Backstage Killing

As mentioned in a previous post (6/7/15), the new Backstage Edition of Kill Shakespeare was added immediately to my "To Read" list.  It did not stay there long.  I dove in almost immediately, and it took no time to get into and through the book.  It is an excellent, page-turning read!

There are numerous aspects of this book to applaud.  The story--a fantasy world with Shakespeare's characters trying to kill or to save their creator--is very creative and interesting.  In a previous post (8/17/14) I described a stage reading of an abridged version of the story.  Where it was muddled in that venue, probably due to the editing, the story is mush easier to follow in this presentation.  The illustrations are exceedingly well done and bring a richness and depth to the story.  I found myself imagining the story unfolding live before me, even though I knew (or should have known) that I was reading a two-dimensional page.  The highlight for me was the interaction of many Shakespearean characters.  The sheer number of allusions to Shakespeare's canon is impressive.  The authors must have a tremendous grasp of their source material to structure a work without making it seem artificial.  This is not allusion for allusion's sake.  Everything that is included stays within the story and helps to augment it.  One non-Shakespearean reference elicited a chuckle.  During a scuffle in Shakespeare's home, a copy of Doctor Faustus goes flying across the room.  It's nice to see that Will has good taste in literature!

Helpful for following the story (and for identifying the references) are the endnotes that were created for this edition.  Written by Shakespearean scholars, they are an excellent addition.  They helped me to follow the action while placing it within the larger realm of the canon.  I must admit, though, that I was surprised by the lack of proofreading in the notes.  On more than one occasion, the note authors called out mistakes in the original graphic novel, such as incorrect use of "thy" in one of Falstaff's lines.  They seem to miss many obvious errors in their own notes, though.  Glass houses, people.  To be fair...

• VI means six, not four, which would be IV.
• "They're" means they are.  "Their" is the possessive form.
• It's Edgar ALLAN Poe, not Allen.
• Is the character's name Don Jon or Don John?  They're used interchangeably.
• It's Prospero, not "the Prospero."
• Hamlet's name has an "l" in it.  He's not Hamet.

Overall, I recommend this book highly. It is a great treat for a Shakespeare nut.  There are additional volumes in the Kill Shakespeare series, but I'll try to hold out for the next Backstage Edition.  Hopefully it will not be too far into the future!