Shakespeare Manga Theater

By Osamu Tezuka. Published by Ablaze Manga. 

Softcover, 304 pages, B&W, 2024 (originally published 1959-1982)

Over the course of his career, Osamu Tezuka adapted many of Shakespeare’s works. Shakespeare Manga Theater collects them into one volume.

The book includes the following:

* The Merchant of Venice (1959)
* Robio and Robiette (from Astro Boy, 1965)
* Macbeth (from Vampire “The Three Fortunetellers”, 1966)
* Hamlet (from Rainbow Parakeet, 1981)
* The Taming of the Shrew (from Rainbow Parakeet, 1981)
* Othello (from Rainbow Parakeet, 1982)

While this may sound like a collection of manga versions of classic plays, they would actually be better be described as quality examples of creative adaptation and storytelling, by a master of the craft.

Shakespeare Manga Theater is sure to be popular not just with Tezuka fans, but also schools interested in presenting Shakespeare in a format that is easier for readers to engage with.