliments I can give this book is how it told the downfall of Iago, then the death of Falstaff and how Hamlet mourned his loss. Those are the only things that were interesting to read about.
Again, there isn't much point to reading this series unless you're a huge fan of Shakespeare and/or fantasy, and don't care about originality.
If you've read my thoughts on the first volume of this series, know that many of the same problems apply to its sequel. Although more entertaining than the first, it doubles down on the old tired cliche's by setting up a love connection between Hamlet and Juliet. Granted, it was obvious they would end up together from the moment they met in the first book, but this volume was the one that followed through with that easy prediction.
The main plot see's the final battle between Juliet's rebellion and Richard the Third's army unfold, and while the fight scenes provide some mindless entertainment, it isn't any more memorable in the long run. A few days after reading this volume, I struggle to remember many of the events that happened in it.
The villains are hilariously one note. I am not familiar with Richard the Third's character, but I think Shakespeare would roll in his grave if he knew how one of his characters was made into a flat antagonist with no redeemable qualities whatsoever. Lady Macbeth, too, both in the original source material and other reinterpretations, kept her in a somewhat sympathetic light by having her feel inconsolable guilt over her actions. Here, she's just as diabolical and serpent-like as "Richard 3".
The few compliments I can give this book is how it told the downfall of Iago, then the death of Falstaff and how Hamlet mourned his loss. Those are the only things that were interesting to read about.
Again, there isn't much point to reading this series unless you're a huge fan of Shakespeare and/or fantasy, and don't care about originality.
May 26, 2019
There's an interesting novelty at work in Kill Shakespeare where all of Shakespeare's various heroes and villains are in a war against each other to either protect or kill William Shakespeare. But after a bit, that novelty wears off. Writer Conor McCreery couldn't hope to match the poetic verse of the real Shakespeare (and to be fair he doesn't really try), but we have here a Hamlet that seems cheerful at times and a Falstaff who's brave. That seems a little off. Then factor in the artwork that is rather generic, pencils that make characters look very similar--seriously, Iago and Hamlet look like pretty much the same guy--and you have a book that is basically just the novelty. I'm a big Shakespeare fan, so that may have helped or hurt my appreciation depending on what was happening. I got the Easter Eggs, but I also saw the character discrepancies.
September 28, 2017
The continuation of Shakespearian characters in a combined world. Juliet continues as the rebel leader against the tyrannical King Richard and Lady MacBeth. Will is found and he's given up his God-Father role as the creator basically because misery abounds. Epic battle erupts between the factions, much backstabbing occurs, as it should in something having to do with Shakespeare.
Illustration is still colorful and vibrant. Line work isn't 100% consistent, but generally pretty good. I like it overall, it has a good feel.
I've enjoyed the series so far and look forward to more.
Illustration is still colorful and vibrant. Line work isn't 100% consistent, but generally pretty good. I like it overall, it has a good feel.
I've enjoyed the series so far and look forward to more.
October 25, 2017
Seriously, creators, the most interesting thing you could think to do with all of Shakespeare's major characters is have them meet in hand-to-hand combat? Seriously?!
[If you're wondering why I bothered to read this at all, it's because I borrowed it at the same time as Vol. 1.]
[If you're wondering why I bothered to read this at all, it's because I borrowed it at the same time as Vol. 1.]
May 29, 2023
As stated elsewhere, it's really more of a promise of a premise that sometimes leaves a little to be desired. But considering that this was considered to be a limited series and not an ongoing thing, I'm amazed that there wasn't more finality in the ending.
October 17, 2017
As fun as the first one. I love what they’re doing with Lady Macbeth and one of my favourite female Shakespeare villains who shows up at the very end...
July 12, 2018
The storyline greatly improved from volume 1 to 2. I think I am hooked ;)
March 25, 2021
Volume 2 was good but not as good as volume 1. Maybe I’m bitter because my favorite character died; maybe I’m bitter from all of the death. Who is to say?
MVP: Juliet
MVP: Juliet
May 4, 2021
War & Quill, Juliette putting aside youthful dalliances, Will returns to the world.
November 28, 2021
Hamlet meeting Shakespeare I thought would be more eventful. Violence took over for plot development and while Falstaff felt authentic Juliet did I not.
December 14, 2023
Great graphic novel. Just as good as the first volume.
April 25, 2020
Updated review, April 2020:
I enjoyed The Blast of War, the second book in the Kill Shakespeare graphic novel series, much more than I liked the first one. I was much more invested in the journey of Shadow King Hamlet to find the creator Will Shakespeare, and when the latter finally made an appearance, I wasn't disappointed. Well, I was disappointed by a couple other things, mainly the lack of explanation of why all these people were fighting each other, what motivations everyone had, and how the magic worked among them all. But in terms of the concept, I loved how Shakespeare wrote himself write into the story. I was particularly amused, much more so than the first book, how many real Shakespearean lines were worked into the perfect places, often by other characters but apropos nonetheless. Can't wait to keep reading the rest of the series!
Original review, 2013:
Kill Shakespeare, Vol. 2 is a much needed sequel to the first edition of this series, this time taking a better glimpse at the Bard's original characters and actions. It follows up where the previous volume left off, course, with Iago treading both sides of a traitorous line and Hamlet struggling to find and prove himself to his newfound friends.
But Volume 2 does a much better job at intertwining Shakespeare's original characters with the writers' own interpretations on them. I was much pleased to really feel Richard, Lady Macbeth and Iago's evil motivations against Hamlet and Will; and likewise, Hamlet and WIll's humble desperation and, in the latter case, guilt.
Writers Conor McCreery and Anthony Del Col also insert many more references to Shakespeare's original works, as more recognizable characters show up and take their alliances with people they likely would have had their original plays intersected. But perhaps even more surprising and interesting was how many more Shakespeare quotes the writers included among the dialogue — including a sonnet delivered by Will in the end. I was reading along many times and found myself smiling for being able to recognize the plays from which they were taken.
The story itself is a much darker, bloodier mess than the previous edition, what with the epic battle scene between the Black Guard and the Prodigals. It's clear the entire series was building up to this point, and the writers and illustrators delivered. The battle scenes were fantastically drawn and gave Andy Belanger time to shine where the writers had other great moments of dialogue and plot in other places. They also set the tone for the rest of the graphic novel, combining all the elements of suspense and thrill with some horror and dread of battle and loss.
Like the previous edition, some subplots were a tad hard to follow, especially as minor characters were introduced, and the artwork was arranged in curious ways, but again, it was easy to determine a story line if you could get past some of that.
Kill Shakespeare is a highly recommended Shakespearean adventure for people who love the Bard or not, and it certainly made me more excited to revisit my old Shakespeare anthology. Hopefully other people less familiar with him will be more inclined to read some of his classic plays, after reading this graphic novel where the characters adopt their similar personalities.
I enjoyed The Blast of War, the second book in the Kill Shakespeare graphic novel series, much more than I liked the first one. I was much more invested in the journey of Shadow King Hamlet to find the creator Will Shakespeare, and when the latter finally made an appearance, I wasn't disappointed. Well, I was disappointed by a couple other things, mainly the lack of explanation of why all these people were fighting each other, what motivations everyone had, and how the magic worked among them all. But in terms of the concept, I loved how Shakespeare wrote himself write into the story. I was particularly amused, much more so than the first book, how many real Shakespearean lines were worked into the perfect places, often by other characters but apropos nonetheless. Can't wait to keep reading the rest of the series!
Original review, 2013:
Kill Shakespeare, Vol. 2 is a much needed sequel to the first edition of this series, this time taking a better glimpse at the Bard's original characters and actions. It follows up where the previous volume left off, course, with Iago treading both sides of a traitorous line and Hamlet struggling to find and prove himself to his newfound friends.
But Volume 2 does a much better job at intertwining Shakespeare's original characters with the writers' own interpretations on them. I was much pleased to really feel Richard, Lady Macbeth and Iago's evil motivations against Hamlet and Will; and likewise, Hamlet and WIll's humble desperation and, in the latter case, guilt.
Writers Conor McCreery and Anthony Del Col also insert many more references to Shakespeare's original works, as more recognizable characters show up and take their alliances with people they likely would have had their original plays intersected. But perhaps even more surprising and interesting was how many more Shakespeare quotes the writers included among the dialogue — including a sonnet delivered by Will in the end. I was reading along many times and found myself smiling for being able to recognize the plays from which they were taken.
The story itself is a much darker, bloodier mess than the previous edition, what with the epic battle scene between the Black Guard and the Prodigals. It's clear the entire series was building up to this point, and the writers and illustrators delivered. The battle scenes were fantastically drawn and gave Andy Belanger time to shine where the writers had other great moments of dialogue and plot in other places. They also set the tone for the rest of the graphic novel, combining all the elements of suspense and thrill with some horror and dread of battle and loss.
Like the previous edition, some subplots were a tad hard to follow, especially as minor characters were introduced, and the artwork was arranged in curious ways, but again, it was easy to determine a story line if you could get past some of that.
Kill Shakespeare is a highly recommended Shakespearean adventure for people who love the Bard or not, and it certainly made me more excited to revisit my old Shakespeare anthology. Hopefully other people less familiar with him will be more inclined to read some of his classic plays, after reading this graphic novel where the characters adopt their similar personalities.
October 28, 2012
ARC Provided by NetGalley
OK so this ARC only provided access to the first issue, so it’s a bit difficult to judge the whole tale so this is review is based upon only--ONLY--the 1st issue (and from my experience with reading the collected first volume.)
If you're a fan of Shakespeare and a fan of the Fables series by Bill Willingham, then this comic should be right up your alley. The authors take the world of Shakespeare and turn it upside down. The characters are self aware and realize that there is some higher power that controls their world, but one faction seeks to kill this higher power--Shakespeare, and take his power for their own. At the center of the battle is Hamlet who has been case out of his home and finds himself in a strange land with two groups battling to control him, for they fear and hope that he is the one that can be the final piece of the puzzle. Hamlet’s journey continues as he encounters a strange preforming group that forces him to confront his past and his fears in front of Lady Juliet.
The biggest problem that I have with this issue and one that I had with the first volume as well, is that it feels like you need to go back and reread all of Shakespeare to understand who some of the people are and what their roles are. They don’t do the best jobs of introducing characters and what their traits are. And for me it’s a bit of a problem. I know people (including myself) that compare this series to Fables, but what Fables does well is it isn’t hindered by the past uses of the characters. They give them new lives and new details emerge as to who they really are. And that’s something that I think the writers for this series need to work a bit on. If you’re a huge fan of Shakespeare though you’ll instantly recognize and know all of the characters. The overall story in this issue is decent enough although it does suffer a little bit from some gaps in the transitions and trying to cram a lot into the page which can prove to be a bit overwhelming.
The artwork isn't bad, although it appears that the characters can never be happy as they always look angry or confused...well mostly angry. It fits well with the story, but there isn't anything that just jumps out as being absolutely amazing. It’s not a bad thing, but I just don’t walk away with an image that really stands out for me.
It's an interesting series and I'll keep any eye on it. I just wish I didn't have to bone up on all of the plays to make sense out of some of the characters or places mentioned. but...I like where its going and the idea behind it.
OK so this ARC only provided access to the first issue, so it’s a bit difficult to judge the whole tale so this is review is based upon only--ONLY--the 1st issue (and from my experience with reading the collected first volume.)
If you're a fan of Shakespeare and a fan of the Fables series by Bill Willingham, then this comic should be right up your alley. The authors take the world of Shakespeare and turn it upside down. The characters are self aware and realize that there is some higher power that controls their world, but one faction seeks to kill this higher power--Shakespeare, and take his power for their own. At the center of the battle is Hamlet who has been case out of his home and finds himself in a strange land with two groups battling to control him, for they fear and hope that he is the one that can be the final piece of the puzzle. Hamlet’s journey continues as he encounters a strange preforming group that forces him to confront his past and his fears in front of Lady Juliet.
The biggest problem that I have with this issue and one that I had with the first volume as well, is that it feels like you need to go back and reread all of Shakespeare to understand who some of the people are and what their roles are. They don’t do the best jobs of introducing characters and what their traits are. And for me it’s a bit of a problem. I know people (including myself) that compare this series to Fables, but what Fables does well is it isn’t hindered by the past uses of the characters. They give them new lives and new details emerge as to who they really are. And that’s something that I think the writers for this series need to work a bit on. If you’re a huge fan of Shakespeare though you’ll instantly recognize and know all of the characters. The overall story in this issue is decent enough although it does suffer a little bit from some gaps in the transitions and trying to cram a lot into the page which can prove to be a bit overwhelming.
The artwork isn't bad, although it appears that the characters can never be happy as they always look angry or confused...well mostly angry. It fits well with the story, but there isn't anything that just jumps out as being absolutely amazing. It’s not a bad thing, but I just don’t walk away with an image that really stands out for me.
It's an interesting series and I'll keep any eye on it. I just wish I didn't have to bone up on all of the plays to make sense out of some of the characters or places mentioned. but...I like where its going and the idea behind it.
May 22, 2012
Here's a teaser of my review for it:
“Kill Shakespeare is an intense, thrilling, and a highly exciting narrative that is full of crazy puns and references galore to Shakespeare’s various plays, all of which combine to deliver one of the best reading experiences ever!” ~The Founding Fields
Where to start really. As someone who has only read the play versions of Macbeth and Twelfth Night and heavily abridged versions of some of Shakespeare’s other plays, Kill Shakespeare is a beautifully-imagined world that has something for everyone. We have the endless scheming of Richard and Lady Macbeth, the heroisms of Othello and Romeo, the villainy of Iago, the good-natured foolishness of Falstaff, the faith of Romeo, the courage of Juliet, and amongst all of them, Hamlet’s drive for vindication. There are twists and turns in every issue as the writers move the reader ever closer to that inevitable meeting between Hamlet and Shakespeare himself. There is love and romance, betrayal and friendship.
Its not something that is easy to describe for me. I burned through the two volumes in less than two days and every single moment of the reading experience was, in its own way, unique. For myself, I think being largely unfamiliar with Shakespeare’s plays really worked to draw me in because while the overarching narrative is very, very different from the plays themselves, certain character arcs are quite surprising. You never really can predict what is going to happen next. Will Iago betray Othello, Juliet and Hamlet? Will Lady Macbeth and King Richard succeed in their nefarious scheming? Is Hamlet really the prophecied Shadow King who is going to bring the god-magician Will Shakespeare back?
You can find the full review on The Founding Fields at:
http://thefoundingfields.com/2012/05/...
“Kill Shakespeare is an intense, thrilling, and a highly exciting narrative that is full of crazy puns and references galore to Shakespeare’s various plays, all of which combine to deliver one of the best reading experiences ever!” ~The Founding Fields
Where to start really. As someone who has only read the play versions of Macbeth and Twelfth Night and heavily abridged versions of some of Shakespeare’s other plays, Kill Shakespeare is a beautifully-imagined world that has something for everyone. We have the endless scheming of Richard and Lady Macbeth, the heroisms of Othello and Romeo, the villainy of Iago, the good-natured foolishness of Falstaff, the faith of Romeo, the courage of Juliet, and amongst all of them, Hamlet’s drive for vindication. There are twists and turns in every issue as the writers move the reader ever closer to that inevitable meeting between Hamlet and Shakespeare himself. There is love and romance, betrayal and friendship.
Its not something that is easy to describe for me. I burned through the two volumes in less than two days and every single moment of the reading experience was, in its own way, unique. For myself, I think being largely unfamiliar with Shakespeare’s plays really worked to draw me in because while the overarching narrative is very, very different from the plays themselves, certain character arcs are quite surprising. You never really can predict what is going to happen next. Will Iago betray Othello, Juliet and Hamlet? Will Lady Macbeth and King Richard succeed in their nefarious scheming? Is Hamlet really the prophecied Shadow King who is going to bring the god-magician Will Shakespeare back?
You can find the full review on The Founding Fields at:
http://thefoundingfields.com/2012/05/...
August 25, 2015
After enjoying the first volume of this series, the second, in which we finally meet the reclusive God-figure of Shakespeare and witness the showdown between Juliet's army and Richard and Lady Macbeth's forces, felt like more of the same, just less interesting.
The climactic battle scenes fall far short of epic, the ending is flat and the artwork's inconsistency (a minor issue for me in the first volume) is far more noticeable. Shakespeare is the most glaringly obvious. He never seems to look even vaguely the same from page to page, and sometimes from panel to panel. And his transformation from embittered hermit to hero of the day feels too rushed, and far too convenient.
It has its moments - the monsters in Shakespeare's moat, made of his discarded pages, work brilliantly and there's a fun reimagining of Romeo and Juliet's balcony scene. The introduction of Romeo is well done and Othello the action hero is good but Falstaff is a serious irritant.
The dialogue, while much of it is still clearly lifted from Shakespeare's works, simply isn't as fun or recognisable. Perhaps the gimmick has run its course, or perhaps they simply used up some of the more famous ones in the first volume. Either way, I think this is the point where I exit the series.
The climactic battle scenes fall far short of epic, the ending is flat and the artwork's inconsistency (a minor issue for me in the first volume) is far more noticeable. Shakespeare is the most glaringly obvious. He never seems to look even vaguely the same from page to page, and sometimes from panel to panel. And his transformation from embittered hermit to hero of the day feels too rushed, and far too convenient.
It has its moments - the monsters in Shakespeare's moat, made of his discarded pages, work brilliantly and there's a fun reimagining of Romeo and Juliet's balcony scene. The introduction of Romeo is well done and Othello the action hero is good but Falstaff is a serious irritant.
The dialogue, while much of it is still clearly lifted from Shakespeare's works, simply isn't as fun or recognisable. Perhaps the gimmick has run its course, or perhaps they simply used up some of the more famous ones in the first volume. Either way, I think this is the point where I exit the series.
April 15, 2013
It's a mistake to come in halfway through a series, so that might be my problem with this, aside from the irregular use of the second person singular and the artful but confusing full-color layout. Do you read across a two-page spread? One page at a time? In a freaking circle?!
What my struggles to understand have determined is that Shakespeare, with his magic quill (oh. my. god.) has created the familiar characters: Romeo, Juliet, Hamlet (in a love triangle), Iago, Othello, Richard III, Falstaff, etc. but they have been set free to develop beyond his initial creation in some magical netherworld where they look to him as god. In this part of the series, the more-or-less good guys are in competition with the baddies for the Quill of Power. Having entered this world himself, I guess, Shakespeare can be killed and the quill wielded by someone else.
I have no idea what powers this quill thing has and I'm a little cross about the characterization of Richard. And where's the hump? Sheesh, the way soldiers are larded up with fancy armor, I'm surprised they can even move, much less fight. Oh, and blood blood blood blood blood. Not my cup of tea.
What my struggles to understand have determined is that Shakespeare, with his magic quill (oh. my. god.) has created the familiar characters: Romeo, Juliet, Hamlet (in a love triangle), Iago, Othello, Richard III, Falstaff, etc. but they have been set free to develop beyond his initial creation in some magical netherworld where they look to him as god. In this part of the series, the more-or-less good guys are in competition with the baddies for the Quill of Power. Having entered this world himself, I guess, Shakespeare can be killed and the quill wielded by someone else.
I have no idea what powers this quill thing has and I'm a little cross about the characterization of Richard. And where's the hump? Sheesh, the way soldiers are larded up with fancy armor, I'm surprised they can even move, much less fight. Oh, and blood blood blood blood blood. Not my cup of tea.
January 5, 2014
I picked the two of these up awhile back along with the T-shirt because the idea tickled me but never quite got around to reading them. Since the holidays are almost over, I thought I'd take the time and get through them since I just ordered volume 3 which was published in October.
I was presently surprised. They've taken a lot of liberties with the Bard, but they've done so respectfully and most of the lead characters are pretty much true to form. Lady Macbeth is a scheming bitch, Juliet is sweet, loving but no longer quite so self-centered as she was when she was carrying on with Romeo. Hamlet is still a spoiled whiny brat, but by the end of volume 2, he seems to be growing a backbone. Othello remains driven, paranoid and insecure, Iago is devious and complex, the Bard is a brilliant drunk and Falstaff ... when he hasn't changed a bit.
If you're looking for the Avengers or the X-men, you should probably stick to Marvel and DC. This is a much more cerebral comic book but it's definitely worth the read, and don't worry if you were never able to quite sort out Shakespeare in high school English class. These stories provide their own context.
I was presently surprised. They've taken a lot of liberties with the Bard, but they've done so respectfully and most of the lead characters are pretty much true to form. Lady Macbeth is a scheming bitch, Juliet is sweet, loving but no longer quite so self-centered as she was when she was carrying on with Romeo. Hamlet is still a spoiled whiny brat, but by the end of volume 2, he seems to be growing a backbone. Othello remains driven, paranoid and insecure, Iago is devious and complex, the Bard is a brilliant drunk and Falstaff ... when he hasn't changed a bit.
If you're looking for the Avengers or the X-men, you should probably stick to Marvel and DC. This is a much more cerebral comic book but it's definitely worth the read, and don't worry if you were never able to quite sort out Shakespeare in high school English class. These stories provide their own context.
December 13, 2011
Volume 1 of Kill Shakespeare was a very good setup. Not that that was all it was, but those first six chapters were just the beginning. A great as that beginning was, it really didn't prepare me for the amazing fantasy to be found in Volume 2. The fantasy elements were there, of course, in the first volume; but the story stayed pretty grounded. Here, the story takes flight like I didn't expect it to, culminating in a battle with warlords, fairies, and sorcery so bloody it could give Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus a run for its money. The real fun of the story is the same as Volume 1: seeing so many of the Bard's characters all together, and seeing them relate in ways unexpected. Just like the first book, this book has a bonus story to connect with a Shakespeare play set to far in the distant past for the characters to join the cast of the story in "present time." (Did I say something about Titus Andronicus?) This story's inconclusive ending has me hoping a little for more tales in this fantasy land. I can dream, can't I?
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November 27, 2016Welp, things certainly got weirder in this volume. (Feste performing the Mousetrap, anyone?) Loads of people died , and lots of the characters were very, well, out-of-character. I thought Shakespeare was pretty great, though. But otherwise... clichéd plot, 2D characters, all that. :\ Also the battle scene at the end was overly chaotic and it was pretty hard to tell what was going on. All in all... not my favorite graphic novel out there, but still relatively fun to read.
Honestly, the best part of the book was when Hamlet knocked away the cursed dagger in Shakespeare's house by throwing a copy of Doctor Faustus at it. 10/10 inside joke, guys.
Honestly, the best part of the book was when Hamlet knocked away the cursed dagger in Shakespeare's house by throwing a copy of Doctor Faustus at it. 10/10 inside joke, guys.
May 18, 2016
Shakespeare is God to all the characters he created. One group, lead by Juliet and Othello, are seeking him out to help them in their battle against King Richard, and Lady Macbeth. As the final battle looms, Hamlet confronts his creator and challenges him to help those whom he created.
I picked this up because I enjoyed the first volume. The crazy way in which so many of Shakespeare's characters are joined together is fun and imaginative.
I finished it because I was curious to see how Shakespeare would react when challenged by his characters. Would he take up his magic quill and "write" the wrongs?
I would recommend this to high-school English teachers who wish to give their students an additional way to enjoy the great bard.
I picked this up because I enjoyed the first volume. The crazy way in which so many of Shakespeare's characters are joined together is fun and imaginative.
I finished it because I was curious to see how Shakespeare would react when challenged by his characters. Would he take up his magic quill and "write" the wrongs?
I would recommend this to high-school English teachers who wish to give their students an additional way to enjoy the great bard.
May 15, 2012
I wanted more out of this. Honestly, I probably wanted too much, but what I got was not great, just more or less good. The characters felt a little closer to what I expected of them from heir roots in this volume, but there was still something missing. I think it probably could have used being more stretched out. Not normally the sort of thing I say, but this could have really spent more time exploring connections to original stories, fleshing out personalities and motivations and differentiating these characters from their counterparts.
The art remains great, and a few of the characters - Falstaf and Iago particularly - really step up but the rest were just so lacking. there were a couple surprises as well, but the actual use of Shakespeare left so, so much to be desired.
The art remains great, and a few of the characters - Falstaf and Iago particularly - really step up but the rest were just so lacking. there were a couple surprises as well, but the actual use of Shakespeare left so, so much to be desired.
June 8, 2013
The second volume of the Kill Shakespeare series is a much better, action packed edition than the first. The heroes & villains of Will's stories are fighting in his name, as he's pretty much God. I followed this volume a lot better than the first story-wise, but the way the panels are arranged still threw me quite a bit. The artwork seemed off too. I don't know - it's like the characters weren't always drawn the same way. Sometimes I wouldn't even realize Hamlet was Hamlet. The ending was solid, I thought. Not sure if this is going to continue as a series, and honestly, if it is, I doubt I'd read any more. The two volumes were enough of a tale. If you managed to slog through the first book, and you're a fan of Willie Shakes, I'd say you'll enjoy this one.
September 8, 2015
I first heard about this series in my Shakespeare class and knew I had to read it!
I love Hamlet so having him star as the main character sold me into the story very quickly, and I loved how all the characters met and interacted with each other in the weird Shakespeare world which I’m still a bit confused about how it exists.
The graphic novel is beautifully drawn and beautifully written. I love that the authors wrote mimicking Shakespeare but in a way that reader’s could actually understand what’s being said! I also loved the few lines of iambic pentameter in the comic.
But I don’t like the whole Hamlet x Juliet relationship. Hamlet x Ophelia FOREVER! MORE OPHELIA PLEASE (since she is literally never shown in the comic).
I love Hamlet so having him star as the main character sold me into the story very quickly, and I loved how all the characters met and interacted with each other in the weird Shakespeare world which I’m still a bit confused about how it exists.
The graphic novel is beautifully drawn and beautifully written. I love that the authors wrote mimicking Shakespeare but in a way that reader’s could actually understand what’s being said! I also loved the few lines of iambic pentameter in the comic.
But I don’t like the whole Hamlet x Juliet relationship. Hamlet x Ophelia FOREVER! MORE OPHELIA PLEASE (since she is literally never shown in the comic).
April 11, 2012
When you tag the name Shakespeare to your work, you sure as heck better make sure that you're doing the bard justice. Unfortunately, while this has a lot of interesting things going on in it; Shakesepeare it is not. The takes on well-known Shakespearean characters like Hamlet, Othello and Juliet are all interesting. But the tragedy is that I wouldn't have picked Hamlet out as Hamlet if they didn't point out who he was. So few of the characters in this book behave in a manner that reflects the character they're supposed to be representing. This comic is full of interesting ideas that just fall short of their potential.
September 5, 2012
Similar to other series I've read, I felt this second installation (which is really issues 6-12 all in one place) was easier to understand than the first. Now that we've been plummeted into the world Shakespeare created and we understand the relationships between the characters a little better, the story is slightly easier to follow. Unfortunately, I still feel that the main conflict is too muddled for me: what's the deal with the Shadow King? What's the Quill and how does it work? And what's with that dagger that seems to show up out of nowhere with a mind of its own? Overall I enjoyed this book better than the first but left feeling a bit disappointed in general.
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