Having never read a graphic novel in my life, I was a bit hesitant to start with a story as dear to my heart as "Hamlet." However, I was intrigued by the idea of this beautiful Shakespearean play, which in its original form was visually graphic (originally presented as a play), being converted into a comic book form of sorts, yet still hesitant to read it. Well to put it bluntly, I loved every minute of it. This novel tells the classic story of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, and his search for revenge for the death of his father, killed by his his uncle, Claudius, who married Gertrud, the late king's wife, and through that union stole Hamlet's crown and became king. The twist of the story appears when Hamlet receives his information regarding the death of his father from his late father's ghost whom only he, Hamlet, can see. What do you do when the only real evidence is real only in your head? This novel, part of the Graphic Classics series, utilizes an abridged version of the original Shakespearean text and at the bottom of every three to four "scenes" provides a one sentence synopsis of what just occurred. The presentation of "Hamlet" through this means makes the text come alive and would spark any older adolescent audience's interest, maybe spurring them to read the original text in full. I, who have read and written on "Hamlet" many times, learned new understanding and meaning to the wording through reading this condensed version of the play. Instead of becoming bogged down with the wording, (as sometimes happens when reading the original text) I was able to focus on main lines and speeches, annotating those lines and gaining new insights. This story was well written, and nicely illustrated. It is a great bridge point between general knowledge of "Hamlet" and an actual reading of Shakespeare's original play.