While preparing this week’s new release update for Midtown Comics, a couple new mangas caught my eye: SelfMadeHero’s Manga Shakespeare adaptions of Hamlet and Romeo & Juliet. Google quickly pointed out a number of bloggers who had already beaten me to these books, but that’s okay, I just do the previews; I leave the commentary to our resident ninja wordsmiths, Erin & Kate.

Manga Shakespeare: Hamlet

In this manga, Hamlet is set in a dramatic futuristic world. The year is 2017. Global climate change has devastated the Earth. This is now a cyberworld in constant dread of war. The state of Denmark has grown prosperous and defended itself successfully against neighbouring states. But could it be that its greatest threat comes not from without, but from within the state itself? It is in this cyberworld that we find the young Hamlet. His grief over his father’s recent death turns to something far darker when the ghost of his father appears to him. Hamlet is very soon to discover that something is rotten in the state of Denmark…

Manga Shakespeare: Romeo & Juliet

Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s most famous love story, unfurls in a dramatic manga setting, in which Verona becomes a street in the highly fashionable Shibuya district of Tokyo. The star-crossed lovers, touching in their youth and innocence, are caught up in a bitter feud between two Yakuza families (Japan’s ‘mafia’) whose rivalry erupts into violence and killing on the streets. Romeo, a rock star, is a Montague who falls in love with Juliet, a Capulet. They defy their parents and consummate their passion in secret. This is a story of love, revenge, violence and tragedy.

Note: above descriptions by SelfMadeHero. Also from the SMH site:

Manga Shakespeare is a series of graphic novel adaptations of William Shakespeare’s plays. A fusion of classic Shakespeare with manga visuals, these are cutting-edge adaptations that will intrigue and grip readers. Drawing inspiration from trend-setting Japan and using Shakespeare’s original texts, this series brings to life the great Bard’s words for students, Shakespeare enthusiasts and manga fans.

SelfMadeHero launches its first two titles – Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet – in March 2007. With Romeo and Juliet set in modern-day Tokyo, and Hamlet in a cyberworld, these backdrops make Shakespeare more accessible to today’s reader.

While the audience for Manga Shakespeare will be largely teenagers who may use these books as exciting introductions to Shakespeare’s plays, it will also appeal to manga buyers in their 20s, 30s and beyond.

Manga is a dynamic, emotional and cinematic medium easily absorbed by the eye. Its attractive art and simple storytelling methods will enthuse readers to approach Shakespeare’s work in the way he intended – as entertainment.

Illustrated by leading UK manga artists, this series keys in on the growing popularity of manga worldwide, and presents Shakespeare’s classic works in a highly visual and dynamic form. SelfMadeHero’s Manga Shakespeare offers the perfect platform for a new generation to fall in love with the works of Shakespeare.