Kill Shakespeare #4 (of 12)
Conor McCreery, Anthony Del Col (w) – Andy Belanger (a) – Kagan McLeod (c)
Enter Juliet… Pursued by deadly assassins, a threatened Hamlet and his witty defender Falstaff turn to the shadowy Prodigals for assistance. Who is the leader of these rebels? None other than Juliet Capulet, supported by the powerful warrior Othello. But they themselves have been followed and suddenly all must square off against Richard’s men, the assassins, as well as an old friend…
FC – 32 pages – $3.99
Up until now, Kill Shakespeare has been reviewed by fellow Multiversity writer Gil, but this month you get to hear what I have to say. Will my work studying The Bard as a lowly English major ruin my ability to have fun? Follow the cut to find out.
So far, this series has been a really fun read, and this issue was no exception. The common comparison critics make regarding this series is with Alan Moore’s The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, often claiming that it has a dash of Fables in it as well. Despite the ties to magic and stories, I don’t see much that likens it to Fables; rather, I see it more as The League with an Elizabethan — as opposed to Victorian — base (and, obviously, Shakespearean exclusivity).
This issue has some great character moments for both Hamlet and Falstaff. Even though the two might be slightly out-of-character from Shakespeare’s original text, it’s close enough to forgive for this sort of grand adventure story. More interestingly, however, is the appearance of the first truly divergent character in the series: Juliet Capulet. She is quite different from the Juliet we know, but her mannerisms make her seem like a character that has been hardened by a tough life. I’m sure McCreery and Del Col will be addressing this sometime soon, and I’m guessing that it has something to do with why we don’t see Romeo.
The best thing about this series is that you really don’t need to be well versed in Shakespearean lore to “get” it. Take for example the ending of this issue: sure, if you have read Othello you know there is a lot of bad blood between Othello and Iago, but if you haven’t read it the tension is still communicated in a way that gets the reader interested. Sure, there are minor cameos from lesser-known characters, but they’re just that: minor. Not knowing who they are isn’t going to affect your understanding of the story; they might as well be original (though they do act very much in character, like Parolles).
Overall this is a terrifically fun fantasy/adventure romp that can stand well enough on its own, though your enjoyment may be enhanced by prior play-reading. Belanger and McLeod serve as the perfect companions to Del Col and McCreery, putting out some great art that perfectly matches the “vibe” of the story. Pick this up and support one of the more creative books out there.
Final Verdict: 7.3 – Buy it!
