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Manga Shakespeare
Manga Shakespeare: Hamlet
Now presenting Manga Shakespeare—the Bard’s greatest plays in an accessible, lively format for a new generation of readers
Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays, and this exciting new retelling provides young readers an innovative introduction to “the melancholy Dane.” Hamlet is your typical angst-ridden teen—he doesn’t know how to deal with his responsibilities, how to treat his girlfriend, or how to react to his father’s death. He has no one to trust, and he even acts crazy so adults will leave him alone. Manga fans—and kids who find Shakespeare intimidating—will be drawn to the style and action of the Manga Shakespeare series, learning that required reading doesn’t have to be boring.
Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays, and this exciting new retelling provides young readers an innovative introduction to “the melancholy Dane.” Hamlet is your typical angst-ridden teen—he doesn’t know how to deal with his responsibilities, how to treat his girlfriend, or how to react to his father’s death. He has no one to trust, and he even acts crazy so adults will leave him alone. Manga fans—and kids who find Shakespeare intimidating—will be drawn to the style and action of the Manga Shakespeare series, learning that required reading doesn’t have to be boring.
204 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
18 people are currently reading
414 people want to read
About the author
Richard Appignanesi
120 books39 followersRichard Appignanesi is a published adapter and an author of young adult books. Published credits of Richard Appignanesi include Manga Shakespeare: Julius Caesar (Manga Shakespeare), Manga Shakespeare: Macbeth (Manga Shakespeare), Manga Shakespeare: Hamlet (Manga Shakespeare), and Manga Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet (Manga Shakespeare).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
August 29, 2021
Aug 28, 930am ~~ Review asap.
230pm ~~ Usually this close to the end of a month, I have either already started my official challenge titles for the next month or an still finishing the current reads. This month I have a few days free and since I don't want to start my September titles just yet, I thought I would finally start on the pile of six Manga Shakespeare books that I ordered after reading the Manga version of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
I don't think it is fair to be too critical of these books if they do not include everything from the actual plays or if they change settings a bit. Manga Shakespeare reminds me of the Classic Comics I had in my youth. They were not meant to replace the originals, they were intended to present the works in an easy to understand format and to generate interest, to create a love for reading.
I remember reading Frankenstein in comic book form, and also The Moonstone. When I got old enough to seek out the originals, I was familiar with the basic plots, and also had the amazing color illustrations from the comic books in my mind as I read the print books. I had a little bit of a head start on understanding the originals. Surely that is the intention of these Manga titles? To trigger curiosity where there was once ignorance?
So, having my rant out of the way early, what about our Manga Hamlet? The setting was the first to be a big change, of course. Still Denmark, still with the threat of war, but now we are in the year 2017:
Global climate change has devastated the Earth. This is now a cyberworld in constant dread of war. Prince Hamlet of Denmark has come home to face an uncertain future....
Now see, I could identify with that right away. Aren't we all facing an uncertain future?!
Anyway, the story is, of course, Hamlet's tale, and all the main points are there. The artwork was both appropriate and sometimes annoying for me. I had trouble telling some of the characters apart, and I got lost a few times trying to understand the fancy gadgets everyone had as part of their bodies. I had to remind myself not to say Ick, because after all, I was warned it was a cyberworld right from the start!
I imagine on a second reading I would be able to handle both the artwork and the hardware a bit better. Someday I will find out. But meanwhile I will continue on to the next title in the stack!
230pm ~~ Usually this close to the end of a month, I have either already started my official challenge titles for the next month or an still finishing the current reads. This month I have a few days free and since I don't want to start my September titles just yet, I thought I would finally start on the pile of six Manga Shakespeare books that I ordered after reading the Manga version of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
I don't think it is fair to be too critical of these books if they do not include everything from the actual plays or if they change settings a bit. Manga Shakespeare reminds me of the Classic Comics I had in my youth. They were not meant to replace the originals, they were intended to present the works in an easy to understand format and to generate interest, to create a love for reading.
I remember reading Frankenstein in comic book form, and also The Moonstone. When I got old enough to seek out the originals, I was familiar with the basic plots, and also had the amazing color illustrations from the comic books in my mind as I read the print books. I had a little bit of a head start on understanding the originals. Surely that is the intention of these Manga titles? To trigger curiosity where there was once ignorance?
So, having my rant out of the way early, what about our Manga Hamlet? The setting was the first to be a big change, of course. Still Denmark, still with the threat of war, but now we are in the year 2017:
Global climate change has devastated the Earth. This is now a cyberworld in constant dread of war. Prince Hamlet of Denmark has come home to face an uncertain future....
Now see, I could identify with that right away. Aren't we all facing an uncertain future?!
Anyway, the story is, of course, Hamlet's tale, and all the main points are there. The artwork was both appropriate and sometimes annoying for me. I had trouble telling some of the characters apart, and I got lost a few times trying to understand the fancy gadgets everyone had as part of their bodies. I had to remind myself not to say Ick, because after all, I was warned it was a cyberworld right from the start!
I imagine on a second reading I would be able to handle both the artwork and the hardware a bit better. Someday I will find out. But meanwhile I will continue on to the next title in the stack!
November 21, 2024
Manga* Shakespeare is kind of a brilliant idea. Shakespeare's plays can be a little hard to sit down and read for the simple reason that they aren't supposed to be read; they're supposed to be watched! Just bringing in a visual element gets you halfway there. And Hamlet as an edgy white-and-black-haired anime boy? Perfect.
Now, the execution could use some polishing in parts. Some abridging of 'Hamlet' is necessary, even in most performances, because it is quite a long play. However, some of the cuts here made the transitions between scenes a bit abrupt and hard to follow. And the artwork likewise is sometimes very nice (I never stopped appreciating Hamlet's off-the-shoulder outfits. Slay.) but sometimes just zooms way in on a doodle of the character's profile or something, in which case it isn't all that helpful in conveying what is happening. I'm not sure why there was a weak attempt to set it in the future...other than the artist just wanting to draw people with sci-fi ports in their skin. But that part is fine; theater troupes play around with costumes from different cultures and time periods for Shakespeare all the time.
Despite the nitpicks, I did enjoy this. And if you (or a teen of your acquaintance) like manga or graphic novels but have struggled getting into Shakespeare - you should give this a try!
*Technically, I think this is a manga-inspired graphic novel, because I'm pretty sure it has to be originally made in Japan to be a manga...but that's the pedantic nerd in me talking!
Now, the execution could use some polishing in parts. Some abridging of 'Hamlet' is necessary, even in most performances, because it is quite a long play. However, some of the cuts here made the transitions between scenes a bit abrupt and hard to follow. And the artwork likewise is sometimes very nice (I never stopped appreciating Hamlet's off-the-shoulder outfits. Slay.) but sometimes just zooms way in on a doodle of the character's profile or something, in which case it isn't all that helpful in conveying what is happening. I'm not sure why there was a weak attempt to set it in the future...other than the artist just wanting to draw people with sci-fi ports in their skin. But that part is fine; theater troupes play around with costumes from different cultures and time periods for Shakespeare all the time.
Despite the nitpicks, I did enjoy this. And if you (or a teen of your acquaintance) like manga or graphic novels but have struggled getting into Shakespeare - you should give this a try!
*Technically, I think this is a manga-inspired graphic novel, because I'm pretty sure it has to be originally made in Japan to be a manga...but that's the pedantic nerd in me talking!
December 11, 2013
(Elective reading, satisfies graphic novel requirement)
Summary: Hamlet, prince of Denmark, is haunted by the recent death of his father and the very quick marriage of his mother to his uncle. After the ghost of his father visits him and asks him to revenge his death, Hamlet swears to do just that.
Response: I read this hoping that it would be a way to make Hamlet more interesting for students, or at least easier to follow. I was extremely disappointed. I used to read Manga often in my middle school years, but this was not well done.
I appreciated that the text was Shakespeare's, but it was cut in places that made no sense. I was upset that the illustrations did not necessarily help with understanding the narrative (sometimes you couldn't understand who was talking, and some characters looked extremely similar to others).
While I do think this may be more interesting for some students than it would be to read the straight text, I found myself berating this and getting bored because I could not follow it, and it is easier to follow just to read the text.
Summary: Hamlet, prince of Denmark, is haunted by the recent death of his father and the very quick marriage of his mother to his uncle. After the ghost of his father visits him and asks him to revenge his death, Hamlet swears to do just that.
Response: I read this hoping that it would be a way to make Hamlet more interesting for students, or at least easier to follow. I was extremely disappointed. I used to read Manga often in my middle school years, but this was not well done.
I appreciated that the text was Shakespeare's, but it was cut in places that made no sense. I was upset that the illustrations did not necessarily help with understanding the narrative (sometimes you couldn't understand who was talking, and some characters looked extremely similar to others).
While I do think this may be more interesting for some students than it would be to read the straight text, I found myself berating this and getting bored because I could not follow it, and it is easier to follow just to read the text.
August 19, 2020
Cyberpunk Hamlet? Yes please.
Hamlet is my favorite Shakespeare play (yes I know how much of a basic lit kid that makes me) so this was extremely enjoyable to read. Overall, I thought the script was adapted very well to the medium, but it does lose a lot of its sense of pacing and drawn out indecision that works so well in a moving form but doesn't quite translate to a static image.
The art of this volume isn't my favorite from of the Manga Shakespeare series, but I really warmed up to it by the end.
Hamlet is my favorite Shakespeare play (yes I know how much of a basic lit kid that makes me) so this was extremely enjoyable to read. Overall, I thought the script was adapted very well to the medium, but it does lose a lot of its sense of pacing and drawn out indecision that works so well in a moving form but doesn't quite translate to a static image.
The art of this volume isn't my favorite from of the Manga Shakespeare series, but I really warmed up to it by the end.
May 12, 2021
Hamlet the Dane in a future Elsinore with holograms and security cameras. This is definitely a more accessible form of Shakespeare, and the drawings are beautifully done. However, as some other reviewers have pointed out, yes, it is the style, but so many characters look so much alike they are really tough to distinguish from one another. The text is certainly pared down and I was upset to see they cut quite a bit of the To Be Or Not To Be soliloquy. There is no "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune," no shuffling off of this mortal coil, no "what dreams may come." So, this is by no means the definitive Hamlet. But, I really enjoyed it. The illustrations help in portraying the action of the play, as well as Hamlet's state of mind, and this is a fun way to experience it. I am excited for my 6th grader to read it.
May 26, 2020
Belki yeni nesillere çekici gelmesi açısından geleceğe yönelik Manga tarzı çizim fena olmayabilir ama Shakespeare edebiyatının derinlik ve lezzetinin korunabilmesi için klasik çizimin çok daha üstün olacağı kanısındayım.
****
KŐTÜ ÍŞLER AÇIĞA ÇIKAR... TOPRAK ALTINA GİRİP GÖZDEN UZAK KALSA BİLE!
HERKESE KULAK VER, AMA HERKESE VERME SESİNİ. HER ŞEYİN ÖTESİNDE DE DÜRÜST OL KENDİNE KARŞI.
İNSAN TAM BİR SANAT ESERİDİR, İŞ YAPARKEN MELEK GİBİ GÖRÜNÜR, VE DÜŞÜNÜRKEN TANRI GİBİDİR!
TİYATRONUN AMACI DOĞAYA AYNA TUTMAK, ERDEME KENDİSİNİ GÖSTERMEKTİR.
****
KŐTÜ ÍŞLER AÇIĞA ÇIKAR... TOPRAK ALTINA GİRİP GÖZDEN UZAK KALSA BİLE!
HERKESE KULAK VER, AMA HERKESE VERME SESİNİ. HER ŞEYİN ÖTESİNDE DE DÜRÜST OL KENDİNE KARŞI.
İNSAN TAM BİR SANAT ESERİDİR, İŞ YAPARKEN MELEK GİBİ GÖRÜNÜR, VE DÜŞÜNÜRKEN TANRI GİBİDİR!
TİYATRONUN AMACI DOĞAYA AYNA TUTMAK, ERDEME KENDİSİNİ GÖSTERMEKTİR.
June 28, 2021
Despite some cuts making this pacing for the adaptation move too quickly, Emma Vieceli's art works for the melancholy Hamlet offers its audience. Its rougher edges show sides to the characters I enjoyed, plus helped me realize a couple of plot points Shakespeare foreshadowed or I interpreted differently when reading the text. I also enjoyed how Hamlet and Ophelia's relationship was framed because the visual cues told me everything.
July 1, 2025
All I have to say is, the way Hamlet is drawn? 10/10.
This artist said "Hamlet is an edgy teen with silver hair and black streaks, and he's going to wear a slutty low-cut poet blouse and thigh highs." And they were right.
The futuristic reimagining didn't add as much as I'd hoped -- it wasn't leveraged at all, beyond sci-fi backdrops and outfits, but it was a cool aspect I would have loved to explore more.
Overall, an interesting impulse read, but I stayed for Hamlet's camp little outfits and cinched waistline
This artist said "Hamlet is an edgy teen with silver hair and black streaks, and he's going to wear a slutty low-cut poet blouse and thigh highs." And they were right.
The futuristic reimagining didn't add as much as I'd hoped -- it wasn't leveraged at all, beyond sci-fi backdrops and outfits, but it was a cool aspect I would have loved to explore more.
Overall, an interesting impulse read, but I stayed for Hamlet's camp little outfits and cinched waistline
March 6, 2023
“For murder though it have no tongue will speak”
“To be or not to be that is the question”
Hamlet was a dramatic fuck and he was very pretty aswel
“To be or not to be that is the question”
Hamlet was a dramatic fuck and he was very pretty aswel
February 25, 2025
Looked pretty, but lacked way too much substance. The world was unclear, and half the plot was lost. Ophelia was drawn beautifully, however.
February 9, 2020
More art and less matter.
But I did think that they'd shorten the text quite a bit, so I'm not surprised. Still enjoyed it plenty, and it's beautifully drawn 😊
But I did think that they'd shorten the text quite a bit, so I'm not surprised. Still enjoyed it plenty, and it's beautifully drawn 😊
August 3, 2024
I love how well the original text is integrated in this dystopian setting.
December 23, 2010
William Shakespeare, Manga Shakespeare: Hamlet (Amulet, 2007)
Ever since I first heard about the Manga Shakespeare titles, I've been intrigued by the idea. I admit, I'm one of those people who generally finds Shakespeare a chore to read, even the plays of which I am perhaps overly fond. So, yeah, Shakespeare in manga form? A great idea, in concept. Execution not so much, at least where Hamlet is concerned.
First, the good stuff. Emma Vieceli (Vampire Academy), who does the adaptation, isn't slavishly faithful; she puts a subtle, but there, sci-fi feel into the adaptation that somehow manages to feel right at home in fifteenth-century Denmark. For some reason I was especially tickled at the bio-scanning door locks. I still have no idea why this is. And all the stuff people know is here, at least in abbreviated form.
On the other hand, there's the bad stuff. I know it's accepted manga style, especially in shojo (and this is definitely a shojo-style book), but come on, manga artists, do we have to keep making so many principals per book look almost identical to one another? It drives me up the wall. And Vieceli shows, with a couple of characters (Polonius, especially), that she's capable of coming up with wondrously quirky, distinct characters. I kind of understand making Rosencrantz and Guildenstern identical. It would actually be a disservice to the play if they weren't interchangeable, I think. But come on, Hamlet should be distinguishable from Horatio by more than a dark spot in his hair. Second, I mentioned “abbreviated form” above. When I say “abbreviated”, I'll quantify. The Folger Library Hamlet is four hundred pages, all text. Now, I know that includes more than the play itself, but bear with me. Manga Shakespeare: Hamlet is 192 pages, and no more than an eighth of each page is text.
...what? This thing should have been a doorstop, folks. At least four hundred fifty pages, maybe broken into multiple volumes. It should definitely have included the complete text. (One of the reasons I checked this out is because my daughter has Macbeth assigned her this year—in ninth grade!—and I wanted to see if this series would have made it easier. Assuming Macbeth is as cut as this, if she tried writing a report based on it, she'd fail...)
As a prototype for what a manga edition of Hamlet COULD be, it shows some promise. As a finished product, I wanted it to be so much more than it is. ***
Ever since I first heard about the Manga Shakespeare titles, I've been intrigued by the idea. I admit, I'm one of those people who generally finds Shakespeare a chore to read, even the plays of which I am perhaps overly fond. So, yeah, Shakespeare in manga form? A great idea, in concept. Execution not so much, at least where Hamlet is concerned.
First, the good stuff. Emma Vieceli (Vampire Academy), who does the adaptation, isn't slavishly faithful; she puts a subtle, but there, sci-fi feel into the adaptation that somehow manages to feel right at home in fifteenth-century Denmark. For some reason I was especially tickled at the bio-scanning door locks. I still have no idea why this is. And all the stuff people know is here, at least in abbreviated form.
On the other hand, there's the bad stuff. I know it's accepted manga style, especially in shojo (and this is definitely a shojo-style book), but come on, manga artists, do we have to keep making so many principals per book look almost identical to one another? It drives me up the wall. And Vieceli shows, with a couple of characters (Polonius, especially), that she's capable of coming up with wondrously quirky, distinct characters. I kind of understand making Rosencrantz and Guildenstern identical. It would actually be a disservice to the play if they weren't interchangeable, I think. But come on, Hamlet should be distinguishable from Horatio by more than a dark spot in his hair. Second, I mentioned “abbreviated form” above. When I say “abbreviated”, I'll quantify. The Folger Library Hamlet is four hundred pages, all text. Now, I know that includes more than the play itself, but bear with me. Manga Shakespeare: Hamlet is 192 pages, and no more than an eighth of each page is text.
...what? This thing should have been a doorstop, folks. At least four hundred fifty pages, maybe broken into multiple volumes. It should definitely have included the complete text. (One of the reasons I checked this out is because my daughter has Macbeth assigned her this year—in ninth grade!—and I wanted to see if this series would have made it easier. Assuming Macbeth is as cut as this, if she tried writing a report based on it, she'd fail...)
As a prototype for what a manga edition of Hamlet COULD be, it shows some promise. As a finished product, I wanted it to be so much more than it is. ***
December 12, 2017
"Cinayetin dili yok belki, ama konuşacak."
———
Bu, Manga Shakespeare serisinden okuduğum ikinci eser oldu. Geçtiğimiz aylarda bir de Romeo ve Juliet'i okumuştum.
Manga okumak zevkli fakat Shakespeare'in ağır, dramatik eserlerini mangaya uyarlamak ne kadar sağlıklı bilemedim. Belki aslına sadık kalınsa daha çok severdim. Mesela Ntv yayınlarından çıkan Frankestein'in çizgi romanını okuduğumda beğenmiştim. Ama burada asıl metinler günümüze hatta daha ileri teknoloji çağına uyarlandığı için bir sığlık söz konusu.
—
Ülkeler arası siber savaşların devam ettiği 2017 yılında Danimarka prensi Hamlet'in öyküsünü okuyoruz. Kral babasının ölümünden kısa bir süre sonra amcası kral oluyor ve annesiyle evleniyor. Babasının ruhu Hamlet'e gelerek ölümünün cinayet olduğunu, amcasının tahta geçmek için kendisini öldürdüğünü söyleyince Hamlet intikam yemini ediyor.
Ana hatlarıyla böyle fakat öykünün hızlandırılmış versiyonunu okuyor gibi hissediyorsunuz. "Babamın intikamını alacağım. Bu çocuk deli mi? Aman Tanrım derhal İngiltere'ye gidiyorsun. Gidemedim gemiyi korsanlar bastı. Olmak ya da olmamak işte bütün mesele bu! Ah sevgilim öldü mü tüh vah yazık oldu. Cinayetin dili yok belki, ama konuşacak. Plan yapalım. A planı bu, B planı bu. Plan tutmadı. Ah öldü, o da öldü, bu da öldü, bir dakika sen niye öldün? Ah ben de öldüm. The End."
Evet evet epey hızlı gelişti olaylar. Yazarın kalıplaşmış pek çok sözünü aralara serpiştirmişler. Ayrıca Shakespeare bey ne yaşadı bilmiyorum, finallerde hep toplu katliam yapıyor.
*Mektup yerine enseye takılan çipler falan var ortada, teknoloji bu kadar ileriyken çipleri elçilerin taşıması ne mana, elektronik ortamdan gönderseniz ya hani😅 Yani ne tam eski ne de tam yeni, ikisinin ortasında sıkışıp kalmış bir kurgu olmuş. Çizimler güzeldi, yiğidi öldür hakkını yeme demişler. Okurken eğlendim. Ama Hamlet okuyorum yani eğlenmeli miydim tartışılır😏
———
Bu, Manga Shakespeare serisinden okuduğum ikinci eser oldu. Geçtiğimiz aylarda bir de Romeo ve Juliet'i okumuştum.
Manga okumak zevkli fakat Shakespeare'in ağır, dramatik eserlerini mangaya uyarlamak ne kadar sağlıklı bilemedim. Belki aslına sadık kalınsa daha çok severdim. Mesela Ntv yayınlarından çıkan Frankestein'in çizgi romanını okuduğumda beğenmiştim. Ama burada asıl metinler günümüze hatta daha ileri teknoloji çağına uyarlandığı için bir sığlık söz konusu.
—
Ülkeler arası siber savaşların devam ettiği 2017 yılında Danimarka prensi Hamlet'in öyküsünü okuyoruz. Kral babasının ölümünden kısa bir süre sonra amcası kral oluyor ve annesiyle evleniyor. Babasının ruhu Hamlet'e gelerek ölümünün cinayet olduğunu, amcasının tahta geçmek için kendisini öldürdüğünü söyleyince Hamlet intikam yemini ediyor.
Ana hatlarıyla böyle fakat öykünün hızlandırılmış versiyonunu okuyor gibi hissediyorsunuz. "Babamın intikamını alacağım. Bu çocuk deli mi? Aman Tanrım derhal İngiltere'ye gidiyorsun. Gidemedim gemiyi korsanlar bastı. Olmak ya da olmamak işte bütün mesele bu! Ah sevgilim öldü mü tüh vah yazık oldu. Cinayetin dili yok belki, ama konuşacak. Plan yapalım. A planı bu, B planı bu. Plan tutmadı. Ah öldü, o da öldü, bu da öldü, bir dakika sen niye öldün? Ah ben de öldüm. The End."
Evet evet epey hızlı gelişti olaylar. Yazarın kalıplaşmış pek çok sözünü aralara serpiştirmişler. Ayrıca Shakespeare bey ne yaşadı bilmiyorum, finallerde hep toplu katliam yapıyor.
*Mektup yerine enseye takılan çipler falan var ortada, teknoloji bu kadar ileriyken çipleri elçilerin taşıması ne mana, elektronik ortamdan gönderseniz ya hani😅 Yani ne tam eski ne de tam yeni, ikisinin ortasında sıkışıp kalmış bir kurgu olmuş. Çizimler güzeldi, yiğidi öldür hakkını yeme demişler. Okurken eğlendim. Ama Hamlet okuyorum yani eğlenmeli miydim tartışılır😏
October 15, 2023
I can't believe I've never reviewed this. I really want to give it a full 5 stars for the way I personally feel about it, but even I have to admit that wouldn't be honest.
The art style is inconsistent. The play is abridged to what feels like nothing (did we really need to cut, for example, "...see what I see!" from Ophelia's battered "O, woe is me, / To have seen what I have seen, see what I see!"?) It is, above all, a truly baffling take on Hamlet.
...however! It is one of the last truly original adaptations, with not just the manga art style to offer (though bishie Hamlet performing his famous monologue is certainly not to be missed) but also a strange, ambiguously sci-fi world; numerous scenes are re-staged to utilize projections, holograms, all kinds of weird and fun tech that the artist slipped in for seemingly "no reason" other than that it's fun and hints at all the other things this world might contain. It reminds me how the play itself seems to take little interest in giving us a serious history of Denmark or the military conflict happening the entire time-- it's enough to consistently reference Fortinbras, ultimately having him burst onto the stage, so that we realize there is something to the story beyond the theatre walls. Seeing the planets on the horizon and the tech we don't get explained just convinces me this all takes place in another world, and it works perfectly for my tastes.
I do think that the abridgement is far too merciless (paring down the to be or not to be speech?? are you insane?) but it also allows readers who don't know anything about the play to get all of its plot in a faster, easier to digest way-- sure, as a longtime reader I don't need that, but when I was first trying to understand Shakespeare this made Hamlet easy, and that's no small feat. Pages flit by near-instantaneously, almost too fast to notice where the art is actually really good and evocative. It's true that the proportions are absolutely whack, but the character designs are so good they're still ultimately what I picture when I think about the play.
It just works! It's camp and it works. I've had my many, many grievances (and some enjoyments with other entries in this series, but when it comes to the choices here I largely understand why they were made and still consider this a must-read if you're at all interested in Shakespeare or Hamlet. If you've never read the show and want to get into it in an accessible way that requires zero reading of modern English alongside the OG, this makes that a lot easier. If you really really love Hamlet, then yes you absolutely have to read bishie Hamlet for reasons which are probably obvious. There are precious few versions of this show really worth seeing even if you've already seen the rest, and this one I genuinely think is among them. No small feat for such a weird little book.
The art style is inconsistent. The play is abridged to what feels like nothing (did we really need to cut, for example, "...see what I see!" from Ophelia's battered "O, woe is me, / To have seen what I have seen, see what I see!"?) It is, above all, a truly baffling take on Hamlet.
...however! It is one of the last truly original adaptations, with not just the manga art style to offer (though bishie Hamlet performing his famous monologue is certainly not to be missed) but also a strange, ambiguously sci-fi world; numerous scenes are re-staged to utilize projections, holograms, all kinds of weird and fun tech that the artist slipped in for seemingly "no reason" other than that it's fun and hints at all the other things this world might contain. It reminds me how the play itself seems to take little interest in giving us a serious history of Denmark or the military conflict happening the entire time-- it's enough to consistently reference Fortinbras, ultimately having him burst onto the stage, so that we realize there is something to the story beyond the theatre walls. Seeing the planets on the horizon and the tech we don't get explained just convinces me this all takes place in another world, and it works perfectly for my tastes.
I do think that the abridgement is far too merciless (paring down the to be or not to be speech?? are you insane?) but it also allows readers who don't know anything about the play to get all of its plot in a faster, easier to digest way-- sure, as a longtime reader I don't need that, but when I was first trying to understand Shakespeare this made Hamlet easy, and that's no small feat. Pages flit by near-instantaneously, almost too fast to notice where the art is actually really good and evocative. It's true that the proportions are absolutely whack, but the character designs are so good they're still ultimately what I picture when I think about the play.
It just works! It's camp and it works. I've had my many, many grievances (and some enjoyments with other entries in this series, but when it comes to the choices here I largely understand why they were made and still consider this a must-read if you're at all interested in Shakespeare or Hamlet. If you've never read the show and want to get into it in an accessible way that requires zero reading of modern English alongside the OG, this makes that a lot easier. If you really really love Hamlet, then yes you absolutely have to read bishie Hamlet for reasons which are probably obvious. There are precious few versions of this show really worth seeing even if you've already seen the rest, and this one I genuinely think is among them. No small feat for such a weird little book.
January 9, 2018
3.5
I had meant to read this after we read Hamlet in school, but I didn’t have time before it was due back at the library so I never finished it. I was only a couple of pages into it. The other day I decided to pick out some graphic novels at te library for something different to read, especially because I was hoping to get more into graphic novels, and I picked this one up again.
I thought it was an okay adaptation. I liked how they tried to put a different spin on it by having it set in the future. The illustrations were pretty good, but it was hard to tell who was who often times. I think having color would have helped, and that is why I have a problem with manga which I just started reading and have only read one book, as well as other graphic novels. Most manga I have heard is in black and white, and I really wish that they did have color because half the time I can’t distinguish who is who and what is going on and color would add more contrast so I can differentiate between things. I find myself not really looking at the illustrations because I am not used to reading graphic novels, so I juat tend to glance over them, especially when there is no bright color to pull my interest in. I did like how it was drawn to be more futuristic and funky, and I really liked Ophelia and how she was drawn. I think this would have made a great movie animated in this style.
They definitely cut a lot out considering how short it is and there are no long monologues. It does make the story more accessible to people who struggle reading Shakespeare, but they are not gettig the full effect of it through this, and would still recommend that people read the play, especially if they have a test or have to write an essay, because they only kept the parts that were really important to be able to understand the story.
I had meant to read this after we read Hamlet in school, but I didn’t have time before it was due back at the library so I never finished it. I was only a couple of pages into it. The other day I decided to pick out some graphic novels at te library for something different to read, especially because I was hoping to get more into graphic novels, and I picked this one up again.
I thought it was an okay adaptation. I liked how they tried to put a different spin on it by having it set in the future. The illustrations were pretty good, but it was hard to tell who was who often times. I think having color would have helped, and that is why I have a problem with manga which I just started reading and have only read one book, as well as other graphic novels. Most manga I have heard is in black and white, and I really wish that they did have color because half the time I can’t distinguish who is who and what is going on and color would add more contrast so I can differentiate between things. I find myself not really looking at the illustrations because I am not used to reading graphic novels, so I juat tend to glance over them, especially when there is no bright color to pull my interest in. I did like how it was drawn to be more futuristic and funky, and I really liked Ophelia and how she was drawn. I think this would have made a great movie animated in this style.
They definitely cut a lot out considering how short it is and there are no long monologues. It does make the story more accessible to people who struggle reading Shakespeare, but they are not gettig the full effect of it through this, and would still recommend that people read the play, especially if they have a test or have to write an essay, because they only kept the parts that were really important to be able to understand the story.
March 22, 2015
“To be or not to be, that is the question.”
Who doesn’t know these famous words? Either you were forced to read Hamlet in school or university, you have seen it on stage or you at least now it as a reference from like every second movie or TV show. There is also the chance you might actually read it because you wanted it.
Anyways, Hamlet is one of my personal favorite Shakespeare plays, but not probably for the reasons you expect it to be. Here’s the thing, I know Hamlet is this huge tragedy, really complex and stuff, but it can also be quite funny. Here me out on this one oh my fair Shakespeare purists. Hamlet is basically as a giant, messy, glorious Soap opera, that somehow inspired what is known today as Disney’s ultimate masterpiece. The world is such a strange place sometimes. Okay, getting back to the topic: With all the melodrama and craziness going on, it is easy to read or see it as somewhat depressing, but if you actually try to see the hilarity between the tragedy, it is such an unintentional enjoyable experience.
Hamlet basically tells the story of a prince finding out his uncle is evil, he then pretends to be a nutjob to find out if is uncle may or may not murdered his father and it is basically the worst plan ever. Seriously, think about it. Hamlet’s plan sucks and this is why everybody but Horatio ends up dead. Horatio is one lucky guy considering he was Hamlet’s bestie. Granted, maybe Hamlet just ran out of luck. We don’t know if he lost a rabbit foot or broke a mirror, but considering that his grand scheme is to pretend that he has lost his marbles, I’ll stay with the ‘this plan sucks big times’ theory.
The graphic novel (and yes, I refer to it as a graphic novel, because manga is for Japanese comics, which this one is not) basically tells the same story as the original play, even using Shakespeare’s language. The setting is changed into some future scenario and everybody looks a bit like a cyborg or something, don’t ask. Hamlet comes home from school, finds out his father is dead and that his uncle married his mother and is now the new king. The ghost of his father appears and tells him to go back to pride rock to face his evil uncle and take back what is rightfully his. Sorry, wrong adaptation (I watched The Lion King today, bear with me). The ghost of his father tells him that it was his nefarious Uncle Claudius who murdered him, so he could have the throne to himself and Hamlet swears vengeance. He pretends to be a mad man, pushing everyone away, including his sweet somewhat girlfriend Ophelia, away, to find out rather Daddy Ghost spoke the truth or not. That of course sets up a chain of events of the aforementioned worst plan ever.
The end is not a real spoiler, you know what happens. Everybody dies, but Horatio who probably secretly threw salt over his shoulder for quite a while. Even the original Timon and Pumbaa, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (are they lovers? Brothers? I never got that) are killed, that’s what you get when you’re the comic relief in Shakespearean times. Not so much Hakuna Matata now.
The graphic novel takes all the important scenes and uses the original text, which is a very nice touch. The future setting is interesting, even if it is never really clear why this particular scenario was chosen, probably because it looked cool.
The artwork is nice most of the time. I do like the character design a lot. It is simple, but effective and fits the characters very much. Emotions are most of the time displayed very well and the artist even embraced some of the unintentional hilarious moments, which I appreciated a lot.
I am however not much a fan of the backgrounds. The simplicity is almost too simple really. Most of the time there are not even real backgrounds and it makes the world look incomplete. Why choose a futuristic world if you not really gonna use it? As cool as the thought of science fiction Hamlet is, it is nothing if you not gonna embrace it.
Let’s just say I liked the artwork, it was however far from being great.
Since this is supposed to be a ‘manga’ there was an obvious attempt to copy the Japanese art style, well yeah I know Americans and Europeans love to try, but guys get real, you just can’t, it ain’t gonna work. If anything the style comes closer to a Manhwa which is a Korean comic. While the Manhwa is pretty similar to the manga, there are some differences in style and most attempts of European/American artists come curiously enough closer to the Korean style.
Like said before, the story is pretty much the original play and the only thing that bothered me were that jumps between scenes tended to be so abrupt and without a real transition that it could get a little bit confusing.
What I appreciate the most about comic book adaptations of classic works like Hamlet is, that they can get you into the material much easier than the original one does. Even if some of the transitions are a bit confusing, it is not as confusing as reading Shakespeare for the first time without having any visuals to guide you.
Gotta admit, I love good ol’ William, but when I first started reading it or studied it in school, I would’ve loved for my teachers to use a medium like a graphic novel to bring it closer to us.
Conclusion: It is a great story so I’m not gonna judge it. What I’m judging is the sometimes clumsy and way too simple artwork and confusing transitions, so that is the 3 stars.
Recommendation: If you like Shakespeare and you want to experience in another way than reading the original or watching one of the countless movie adaptations, this should be a good choice for you. Of course it is also good for Shakespeare newbies and it might as well is less scary as a first try.
Now for the sake of it and because I really can’t help myself:
Hamlet learns the Circle of Life,
While Polonius gives the Morning Report,
Claudius Just Can’t Wait To Be King and says: “Be Prepared for the chance of a lifetime!”
Ophelia meanwhile wonders if Hamlet Can Feel The Love Tonight
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are all Hakuna Matata, until the do the Hula in front of some pirates,
And that’s all the songs in the movie
Who doesn’t know these famous words? Either you were forced to read Hamlet in school or university, you have seen it on stage or you at least now it as a reference from like every second movie or TV show. There is also the chance you might actually read it because you wanted it.
Anyways, Hamlet is one of my personal favorite Shakespeare plays, but not probably for the reasons you expect it to be. Here’s the thing, I know Hamlet is this huge tragedy, really complex and stuff, but it can also be quite funny. Here me out on this one oh my fair Shakespeare purists. Hamlet is basically as a giant, messy, glorious Soap opera, that somehow inspired what is known today as Disney’s ultimate masterpiece. The world is such a strange place sometimes. Okay, getting back to the topic: With all the melodrama and craziness going on, it is easy to read or see it as somewhat depressing, but if you actually try to see the hilarity between the tragedy, it is such an unintentional enjoyable experience.
Hamlet basically tells the story of a prince finding out his uncle is evil, he then pretends to be a nutjob to find out if is uncle may or may not murdered his father and it is basically the worst plan ever. Seriously, think about it. Hamlet’s plan sucks and this is why everybody but Horatio ends up dead. Horatio is one lucky guy considering he was Hamlet’s bestie. Granted, maybe Hamlet just ran out of luck. We don’t know if he lost a rabbit foot or broke a mirror, but considering that his grand scheme is to pretend that he has lost his marbles, I’ll stay with the ‘this plan sucks big times’ theory.
The graphic novel (and yes, I refer to it as a graphic novel, because manga is for Japanese comics, which this one is not) basically tells the same story as the original play, even using Shakespeare’s language. The setting is changed into some future scenario and everybody looks a bit like a cyborg or something, don’t ask. Hamlet comes home from school, finds out his father is dead and that his uncle married his mother and is now the new king. The ghost of his father appears and tells him to go back to pride rock to face his evil uncle and take back what is rightfully his. Sorry, wrong adaptation (I watched The Lion King today, bear with me). The ghost of his father tells him that it was his nefarious Uncle Claudius who murdered him, so he could have the throne to himself and Hamlet swears vengeance. He pretends to be a mad man, pushing everyone away, including his sweet somewhat girlfriend Ophelia, away, to find out rather Daddy Ghost spoke the truth or not. That of course sets up a chain of events of the aforementioned worst plan ever.
The end is not a real spoiler, you know what happens. Everybody dies, but Horatio who probably secretly threw salt over his shoulder for quite a while. Even the original Timon and Pumbaa, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (are they lovers? Brothers? I never got that) are killed, that’s what you get when you’re the comic relief in Shakespearean times. Not so much Hakuna Matata now.
The graphic novel takes all the important scenes and uses the original text, which is a very nice touch. The future setting is interesting, even if it is never really clear why this particular scenario was chosen, probably because it looked cool.
The artwork is nice most of the time. I do like the character design a lot. It is simple, but effective and fits the characters very much. Emotions are most of the time displayed very well and the artist even embraced some of the unintentional hilarious moments, which I appreciated a lot.
I am however not much a fan of the backgrounds. The simplicity is almost too simple really. Most of the time there are not even real backgrounds and it makes the world look incomplete. Why choose a futuristic world if you not really gonna use it? As cool as the thought of science fiction Hamlet is, it is nothing if you not gonna embrace it.
Let’s just say I liked the artwork, it was however far from being great.
Since this is supposed to be a ‘manga’ there was an obvious attempt to copy the Japanese art style, well yeah I know Americans and Europeans love to try, but guys get real, you just can’t, it ain’t gonna work. If anything the style comes closer to a Manhwa which is a Korean comic. While the Manhwa is pretty similar to the manga, there are some differences in style and most attempts of European/American artists come curiously enough closer to the Korean style.
Like said before, the story is pretty much the original play and the only thing that bothered me were that jumps between scenes tended to be so abrupt and without a real transition that it could get a little bit confusing.
What I appreciate the most about comic book adaptations of classic works like Hamlet is, that they can get you into the material much easier than the original one does. Even if some of the transitions are a bit confusing, it is not as confusing as reading Shakespeare for the first time without having any visuals to guide you.
Gotta admit, I love good ol’ William, but when I first started reading it or studied it in school, I would’ve loved for my teachers to use a medium like a graphic novel to bring it closer to us.
Conclusion: It is a great story so I’m not gonna judge it. What I’m judging is the sometimes clumsy and way too simple artwork and confusing transitions, so that is the 3 stars.
Recommendation: If you like Shakespeare and you want to experience in another way than reading the original or watching one of the countless movie adaptations, this should be a good choice for you. Of course it is also good for Shakespeare newbies and it might as well is less scary as a first try.
Now for the sake of it and because I really can’t help myself:
Hamlet learns the Circle of Life,
While Polonius gives the Morning Report,
Claudius Just Can’t Wait To Be King and says: “Be Prepared for the chance of a lifetime!”
Ophelia meanwhile wonders if Hamlet Can Feel The Love Tonight
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are all Hakuna Matata, until the do the Hula in front of some pirates,
And that’s all the songs in the movie
March 23, 2019
I've hardly ever read any Manga and not so much Shakespeare either, but for some reason this book caught my eye. I'm very glad it did! Although set in 2107, this version of Hamlet stays very faithful to the original with only subtle use of screens and memory pens in place of heralds and messengers. The text used is totally faithful to Shakespeare, and imaginatively drawn/juxtoposed to represent the voices, feelings, ghost, sounds as the story requires. The 'direction' of the b&w panels, close-ups, different sizes, page layouts is quite fantastic, as is Vieceli's artwork, which conveys the story as well as any movie or play enactment ever could. I read 100 pages, took a short tea break and was already itching to get back to read the other 100 pages because I found it such a page-turner (and I already knew the plot well enough!). Certain pages are quite brilliantly executed works of art. My only gripe is that occasionally, in close-up, it's a little difficult to tell Hamlet, Laertes, Horatio, Rosenkrantz/Guildenstern apart so you have to pay close eagle-eyed attention. Apparently, this is one of four from the Manga Shakespeare series, along with Richard III, Romeo & Juliet and The Tempest. I would like to read them all. 4.75/5
April 12, 2021
I've hardly ever read any Manga and not so much Shakespeare either, but for some reason this book caught my eye. I'm very glad it did! Although set in 2107, this version of Hamlet stays very faithful to the original with only subtle use of screens and memory pens in place of heralds and messengers. The text used is totally faithful to Shakespeare, and imaginatively drawn/juxtoposed to represent the voices, feelings, ghost, sounds as the story requires. The 'direction' of the b&w panels, close-ups, different sizes, page layouts is quite fantastic, as is Vieceli's artwork, which conveys the story as well as any movie or play enactment ever could. I read 100 pages, took a short tea break and was already itching to get back to read the other 100 pages because I found it such a page-turner (and I already knew the plot well enough!). Certain pages are quite brilliantly executed works of art. My only gripe is that occasionally, in close-up, it's a little difficult to tell Hamlet, Laertes, Horatio, Rosenkrantz/Guildenstern apart so you have to pay close eagle-eyed attention. Apparently, this is one of four from the Manga Shakespeare series, along with Richard III, Romeo & Juliet and The Tempest. I would like to read them all. 4.75/5
August 26, 2023
One major purpose of these mangas is to make Shakespeare more digestible, especially for a teenage audience, but a significant amount of the text in this has been edited or cut in such ways that make it more confusing and make less sense, which is a great shame.
The artwork has highs and lows, overall nice though. The use of black and whites is excellent, as is the use of negative space. The setting and aesthetic is interesting, and I guess could make it more appealing to a certain demographic, but I'm not sure it really adds anything. The major change it does allow is the use of monitors for characters to converse at a distance.
The character designs are also hit and miss, with some being excellent and others lacklustre. The huge visage of the King towards the beginning was very exciting.
Overall, worth a look but the editing is especially annoying in this one so it doesn't make much sense.
The artwork has highs and lows, overall nice though. The use of black and whites is excellent, as is the use of negative space. The setting and aesthetic is interesting, and I guess could make it more appealing to a certain demographic, but I'm not sure it really adds anything. The major change it does allow is the use of monitors for characters to converse at a distance.
The character designs are also hit and miss, with some being excellent and others lacklustre. The huge visage of the King towards the beginning was very exciting.
Overall, worth a look but the editing is especially annoying in this one so it doesn't make much sense.
January 4, 2026
I won't go into the plot so much as it's the plot of Hamlet, and I feel most people who read these adaptations are probably Shakespeare fans anyway who've decided to see his work in a different format.
I have a lot of love and respect for Manga Shakespeare as a whole. I like the concept, I think drawn art is a very powerful tool and a very different but fun way to bring Shakespeare's work to life, and I think graphic novels/manga can be a great way for people who're not big readers to still experience stories in a more accessible form.
I also think Emma Vieceli is a great artist, I like her style and think her work is really beautiful. I'm just not sure we needed Hamlet set in a futuristic sci-fi world. I largely think this because, though I appreciate the idea from a style perspective, the actual world and this element had no impact on the story and at times, for me, actually took away from the whole experience. I loved the aesthetic of the book, but when you have random inserts of people plugging themselves into a mainframe, or looking at holograms, it can take you out of the story for a moment. I just didn't find it entirely necessary.
Overall, I still like the Manga Shakespeare concept but this wasn't my favourite of the series. I think the style was cool and drawn really well, but there were visual elements added that sometimes distracted from the story.
I have a lot of love and respect for Manga Shakespeare as a whole. I like the concept, I think drawn art is a very powerful tool and a very different but fun way to bring Shakespeare's work to life, and I think graphic novels/manga can be a great way for people who're not big readers to still experience stories in a more accessible form.
I also think Emma Vieceli is a great artist, I like her style and think her work is really beautiful. I'm just not sure we needed Hamlet set in a futuristic sci-fi world. I largely think this because, though I appreciate the idea from a style perspective, the actual world and this element had no impact on the story and at times, for me, actually took away from the whole experience. I loved the aesthetic of the book, but when you have random inserts of people plugging themselves into a mainframe, or looking at holograms, it can take you out of the story for a moment. I just didn't find it entirely necessary.
Overall, I still like the Manga Shakespeare concept but this wasn't my favourite of the series. I think the style was cool and drawn really well, but there were visual elements added that sometimes distracted from the story.
July 8, 2022
Tady jsem sáhla úplně vedle. Komixy mám dost ráda, ale manga ne. Jedním z důvodů je to, že se v nich velice často ztratím a netuším, co se vlastně děje. A to se mi stalo i v tomto případě. Nelíbila se mi ani výtvarná stránka a postavy se mi pletly (kromě Polonia, který měl na hlavě kýbl, ale ten zas zmizel ze scény docela brzo).
Obsahově...Hamleta jsem nečetla, ale asi budu muset, protože si potřebuju ověřit, nakolik je překombinovaná a zmatená původní hra a co je již umělecká licence autorů manga verze. A na závěr - co jsem tedy už vůbec nepochopila - proč je to proboha umístěné do roku 2107 po klimatické katastrofě? Prostě...velký špatný.
Obsahově...Hamleta jsem nečetla, ale asi budu muset, protože si potřebuju ověřit, nakolik je překombinovaná a zmatená původní hra a co je již umělecká licence autorů manga verze. A na závěr - co jsem tedy už vůbec nepochopila - proč je to proboha umístěné do roku 2107 po klimatické katastrofě? Prostě...velký špatný.
April 1, 2023
Completely pointless edition, I am sure a comic book Hamlet can be done well but this is not the case. The chosen text makes it laughably simplistic and the style is just the most boring manga ever created - they just threw in some scifi elements like holograms but that's just trying to score some points with highschoolers, they couldn't be arsed to make the choice really impactful and adapt the story to the changed setting (people guard castle walls, the finale is still fencing combat, kings can randomly behead people, etc.). Plus, it makes it sometimes pretty difficult to distinguish the characters, Hamlet doesn't really have that many main characters to justify this.
December 1, 2024
3.5
I enjoyed, but there are problems.
This is my first foray into Hamlet, because reading Shakespeare plays is hard because they're supposed to be watched and heard, not read. A graphic novel version of Shakespeare is an ideal middle ground however.
But the art leaves a lot to be desired, and the futuristic setting makes no sense, and changes nothing in the story. Why make manga Shakespeare and not just make it Shakespeare? Changing it seems unnecessary
Apparently, things are also cut from the original play - i can definitely see that Hamlet's infamous monologue is obliterated
Overall enjoyable, but could've been far better
I enjoyed, but there are problems.
This is my first foray into Hamlet, because reading Shakespeare plays is hard because they're supposed to be watched and heard, not read. A graphic novel version of Shakespeare is an ideal middle ground however.
But the art leaves a lot to be desired, and the futuristic setting makes no sense, and changes nothing in the story. Why make manga Shakespeare and not just make it Shakespeare? Changing it seems unnecessary
Apparently, things are also cut from the original play - i can definitely see that Hamlet's infamous monologue is obliterated
Overall enjoyable, but could've been far better
August 23, 2022
Good adaptation, the art is really crisp. The dialogue uses an abridged version of Shakespeare's. My only complaint is that the famous To Be or Not To Be soliloquy was abridged to 3 thought bubbles. It makes sense given the audience this is aimed at (intro to Shakespeare), but I just wanted more.
I am interested in reading more in the series though, both of the ones I know well (Midsummer, Macbeth, R&J) and others that I have only a general knowledge of (Julia's Ceasar, Richard III & Henry VIII).
I am interested in reading more in the series though, both of the ones I know well (Midsummer, Macbeth, R&J) and others that I have only a general knowledge of (Julia's Ceasar, Richard III & Henry VIII).
May 4, 2025
You can't adapt Hamlet, keep the text literal, but then cut Hamlet's soliloquy. Both the setting and art felt lazy. I liked Hamlet's character design—he looks like a total queer drama queen. Some of the panels definitely play with Freudian interpretation but I wonder if that was done on purpose since nothing about the art is consistent or feels purposeful. I have two more Manga Shakespeares from the library but I'll probably return them because I don't need more of this, they're not what I was expecting (should've known considering it's OEL manga).
September 12, 2017
L'idea di trasporre la tragedia shakespeariana di Amleto in un manga ambientato nel futuro è accattivante, tuttavia il risultato non mi è apparso speciale. La trama risulta accelerata, difettosa e confusa, e al contrario di quanto mi sarebbe piaciuto il disegno non ha contribuito a rendere bene i tormenti interiori dei personaggi, l'ironia di certi dialoghi e il forte impatto emotivo di alcune scene.
Un esperimento da ritentare.
Un esperimento da ritentare.
September 25, 2017
Typically I am a big fan of reading graphic novels in preparation for upcoming curriculum to get readers more excited about the more challenging novel/plays that await them. This graphic novel however will not help students in that regard; instead it would be best used afterward to reinforce the story and characters. I do not think that futuristic artwork or setting added anything to play and would have been better left in its original time.
October 5, 2017
It was Shakespeare words, but very abridged. The part I couldn't stand was art. All the characters looked too similar. So I was spending too much time paying attention to who was speaking. I'd rather just read the original play.
For any manga fans wanting to get into Shakespeare, this would make a decent choice because the language is a lot easier to understand because it is shorted, but still Shakespeare's story.
For any manga fans wanting to get into Shakespeare, this would make a decent choice because the language is a lot easier to understand because it is shorted, but still Shakespeare's story.
November 11, 2018
I have never read a manga before, with saying that I do love Shakespeare so when I saw this novel in the library I knew I was not leaving the library without it. Obviously, it could not include everything in the original Hamlet, because Hamlet if frigging huge.
All in all, I did enjoy this novel and I will read more Manga, so if you like Manga and Shakespeare then I would highly recommend this book.
All in all, I did enjoy this novel and I will read more Manga, so if you like Manga and Shakespeare then I would highly recommend this book.
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