Graphic Novel Review: Kill Shakespeare Volume 1 by McCreery, Del Col and Belanger

Written by Pirata Hermosa

Have you ever wondered what might have happened if William Shakespeare’s plays had turned out differently? What would happen to Hamlet if he had fled Denmark instead of avenging his father’s death? What would have become of Juliet if she had not killed herself? What about Othello, Iago, or Lady Macbeth? If you’ve ever wanted to see more stories with some of the world’s most famous characters, then you are in luck, because that’s the idea behind the currently running 12-issue comic book series by IDW Publishing.

Instead of Hamlet brooding and trying to find a way to get revenge on his uncle, he ends up fleeing the country after he accidentally kills Polonius. Setting sail on a ship with his companions Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, he heads for England. But before they can arrive they are caught in a tempest that destroys their vessel. Hamlet awakens to find himself in Richard III’s castle. The king promises the prince that he will resurrect his father, but first he must do him a favor. He must find and kill William Shakespeare.

Led to believe that Shakespeare is an evil wizard/god, Hamlet sets forth on his journey accompanied by his trusty new friend, Iago. But before they can complete their journey, the group is attacked by bandits. Falstaff suddenly appears and rescues the young prince. He tells the prince that he is a follower of the great savior William Shakespeare and that his coming is a good thing. To try and convince Hamlet that he speaks the truth Falstaff brings him to the leader of the rebellion, Juliet, and her trusted general Othello.

Now Hamlet has seen both sides and must decide who is telling the truth. Will he finally become a man of action? Is there a romance brewing between him and Juliet? Is Iago really his friend? What is Richard III going to do with the quill of Shakespeare, and what are Lady Macbeth’s true motives? There are plenty of questions that will need to be answered in the second half of the series.

Article Author: Cinema Sentries

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