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Manga Shakespeare
Manga Shakespeare: Kral Lear
"HANGİNİZ BİZİ EN ÇOK SEVİYOR?"
Yaşlı şef Kral Lear'ın krallığını üç kızı arasında bölmeye karar vermesi bir peri masalı gibi başlar, fakat gelmiş geçmiş en korkunç trajedilerden biri olarak sona erer.
Shakespeare'in kıyamet havasında geçen tiyatro oyununun bu özgün manga yaratımında, olay, 18. yüzyıl Amerika'sının şiddetli tartışmalara yol açan sömürge sınırlarına taşınır. Kral Lear bu kez gerçek bir son Mohikandır...
Kral Lear, Wiliam Shakespeare'in oyunlarının grafik roman uyarlamaları arasında yer almaktadır. Japon çizgilerinden esinlenen ve Shakespeare'in özgün metinlerinden Richard Appignanesi tarafından uyarlanan bu dizi, usta mangacıların çizimleriyle büyük yaratıcının sözlerini öğrenciler, Shakespeare okurları ve manga hayranları için canlandırıyor.
Yaşlı şef Kral Lear'ın krallığını üç kızı arasında bölmeye karar vermesi bir peri masalı gibi başlar, fakat gelmiş geçmiş en korkunç trajedilerden biri olarak sona erer.
Shakespeare'in kıyamet havasında geçen tiyatro oyununun bu özgün manga yaratımında, olay, 18. yüzyıl Amerika'sının şiddetli tartışmalara yol açan sömürge sınırlarına taşınır. Kral Lear bu kez gerçek bir son Mohikandır...
Kral Lear, Wiliam Shakespeare'in oyunlarının grafik roman uyarlamaları arasında yer almaktadır. Japon çizgilerinden esinlenen ve Shakespeare'in özgün metinlerinden Richard Appignanesi tarafından uyarlanan bu dizi, usta mangacıların çizimleriyle büyük yaratıcının sözlerini öğrenciler, Shakespeare okurları ve manga hayranları için canlandırıyor.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
7 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
About the author
Richard Appignanesi
119 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).
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 5, 2013
I loved studying king Lear at school, but I have never actually seen the play. I found this graphic novel hard to put down, and I would imagine just as good as watching any interpretation of it on stage. It is great if you were reading this along with studying the play, as a reference to a deeper knowledge of the interactions with each characters emotions and each other. And what isn't to love about a good manga comic??!!
March 16, 2011
I’m all for setting Shakespeare’s plays in other eras to clarify the place and ideas for people today. Even so, I was taken aback to find KING LEAR set during the colonial wars of the 1750, with Lear and his court portrayed as members of the Iroquois confederacy, and their British and French allies playing some other characters, such as the Dukes of France and Burgundy. This took a while to get used to, and it seemed odd when one Native American called a frontiersman (Gloucester), “Lord.”
I’m not sure that it ever really worked; it is just too strange, but I was able to accept the change of venue most of the time. There are some very smart things done with the art, the cutting creates surprisingly few problems, and the whole Fool/Cordelia matter is given a thought provoking (and wrong) twist. I do think the approach was wrongly conceived, but after that the executions is quite good.
I’m not sure that it ever really worked; it is just too strange, but I was able to accept the change of venue most of the time. There are some very smart things done with the art, the cutting creates surprisingly few problems, and the whole Fool/Cordelia matter is given a thought provoking (and wrong) twist. I do think the approach was wrongly conceived, but after that the executions is quite good.
July 10, 2013
I found this version of King Lear difficult to follow. Setting the story in the 1750s during battles in the American colonies between the English and the French (with King Lear as an Iroquois chief) didn't simplify an already complicated story. But for a middle school or high school reader attempting to read King Lear for the first time, it's not a bad place to start to get the gist of the story: visually engaging, but using the original language of the play. A brief synopsis of the story at the end of the graphic novel helps kids understand what they might have missed when they're finished, too.
October 7, 2020
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
I came in biased because I'm really not a huge Lear fan. I get it, it has good elements, but it's just a bit... melodramatic, I suppose.
I also don't know how I feel about this setting... While I am all for the concept of it, I found the execution lacking. It's supposed to be the 1750s in Colonialist America, with Lear as a Native American chief. Not being indigenous myself, I cannot speak the accuracy or inaccuracy of any of the character design. I also wouldn't dare to venture a guess at how similar or different the hierarchical structure would be in this scenario...
Overall, I actually wasn't a huge fan of the art in this on either. The pages were very busy and, especially in the front, the printing quality didn't seem to be quite as nice as some of the other volumes.
If I weren't trying to collect the whole series, I probably wouldn't be keeping this one... (But the same could be said for Henry VIII so I suppose it's not unique in that.)
I came in biased because I'm really not a huge Lear fan. I get it, it has good elements, but it's just a bit... melodramatic, I suppose.
I also don't know how I feel about this setting... While I am all for the concept of it, I found the execution lacking. It's supposed to be the 1750s in Colonialist America, with Lear as a Native American chief. Not being indigenous myself, I cannot speak the accuracy or inaccuracy of any of the character design. I also wouldn't dare to venture a guess at how similar or different the hierarchical structure would be in this scenario...
Overall, I actually wasn't a huge fan of the art in this on either. The pages were very busy and, especially in the front, the printing quality didn't seem to be quite as nice as some of the other volumes.
If I weren't trying to collect the whole series, I probably wouldn't be keeping this one... (But the same could be said for Henry VIII so I suppose it's not unique in that.)
June 23, 2020
Einerseits:
Kann das Setting leider gar nicht überzeugen
Lear ist in diesem Fall ein Häuptling eines Stammes der amerikanischen Ureinwohner. Soweit so gut. Warum seine 2 älteren Töchter Europäerinnen sind, eine davon blond, während die jüngste wie Pocahontas aussieht... das passt irgendwie nicht.
Auch, dass Kent einfach eine Maske anzieht... ähm, da muss man schon sehr senil sein, um das nicht zu durchschauen.
Edmund ist sehr offendichtlich illigitim, weil schwarz... das ist doch arg offensichtlich, dass da wohl ein anderer Vater sein muss, zudem ist da nun wieder das Dilemma, dass der Böse der Schwarze ist, obwohl er aber auch der coolste Charakter des Stücks ist.
Andererseits:
Die Dialoge wurden tatsächlich so zusammengekürzt, dass das Stück streckenweise wirklich klarer wird, als wenn man es komplett im original liest. Die Bilder sind auch sehr hilfreich. Einige Dialoge bekommen teils Bedeutungsverschiebungen und Konnotations, die einem beim Lesen des Originals, selbst mit Fußnoten nicht aufgefallen sind.
Kann das Setting leider gar nicht überzeugen
Lear ist in diesem Fall ein Häuptling eines Stammes der amerikanischen Ureinwohner. Soweit so gut. Warum seine 2 älteren Töchter Europäerinnen sind, eine davon blond, während die jüngste wie Pocahontas aussieht... das passt irgendwie nicht.
Auch, dass Kent einfach eine Maske anzieht... ähm, da muss man schon sehr senil sein, um das nicht zu durchschauen.
Edmund ist sehr offendichtlich illigitim, weil schwarz... das ist doch arg offensichtlich, dass da wohl ein anderer Vater sein muss, zudem ist da nun wieder das Dilemma, dass der Böse der Schwarze ist, obwohl er aber auch der coolste Charakter des Stücks ist.
Andererseits:
Die Dialoge wurden tatsächlich so zusammengekürzt, dass das Stück streckenweise wirklich klarer wird, als wenn man es komplett im original liest. Die Bilder sind auch sehr hilfreich. Einige Dialoge bekommen teils Bedeutungsverschiebungen und Konnotations, die einem beim Lesen des Originals, selbst mit Fußnoten nicht aufgefallen sind.
January 7, 2022
I think I’ve read King Lear too much.
I really enjoy this series of books, and I was very excited to read this one because I have always been very interested and inspired by Native American culture. I think my high expectations and the fact that I’m so familiar with the story led me to be a bit let down when I read this one. It was nice, and I sped through it, but it was not my favourite.
This one had a lot of potential, but didn’t quite reach it. However, if you are unfamiliar with King Lear, or love it, it is worth a read just to see another take on it.
I really enjoy this series of books, and I was very excited to read this one because I have always been very interested and inspired by Native American culture. I think my high expectations and the fact that I’m so familiar with the story led me to be a bit let down when I read this one. It was nice, and I sped through it, but it was not my favourite.
This one had a lot of potential, but didn’t quite reach it. However, if you are unfamiliar with King Lear, or love it, it is worth a read just to see another take on it.
January 7, 2019
Hmmmmm. Maybe this wasn't the one to start with. I was looking for an interesting way to access a Shakespearean story. In a lot of ways, this seemed to jump around quite a bit. I'm definitely going to give manga Shakespeare another try, but I didn't particularly enjoy this. Also, I think I am going to read a brief synopsis of the story before I actually read it. I struggled to follow certain characters - partly a language thing and partly a manga thing. Really cool idea, though!
July 11, 2025
This really didn't do it for me. The stuff we see on the page (18th century Amerindian/French/British politics) is so at odds with the dialogue (English myth) that I couldn't really put them together. I know a lot of Shakespeare works transplant the text into modern periods (Baz Loman's Romeo & Juliet is a great example), but here, such was the contrast, I just couldn't get into it. It also doesn't help that Shakespeare is dense wordplay at the best of times.
Shame. :(
Shame. :(
June 13, 2025
I have tried Shakespeare both as audiobook and manga, and this series of manga are much better for following the plot due to the visual nature.
That said it's weird in this adaptation, clearly originally set in England with references to Gloucester, Cornwall and France, that the story is set in early America.
That said it's weird in this adaptation, clearly originally set in England with references to Gloucester, Cornwall and France, that the story is set in early America.
November 4, 2017
My first experience of manga and I'm not sure I get it. I thought this would help me understand the plot before reading the original version but I didn't enjoy it and now I don't want to read the original!
June 25, 2013
“Sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child.” –Lear 1.4.295
Well at least I learned modern American families aren’t the most messed up in history. Royal families in medieval times are giving us a real run for the money.
When I watch a scary movie, or go back over a traumatic event, I don’t usually remember all of it. That’s nothing special, but rather part of a well-documented human reaction to suffering, drown it out.
To be honest, I think King Lear is a heart wrencher extraordinaire, even by Shakespeare standards. The tragedy of family love, the horrible struggle for power, the sad degradation of a mind, the inability to “go back” and undo a terrible decision, the manipulation of others through lies and sexual power, and an orgy of death at the end of the play. I mean, there is very, very little silver lining in the cloud folks.
This is a heart breaking play, and as I read it and cringed I asked myself why it isn’t more well known. There are few strong characters in this play (I like Kent the best, he’s feisty and loyal, but one could argue he’s just a pawn of the king). I pity Lear more than I respect him. He makes rash and impulsive decisions and easily swings into moments of extreme ire. He appears to lack control of his emotions and makes questionable decisions. The daughters are bizarre, intoxicated by power and not that believable. Even Cordelia isn’t a fully rounded character. She has a moment of strength in the opening scene, then she turns into another very hollow female character that lacks depth as the play progresses.
Maybe it’s me, but Lear just didn’t do it for me this time through. I’m going to have a read a comedy next just to wash this out my memory. I’ll certainly revist this down the road, perhaps I lack the life experience in terms of being a parent to appreciate this play.
Quotes
Come not between the dragon and his wrath . –Lear 1.1.124
My life I never held but as a pawn / To wage against thine enemies. –Kent (1.1.155)
[In response to how old are you?] Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing, nor so old to dote on her for anything. I have years on my back forth-eight. -Kent 1.4.38
I have seen better faces in my time / than stand on any shoulder that I see / before me at this instant -Kent. 2.2.49
We are not ourselves when nature, being oppressed, commands the mind to surfer with the body. –Lear 2.4.110 (an interesting point that says essentially if we make the body suffer our mind is at ease, see two quotes below)
To willful men the injuries that they themselves procure must be their schoolmasters. Shut up your doors. –Regan 2.4.300
When the mind’s free the body’s delicate. The tempest in my mind doth from my senses all feelings else save what beats there.3.4.13
[This is why Lear is weird, perhaps the strangest cheer up speech I’ve ever heard] Wipe thine eyes; the good years shall devour them, flesh and fell, ere they shall make us weep. We’ll see ‘em starved first. 5.3.22
Well at least I learned modern American families aren’t the most messed up in history. Royal families in medieval times are giving us a real run for the money.
When I watch a scary movie, or go back over a traumatic event, I don’t usually remember all of it. That’s nothing special, but rather part of a well-documented human reaction to suffering, drown it out.
To be honest, I think King Lear is a heart wrencher extraordinaire, even by Shakespeare standards. The tragedy of family love, the horrible struggle for power, the sad degradation of a mind, the inability to “go back” and undo a terrible decision, the manipulation of others through lies and sexual power, and an orgy of death at the end of the play. I mean, there is very, very little silver lining in the cloud folks.
This is a heart breaking play, and as I read it and cringed I asked myself why it isn’t more well known. There are few strong characters in this play (I like Kent the best, he’s feisty and loyal, but one could argue he’s just a pawn of the king). I pity Lear more than I respect him. He makes rash and impulsive decisions and easily swings into moments of extreme ire. He appears to lack control of his emotions and makes questionable decisions. The daughters are bizarre, intoxicated by power and not that believable. Even Cordelia isn’t a fully rounded character. She has a moment of strength in the opening scene, then she turns into another very hollow female character that lacks depth as the play progresses.
Maybe it’s me, but Lear just didn’t do it for me this time through. I’m going to have a read a comedy next just to wash this out my memory. I’ll certainly revist this down the road, perhaps I lack the life experience in terms of being a parent to appreciate this play.
Quotes
Come not between the dragon and his wrath . –Lear 1.1.124
My life I never held but as a pawn / To wage against thine enemies. –Kent (1.1.155)
[In response to how old are you?] Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing, nor so old to dote on her for anything. I have years on my back forth-eight. -Kent 1.4.38
I have seen better faces in my time / than stand on any shoulder that I see / before me at this instant -Kent. 2.2.49
We are not ourselves when nature, being oppressed, commands the mind to surfer with the body. –Lear 2.4.110 (an interesting point that says essentially if we make the body suffer our mind is at ease, see two quotes below)
To willful men the injuries that they themselves procure must be their schoolmasters. Shut up your doors. –Regan 2.4.300
When the mind’s free the body’s delicate. The tempest in my mind doth from my senses all feelings else save what beats there.3.4.13
[This is why Lear is weird, perhaps the strangest cheer up speech I’ve ever heard] Wipe thine eyes; the good years shall devour them, flesh and fell, ere they shall make us weep. We’ll see ‘em starved first. 5.3.22
June 3, 2013
I LOVED King Lear on so many levels. First I loved the character foils, one clearly bad, and the other clearly good and loyal. I loved the fool and the loyal servant, Kent, to King Lear, and the role they both played in supporting King Lear after his two oldest daughters start treating him like he is just an old man, that they should pity, showing no respect to his office and the gifts he has bestowed upon him.
I love how Shakespeare used the theme of madness throughout the entire play, with some characters showing true madness, and others hiding their true disguises through madness. I love how Shakespeare used the role of a fool the represent the real food, and those acting foolish.
This story was also especially touching to me having witnessed recently friends and family get older and lose some of their wits, or physical ability, and to see how family or friends treat them differently, both in a condescending way, and also out of the good for the individual.
Being a parent is hard, and being a child to aging parents is a challenge also. I hope that I will be like Cordelia, Kent, Edgar, or the fool in how I treat them. Such a good play!
I love how Shakespeare used the theme of madness throughout the entire play, with some characters showing true madness, and others hiding their true disguises through madness. I love how Shakespeare used the role of a fool the represent the real food, and those acting foolish.
This story was also especially touching to me having witnessed recently friends and family get older and lose some of their wits, or physical ability, and to see how family or friends treat them differently, both in a condescending way, and also out of the good for the individual.
Being a parent is hard, and being a child to aging parents is a challenge also. I hope that I will be like Cordelia, Kent, Edgar, or the fool in how I treat them. Such a good play!
May 12, 2016
Used for teaching the text to a year 8 class. Graphic novels of plays are fantastic for communicating the visual aspect lacking in a class reading. This modern take is especially engaging for young minds.
November 20, 2012
Don't think being "Manga" added much to this story... oh, well...
It actually seemed more difficult to follow as a Manga, but maybe that's just me...
It actually seemed more difficult to follow as a Manga, but maybe that's just me...
July 12, 2015
Timeless tale straight from the Bard. Beautifully illustrated. What a unique and fascinating take on this story...
April 4, 2017
I love you Shakespeare's plays and I love Manga. So one should think that this is the perfect mix for me.
It was but nevertheless the setting was quite upsetting.
Seeing Lear and Cordelia drawn as native Americans and Goneril and Regan not was quite something. The names didn't fit the setting either and what the French have to do with native Americans and Cowboys is lost to me^^
But all in all I liked it. It's a new take on Shakespeare's plays.
It was but nevertheless the setting was quite upsetting.
Seeing Lear and Cordelia drawn as native Americans and Goneril and Regan not was quite something. The names didn't fit the setting either and what the French have to do with native Americans and Cowboys is lost to me^^
But all in all I liked it. It's a new take on Shakespeare's plays.
November 22, 2018
it was a nice book ,the ending was amazing and i realy enjoyed.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews