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Seven Shakespeares #1
Seven Shakespeares, Vol. 1
Literary secrets come alive when Harold Sakuishi, creator of the all-time-classic rock 'n' roll manga BECK, tackles a different kind of legend: William Shakespeare. He's said to be the greatest playwright and poet in history, the author of Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Macbeth, but just who was William Shakespeare? Harold Sakuishi unlocks the secrets behind the writer you only thought you knew! Volume 1 comes in a special, 520-page 2-in-1 edition.
Part of the comiXology Originals line of exclusive digital content only available on comiXology and Kindle. This title is available as part of comiXology Unlimited, Kindle Unlimited and Prime Reading.
Part of the comiXology Originals line of exclusive digital content only available on comiXology and Kindle. This title is available as part of comiXology Unlimited, Kindle Unlimited and Prime Reading.
503 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 2010
103 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Harold Sakuishi
236 books78 followersAssociated names :
哈罗德作石
HAROLD作石
Name (in native language) : ハロルド 作石
Birth Name : Sakuishi (作石) Takahiro (貴浩)
Blood type : AB
Sakuishi has a wide variety of interests which include baseball (he is a huge Chunichi Dragons fan), martial arts, MMA, and music (he is a huge Red Hot Chili Peppers fan).
Each of these has become the basis for his most popular series (baseball in Stopper Busujima, fighting in Bakaichi, and music in Beck).
His series also often include character cameos from his past works; one of the newspaper reporters in Beck is actually from Stopper Busujima and so on. Additionally, he's a big fan of Sangokushi (Romance of the Three Kingdoms) with an altered version of that story appearing in Beck written by "Christy Sakuishi".
In Beck he included many famous people in background crowds. These included many popular musicians, characters from Happy Sangokushi and MMA legends Royce Gracie and Kazushi Sakuraba.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 4, 2012
Shakespeare?~?!? I really do not know where this series is going, but I want to know more. First couple chapters introduce us to Sweet Willi, then we suddenly go back several years, before he started writing his witty words. Where do you think the reader is taken? Chinatown-Liverpool! Back in the day--very fascinating stuff. Not often covered in any history books on this side of the pond.
The writing is good, with bits of humor to balance the bleakness of the story. The drawing is excellent. This would be a series I would buy, if available in in the US in English.
Yes, I am a rabid scanlation reader. Many on this site would spit on me for this. I say that what on line, in a drop in the bucket to all the manga ever published in Japanese. This is an art form, that should be documented, and shared with the masses. Like many great artists-theirs works can be viewed on line for free. Why hide they from us. I have sought out several series I have read online. If I had not found them on the internet-I would never have enjoyed these gems. Yes writers and artists deserve to be paid-if there was a subscription site-many of us would gladly pay. The American Manga market imploded several years ago, along with US anime. This left many of our favorite series hanging, or poorly written endings. The History of manga is amazing in depth and breath-decades of work-many probably lost to us all ready. I hope the manga market comes back-for I am too old to learn to read Japanese. Yes, I do buy some-when the storyline is so well told just through the images. The medium deserves a Museum, here in the US.
The writing is good, with bits of humor to balance the bleakness of the story. The drawing is excellent. This would be a series I would buy, if available in in the US in English.
Yes, I am a rabid scanlation reader. Many on this site would spit on me for this. I say that what on line, in a drop in the bucket to all the manga ever published in Japanese. This is an art form, that should be documented, and shared with the masses. Like many great artists-theirs works can be viewed on line for free. Why hide they from us. I have sought out several series I have read online. If I had not found them on the internet-I would never have enjoyed these gems. Yes writers and artists deserve to be paid-if there was a subscription site-many of us would gladly pay. The American Manga market imploded several years ago, along with US anime. This left many of our favorite series hanging, or poorly written endings. The History of manga is amazing in depth and breath-decades of work-many probably lost to us all ready. I hope the manga market comes back-for I am too old to learn to read Japanese. Yes, I do buy some-when the storyline is so well told just through the images. The medium deserves a Museum, here in the US.
August 7, 2018
This is the most outlandish take on the whole "Shakespeare didn't write Shakespeare" and I am 100% here for it.
April 27, 2022
3.5
Me intrigued
Me intrigued
August 3, 2019
It’s been a long time since I blazed through 500 pages so fast. That’s both a good thing and a bad thing in the case of Seven Shakespeares.
Everyone has some familiarity with William Shakespeare’s works, but how much do you really know about the man? Heck, even scholars have lots of questions about Shakespeare’s life.
Enter Seven Shakespeares, an imagined account of Shakespeare’s life.
The opening chapter shows Shakespeare in his prime, getting a standing ovation from the Queen Majesty herself. A thief cries out that Shakespeare is “the ill-bred churlish swindler”, and then the story jumps back in time. It’s in the second chapter that we meet Li, a Chinese immigrant with an incredible sixth sense. Whether Li can really see the future thanks to some mystical power or if she just has strong hunches is currently up to readers’ interpretation, but it leans more towards the former. Regardless, the people in Chinatown decide to sacrifice her, and she eventually ends up meeting Shakespeare (known as Lance Carter) and his associates Mil and Worth. Worth thinks Li would be a liability, but Mil is smitten (in a non-romantic way) and takes it upon himself to teach Li English. Shakespeare himself senses something about her, and she quickly becomes fluent to the point she can create beautiful imagery with her words.
As you may have guessed, a lot of those diary entries and random speeches are what would later be attributed to Shakespeare. Considering how the three men and Li become a pseudo-family, I doubt “Lance” coldly steals Li’s writings and publishes them as Shakespeare. But considering there are seven lost years and, according to the title, seven Shakespeares, perhaps Shakespeare changes during his struggles to become famous?
Reading this, it’s easy to see why Seven Shakespeares was released in a two-in-one format. This is very much centered around Li, covering her time in her village and her adjustment to being an English girl. The village sequence goes on a little too long in my opinion, so I was going a little fast there. The other characters are likable, but I wanted to focus on the Bard himself! Even other subplots like Worth trying to figure out why he keeps losing money on sugar all come back to Li.
So far, everything is so tied to Li’s gifts I kind of wonder why Sakuishi didn’t just go down the route that Shakespeare met some kind of fairy. Even the way they met was mystical: he thought he saw a drop come down from the moon, as if it were the goddess Diana’s tear. If you’re hoping for a super-realistic, very historically accurate look at the lost years, this isn’t it.
But if you take the historically accurate aspects of the series, is it entertaining? As I mentioned, it’s pretty fast-paced considering this is an omnibus. Sakuishi doesn’t spend a lot of time going over Elizabethan life, but instead focuses on Li’s struggle to live and be loved. The art is also amazing. Shakespeare has a wide range of grins from his determined passion to familial joy to his pure love of words. The fish “swimming” in the candle shadows or the moon’s tears are just as lyrical as the best sonnets, but we also see cruelty like Li getting branded. The dialogue only shows a bit of Middle English, keeping the story accessible to most readers.
Shakespeare-ophiles might be slightly let down by the heavy focus on a fictional character. But there’s something addicting about a Chinese girl with a gift meeting perhaps the most famous author in history.
Everyone has some familiarity with William Shakespeare’s works, but how much do you really know about the man? Heck, even scholars have lots of questions about Shakespeare’s life.
Enter Seven Shakespeares, an imagined account of Shakespeare’s life.
The opening chapter shows Shakespeare in his prime, getting a standing ovation from the Queen Majesty herself. A thief cries out that Shakespeare is “the ill-bred churlish swindler”, and then the story jumps back in time. It’s in the second chapter that we meet Li, a Chinese immigrant with an incredible sixth sense. Whether Li can really see the future thanks to some mystical power or if she just has strong hunches is currently up to readers’ interpretation, but it leans more towards the former. Regardless, the people in Chinatown decide to sacrifice her, and she eventually ends up meeting Shakespeare (known as Lance Carter) and his associates Mil and Worth. Worth thinks Li would be a liability, but Mil is smitten (in a non-romantic way) and takes it upon himself to teach Li English. Shakespeare himself senses something about her, and she quickly becomes fluent to the point she can create beautiful imagery with her words.
As you may have guessed, a lot of those diary entries and random speeches are what would later be attributed to Shakespeare. Considering how the three men and Li become a pseudo-family, I doubt “Lance” coldly steals Li’s writings and publishes them as Shakespeare. But considering there are seven lost years and, according to the title, seven Shakespeares, perhaps Shakespeare changes during his struggles to become famous?
Reading this, it’s easy to see why Seven Shakespeares was released in a two-in-one format. This is very much centered around Li, covering her time in her village and her adjustment to being an English girl. The village sequence goes on a little too long in my opinion, so I was going a little fast there. The other characters are likable, but I wanted to focus on the Bard himself! Even other subplots like Worth trying to figure out why he keeps losing money on sugar all come back to Li.
So far, everything is so tied to Li’s gifts I kind of wonder why Sakuishi didn’t just go down the route that Shakespeare met some kind of fairy. Even the way they met was mystical: he thought he saw a drop come down from the moon, as if it were the goddess Diana’s tear. If you’re hoping for a super-realistic, very historically accurate look at the lost years, this isn’t it.
But if you take the historically accurate aspects of the series, is it entertaining? As I mentioned, it’s pretty fast-paced considering this is an omnibus. Sakuishi doesn’t spend a lot of time going over Elizabethan life, but instead focuses on Li’s struggle to live and be loved. The art is also amazing. Shakespeare has a wide range of grins from his determined passion to familial joy to his pure love of words. The fish “swimming” in the candle shadows or the moon’s tears are just as lyrical as the best sonnets, but we also see cruelty like Li getting branded. The dialogue only shows a bit of Middle English, keeping the story accessible to most readers.
Shakespeare-ophiles might be slightly let down by the heavy focus on a fictional character. But there’s something addicting about a Chinese girl with a gift meeting perhaps the most famous author in history.
September 27, 2020
Bizarre but entertaining - and highly moreish - Elizabethan set manga about Shakespeare’s “missing years”, which quickly get diverted into his encounter with a teenage Chinese girl who has second sight. You won’t find this stuff in the so-called “history books”, but it’s an enjoyable yarn nonetheless with plenty of atmosphere and a developing theme of conflict between art and superstition. Once you’re past the lengthy and traumatic origin story of heroine Li the story settles into a gentle, low-stakes pace enlivened by some delightfully cartoonish and expressive art.
August 1, 2019
This was a different take on the "who is Shakespeare?" theory. Jumping on the theory that maybe the man history has made to be as Shakespeare didn't pen his own work, this manga adds it's own twist which was different.
Not sure where the artist will take it but I'm intrigued enough to see about finding the next volume and how it all plays out.
Read for the #24b4monday reading challenge.
Not sure where the artist will take it but I'm intrigued enough to see about finding the next volume and how it all plays out.
Read for the #24b4monday reading challenge.
December 13, 2023
Everyone and their mother would like to know what happened to Shakespeare during the "Lost Years" of his career. The fact that very little is known about Shakespeare's life inevitably creates a lot of speculation and conspiracy theories, most of which are classist and elitist drivel. The main anti-Stratfordian argument is that it would have been completely impossible for an uneducated man from the countryside to write such beautiful poetry. Naturally, you can see how this is a problematic take.
"Seven Shakespeares" takes this exact approach and attempts to fill in the Lost Years by having Shakespeare, aka Lance Carter, be an untalented writer who has to rely on other people's skills to make a name for himself.
In this volume, we meet Li, a Chinese immigrant with an eerie sixth sense of premonition. This ability gets her into a world of trouble, but eventually she gets rescued by Lance and his friend Worth. Li learns English from Lance's other friend, Mil, and soon starts to speak in verse. Lance asks her to write her ideas, and she accidentally creates the English sonnet (aka the Shakespearean sonnet). Li's first sonnet is #18 ("Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?") which she wrote for her dog....
Can I just take a second to say that sonnet 18 (the real one) is regarded as one of Shakespeare's finest poems and it is probably the most well-known, even to non-Shakespeare experts. It is widely accepted in academia that Shakespeare wrote this poem with his male lover in mind, so the fact that the manga makes it about a dog is just beyond gobsmacking and insulting.
This first volume ends with the hint that Li wrote Hamlet for Lance. Again, this is a baffling "explanation" for Shakespeare's masterpiece.
As a self-respecting Shakespearean, I can't possibly continue to read this series. If you want to read a fantasy/historical fiction account of Shakespeare's life, go for it, but for the love of all that is holy, don't believe for a second that Shakespeare didn't write his plays and poems.
"Seven Shakespeares" takes this exact approach and attempts to fill in the Lost Years by having Shakespeare, aka Lance Carter, be an untalented writer who has to rely on other people's skills to make a name for himself.
In this volume, we meet Li, a Chinese immigrant with an eerie sixth sense of premonition. This ability gets her into a world of trouble, but eventually she gets rescued by Lance and his friend Worth. Li learns English from Lance's other friend, Mil, and soon starts to speak in verse. Lance asks her to write her ideas, and she accidentally creates the English sonnet (aka the Shakespearean sonnet). Li's first sonnet is #18 ("Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?") which she wrote for her dog....
Can I just take a second to say that sonnet 18 (the real one) is regarded as one of Shakespeare's finest poems and it is probably the most well-known, even to non-Shakespeare experts. It is widely accepted in academia that Shakespeare wrote this poem with his male lover in mind, so the fact that the manga makes it about a dog is just beyond gobsmacking and insulting.
This first volume ends with the hint that Li wrote Hamlet for Lance. Again, this is a baffling "explanation" for Shakespeare's masterpiece.
As a self-respecting Shakespearean, I can't possibly continue to read this series. If you want to read a fantasy/historical fiction account of Shakespeare's life, go for it, but for the love of all that is holy, don't believe for a second that Shakespeare didn't write his plays and poems.
June 3, 2021
The title and premise of this manga-style historical fiction graphic novel are presumably influenced by Gilbert Slater’s 1931 work that proposed that William Shakespeare as poet / playwright is a myth and that, in actuality, seven different writers produced the canon attributed to Shakespeare. While there remains disagreement and speculation about precisely what was composed by Shakespeare – as opposed to either being heavily co-authored or exploiting his name recognition – I don’t believe this extreme expression of the idea is so popular anymore.
But it doesn’t really matter for the purpose of this story because Sakuishi’s work suggests some truly outlandish, if intriguing, origins of the Shakespeare canon. In the case of this first volume, it is an adorable young Chinese witch (for lack of a better term,) Li, who goes from learning English via crude a pointing-out-concrete-nouns approach to penning sonnets that will be considered some of the best poetry humanity has ever known, and she does so over a period of weeks.
The volume includes light supernatural elements – either that or superstitious people in conjunction with unseen and / or unbelievable activities. Most of the story revolves around a Chinese community who feel beleaguered by the gods or fates, and who attempt to sacrifice Li to appease said deities.
I found the premise to be intriguing. The art was cleanly rendered in the manga style. The story didn’t feel quite as clean, with some events feeling random and inorganic. If you’re looking to get some lightly dramatized historical fiction, you’d probably feel this is a bit fanciful, but if you’re down for the story's exaggerated nature, it’s a compelling tale.
But it doesn’t really matter for the purpose of this story because Sakuishi’s work suggests some truly outlandish, if intriguing, origins of the Shakespeare canon. In the case of this first volume, it is an adorable young Chinese witch (for lack of a better term,) Li, who goes from learning English via crude a pointing-out-concrete-nouns approach to penning sonnets that will be considered some of the best poetry humanity has ever known, and she does so over a period of weeks.
The volume includes light supernatural elements – either that or superstitious people in conjunction with unseen and / or unbelievable activities. Most of the story revolves around a Chinese community who feel beleaguered by the gods or fates, and who attempt to sacrifice Li to appease said deities.
I found the premise to be intriguing. The art was cleanly rendered in the manga style. The story didn’t feel quite as clean, with some events feeling random and inorganic. If you’re looking to get some lightly dramatized historical fiction, you’d probably feel this is a bit fanciful, but if you’re down for the story's exaggerated nature, it’s a compelling tale.
July 5, 2021
This is a what-if type of tale about the “lost years” in William Shakespeare’s history. In it Shakespeare (called Lance at the time) is a young salesman in Liverpool working with his brother (?), Worth, for an older gentleman, Master Walker. When Master Walker receives a tip that the church is looking for more entertaining plays for their patrons, he suggests Shakespeare try and pen some plays for them to sell.
While Shakespeare hones his writing, Worth takes over as the lead salesman for Master Walker. Shortly after Shakespeare begins writing plays, he and Worth happen upon a shipwreck, and find a girl washed up to shore bound in ropes. The girl has a black mark seared into the flesh of her neck, foreign looks, and does not seem to understand them – despite having the ability to hear and speak.
Worth and Shakespeare have a housemate of sorts, Lim, an older gent who begins to teach Li English. Li decides she must learn quickly and find a way to be an asset to the three men in order to maintain the peaceful life she’s finally achieved. While learning English, Li finds herself quite fond of the language. Discovering she has a knack for composing artful prose, Shakespeare finds himself inspired and heartily encourages her to put her thoughts to paper....
I borrowed this digitally from the library on a whim, I enjoy Shakespeare and love a period piece. I did not read any reviews or descriptions in advance. I was surprised at the story that unfolded. It was rather dark at times, but it seems like things are looking up for all parties involved. This is shaping up to be a unique telling of Shakespeare’s beginnings.
While Shakespeare hones his writing, Worth takes over as the lead salesman for Master Walker. Shortly after Shakespeare begins writing plays, he and Worth happen upon a shipwreck, and find a girl washed up to shore bound in ropes. The girl has a black mark seared into the flesh of her neck, foreign looks, and does not seem to understand them – despite having the ability to hear and speak.
Worth and Shakespeare have a housemate of sorts, Lim, an older gent who begins to teach Li English. Li decides she must learn quickly and find a way to be an asset to the three men in order to maintain the peaceful life she’s finally achieved. While learning English, Li finds herself quite fond of the language. Discovering she has a knack for composing artful prose, Shakespeare finds himself inspired and heartily encourages her to put her thoughts to paper....
I borrowed this digitally from the library on a whim, I enjoy Shakespeare and love a period piece. I did not read any reviews or descriptions in advance. I was surprised at the story that unfolded. It was rather dark at times, but it seems like things are looking up for all parties involved. This is shaping up to be a unique telling of Shakespeare’s beginnings.
July 13, 2018
It’s a popular but unfounded theory that Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford wrote Shakespeare’s plays. Here Harold Sakuishi revisits the idea with a twist. Focusing on the 7 year gap in the historical record between the young lower class Shakespeare and the Elizabethan master playwright, Sakuishi weaves together a new narrative of Shakespeare’s inspiration coming from Li, a exile from a Chinatown on English shore. Inspiration is perhaps too kind, as Sakuishi seems to suggest that Shakespeare will plagiarize in future volumes.
The art is really a delight here, as Sakuishi is extremely expressive in work. Comedic characters and moments got a laugh out of me. Equally, darker moments are masterfully rendered. The weakest point for me was the design of some of the secondary characters. While Sakuishi reinvents Will as a blonde haired blue eyed sex pot (see cover), his brother seems much more generic —-resembling a moody anime boy. Still I look forward to future volumes. This series has promise!
The art is really a delight here, as Sakuishi is extremely expressive in work. Comedic characters and moments got a laugh out of me. Equally, darker moments are masterfully rendered. The weakest point for me was the design of some of the secondary characters. While Sakuishi reinvents Will as a blonde haired blue eyed sex pot (see cover), his brother seems much more generic —-resembling a moody anime boy. Still I look forward to future volumes. This series has promise!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2018
I found this manga on prime reading and I have to say I'm glad I read it. This is something that I would recommend to anyone who is looking to start manga and loves historical fiction. This takes place during Shakespeare's "Lost Years" Where we are not quite sure what happened to Shakespeare during that time. This artstyle is really crisp with shaping European as well as Asian culture during the time of Shakespeare. This also doesnt feel like a quick read but isnt dense either. This unfortunately because of certain scenes that occur is not appropriate for teenagers up to 16. However I would encourage high schoolers to read it for an added bonus of learning about Shakespeare's plays and his life. Because of these points I have to give this volume a 4 out of 5 stars. I truly enjoyed myself and would recommend it.
March 7, 2022
You know for something with Shakespeare's name in the title he wasn't really present for the beginning 2/3 of it. The majority of this volume was spent introducing Li a Chinese girl who actually wrote Shakespeare's sonnets.
This story was written with the "Shakespeare didn't write his own works" narrative in mind. I personally am tired of this idea and at least in my house we don't disrespect William like that.
This story was written with the "Shakespeare didn't write his own works" narrative in mind. I personally am tired of this idea and at least in my house we don't disrespect William like that.
May 25, 2023
Elizabethton historical drama
A historical fiction dramatization about Shakespeare's early years with some paranormal/supernatural oracular events. Ultimately, I was rather bored with it. The drama felt rather flat and deliberate and if it wasn't for the author's name or that of the protagonist, I don't think it would be of much note. I guess the bulk of the characters didn't appeal to me enough so the pathos and drama just didn't connect.
A historical fiction dramatization about Shakespeare's early years with some paranormal/supernatural oracular events. Ultimately, I was rather bored with it. The drama felt rather flat and deliberate and if it wasn't for the author's name or that of the protagonist, I don't think it would be of much note. I guess the bulk of the characters didn't appeal to me enough so the pathos and drama just didn't connect.
January 30, 2022
I have been hearing one “Shakespeare wasn’t really Shakespeare” theory or another since college. I really thought I’d heard them all, but I have to say this one is currently my favorite for its originality and sly humor. Shakespeare couldn’t possibly have written those sonnets! They were obviously written by a young girl with second sight as an ode to her new puppy.
Looking forward to Volume 2.
Looking forward to Volume 2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
March 22, 2023Just amazing
The 'history ' of Shakespeare here is dubious, but Sakuishi uses his hidden years to talk about the acquisition of language, specifically poetic language. An amazing book of delicacy and Bigfoot comedy skilfully blended into a story that has your heart in your mouth as you worry for the characters.
The 'history ' of Shakespeare here is dubious, but Sakuishi uses his hidden years to talk about the acquisition of language, specifically poetic language. An amazing book of delicacy and Bigfoot comedy skilfully blended into a story that has your heart in your mouth as you worry for the characters.
January 22, 2025
I WAS VERY SURPRISED AND HAPPY THAT I WAS AMAZED HOW WONDERFUL THIS COLLECTION WAS. BEAUTIFUL WRITING AND DIALOGUE TO GO ALONG WITH SUPERIOR CHARACTERS. THIS BOOK WAS FULL OF EMOTIONS AND EXTREMELY TENDER MOMENTS. EVENTUALLY, I WILL BE PURCHASING THE OTHER VOLUMES. THANK YOU HAROLD SAKUISHI AND ALL THE OTHER TALENTED PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS MASTERPIECE!
July 4, 2019
Great Story and Artwork!
This was a very enjoyable book. I was entertained the whole time and just wanted to keep on reading. The drawings are excellent and added alot of personality to the story. I would definitely recommend this to people.
This was a very enjoyable book. I was entertained the whole time and just wanted to keep on reading. The drawings are excellent and added alot of personality to the story. I would definitely recommend this to people.
October 13, 2025
le dessin est très qualitatif, le tome se lit vite et est agréable, j'ai été surpris au début du chapitre 2 (je n'en dirais pas plus pour ne pas spoil) mais j'ai été absorbé par l'histoire ! hâte de lire la suite !
April 8, 2019
Just wonderful
As everyone know this name it was interesting to more about him and this graphic format was fun and entertaining.
As everyone know this name it was interesting to more about him and this graphic format was fun and entertaining.
May 27, 2019
Super interesting take on Shakespeare!
October 24, 2020
You're the one
writing these
degenerate
plays for this
degenerate
company.
(23)
And I perform
in these plays
most degener-
ately, too!
(23)
writing these
degenerate
plays for this
degenerate
company.
(23)
And I perform
in these plays
most degener-
ately, too!
(23)
December 31, 2020
Intriguing
November 18, 2022
Seven Shakespeares poses the question Did Shakespeare write all those great work? It also asks Was Shakespeare even real?
Personally, I think a lot of the rumors and theories are ridiculous, but this manga creates a fun world where different versions of Shakespeare and his rise to fame exists, and gives his lore a lively background.
Personally, I think a lot of the rumors and theories are ridiculous, but this manga creates a fun world where different versions of Shakespeare and his rise to fame exists, and gives his lore a lively background.
January 4, 2016
Qui était vraiment Shakespeare ?
En 1587, 13 ans avant le succès de Hamlet à Londres, Lance Carter habite à Liverpool et travaille dans la vente à domicile.
A cette époque, de nombreux Chinois se sont installés sur les rives du Mersey et parmi eux la jeune Li, la Déesse Noire, qui semble avoir un don pour sentir le futur.
Pour calmer la pluie qui menace l’économie de ce Chinatown, elle va être sacrifiée par ses voisins et sa famille et jetée dans le fleuve.
Ce premier tome introduit les personnages d’une façon un peu étrange puisqu’après un rapide chapitre nous présentant ce Shakespeare comme un imposteur, on passe énormément de temps avec la famille de Li et les Chinois de Liverpool.
Si on s’éloigne beaucoup de Shakespeare et du mystère autour de sa vie, j’ai tout de même adoré cet ouvrage, au très beau dessin et qui nous montre le destin de Li, dont j’ai hâte d’apprendre comment sa route va croiser celle de Shakespeare, lui qui nous annonce en 1600 que ce que la reine aime voir jouer, c’est du Li.
En 1587, 13 ans avant le succès de Hamlet à Londres, Lance Carter habite à Liverpool et travaille dans la vente à domicile.
A cette époque, de nombreux Chinois se sont installés sur les rives du Mersey et parmi eux la jeune Li, la Déesse Noire, qui semble avoir un don pour sentir le futur.
Pour calmer la pluie qui menace l’économie de ce Chinatown, elle va être sacrifiée par ses voisins et sa famille et jetée dans le fleuve.
Ce premier tome introduit les personnages d’une façon un peu étrange puisqu’après un rapide chapitre nous présentant ce Shakespeare comme un imposteur, on passe énormément de temps avec la famille de Li et les Chinois de Liverpool.
Si on s’éloigne beaucoup de Shakespeare et du mystère autour de sa vie, j’ai tout de même adoré cet ouvrage, au très beau dessin et qui nous montre le destin de Li, dont j’ai hâte d’apprendre comment sa route va croiser celle de Shakespeare, lui qui nous annonce en 1600 que ce que la reine aime voir jouer, c’est du Li.
February 16, 2013
Étrange manga.
Le dessin a des maladresses mais peut être élégant (surtout pour dessiner les jeunes filles...) et les décors sont soignés.
Les personnages sont souvent caricaturaux, aux expressions outrées, et ça passe bien.
L'histoire de ce premier volume commence sur une troupe de théâtre (art mal vu des autorités mais populaire), et passe, pour le plus gros du volume, sur l'histoire d'une communauté chinoise en Angleterre, particulièrement l'histoire d'une jeune fille au pouvoir effrayant ses compatriotes.
Peut-être que les volumes suivants éclairciront cette intrigue.
Au final, rien d'enthousiasmant pour moi, mais un volume agréable à lire.
Le dessin a des maladresses mais peut être élégant (surtout pour dessiner les jeunes filles...) et les décors sont soignés.
Les personnages sont souvent caricaturaux, aux expressions outrées, et ça passe bien.
L'histoire de ce premier volume commence sur une troupe de théâtre (art mal vu des autorités mais populaire), et passe, pour le plus gros du volume, sur l'histoire d'une communauté chinoise en Angleterre, particulièrement l'histoire d'une jeune fille au pouvoir effrayant ses compatriotes.
Peut-être que les volumes suivants éclairciront cette intrigue.
Au final, rien d'enthousiasmant pour moi, mais un volume agréable à lire.
July 9, 2018
Manga amaze me still at how masterfully they embrace serial storytelling. Being a Shakespeare geek this one is especially fascinating, covering the course of WS's life, including the seven lost years (for which we have no evidence). Somehow, Sakuishi turns a topic that I am very well read on into a magical realist tale of protestants, catholics, and the black goddess. Outstanding.
January 1, 2022
The idea behind this manga series is brilliant. Many believe that Shakespeare was either not real or did not write his own works. This series takes that idea and runs with it to show how many people are Shakespeare and how the works come together. It also provides a synopsis of periods in history to further explain and allow the reader to understand the era.
June 3, 2019
I enjoyed the story, and the art was amazing. However, I admit that I was a little confused during some of the sequences early on. I also had a hard time reading panels right to left, but maybe that’s an anime thing?
I will be reading the next at some point, and I get the feeling that this will grow on me.
I will be reading the next at some point, and I get the feeling that this will grow on me.
October 22, 2012
Un manga d'une très belle qualité. Des références littéraires et historiques très intéressantes, une histoire fascinante... La suite ! la suite !
January 10, 2015
Disegni: B
Regia: A
Base: A
Sviluppo: A
Ambientazione: A
Personaggi: B
Tempi: A
Regia: A
Base: A
Sviluppo: A
Ambientazione: A
Personaggi: B
Tempi: A
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews