The future - a divided world. A great quake divides our planet. Separate colonies have formed, and the state of Denmark has grown seemingly prosperous its founding family is wealthy; their residence a palace equal to those of ages past Denmark's progress in technology too has advanced beyond that of other colonies. However, this apparent success breeds corruption. Challenges have already been made and met from neighbouring states, but could it be that the greatest threat of all has been one within the founders' walls all along? It is in this world that we find the young Hamlet. His grief over his father's recent death soon 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...
Industry Reviews
This manga slightly alters the Shakespearean tragedy's content and presents the play in a left-to-right reading pattern rather than the authentic right-to-left manga style. The Americanized format will assist readers who find Shakespeare difficult to understand and the classic dialogue confusing. In a decimated future cyberpunk world laced with technology, the tragedy unfolds. The famous characters, each with a different hairstyle for instant identification, are introduced in the work's frontmatter. Illustrations that repeatedly shift in mood, from mysterious sensations to edgy action, become integral to the story. Enhanced by the stark black-and-white sketches, Hamlet's facial expressions allow students to feel his inner turmoil. Dialogue circles set the pace by guiding the reader from panel to panel in a logical eye-movement pattern. Famous quotes from the play such as, "Get thee to a nunnery," are directly linked to illustrations clarifying exactly when in the play's sequence they occur and which character is speaking. Refreshingly clear, this adaptation is recommended for all libraries serving teens. (Graphic novel. YA) (Kirkus Reviews)
