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The Prince Of Denmark Street: Graphic Novel Shakespeare Comic Book Manga
"Something's rotten, look at the state of Denmark Street"
In the brand new graphic novel from Kev F Sutherland (famous for his work in Beano and Marvel comics), Hamlet is relocated to 1977, on London's Tin Pan Alley at the heart of the music business. A punk rock opera with a twist, when Prince Hamlet finds what happened to his dad, there's hell to pay.
Hamlet is lead singer with the punk rock band The Danes, with Horatio on lead guitar, and Rosencrantz & Guildenstern on drums and bass. His girlfriend Ophelia is a hippy singer-songwriter, and her Dad Polonius is an ageing prog rocker. Their careers look good on Denmark Street, but when he discovers what happened to his dad, the 50s rocker King Hamlet, at the hands of Uncle Claud, who now runs the record label, Hamlet seeks revenge.
Prince Of Denmark Street is the second in Kev F's 1977 Trilogy of Shakespeare adaptations, following Findlay Macbeth and preceding The Midsummer Night's Dream Team. 120 pages of original comic strip drama, plus the full text of Shakespeare's Hamlet in one classic volume.
"A hit, a palpable hit!"
In the brand new graphic novel from Kev F Sutherland (famous for his work in Beano and Marvel comics), Hamlet is relocated to 1977, on London's Tin Pan Alley at the heart of the music business. A punk rock opera with a twist, when Prince Hamlet finds what happened to his dad, there's hell to pay.
Hamlet is lead singer with the punk rock band The Danes, with Horatio on lead guitar, and Rosencrantz & Guildenstern on drums and bass. His girlfriend Ophelia is a hippy singer-songwriter, and her Dad Polonius is an ageing prog rocker. Their careers look good on Denmark Street, but when he discovers what happened to his dad, the 50s rocker King Hamlet, at the hands of Uncle Claud, who now runs the record label, Hamlet seeks revenge.
Prince Of Denmark Street is the second in Kev F's 1977 Trilogy of Shakespeare adaptations, following Findlay Macbeth and preceding The Midsummer Night's Dream Team. 120 pages of original comic strip drama, plus the full text of Shakespeare's Hamlet in one classic volume.
"A hit, a palpable hit!"
- GenresComics
183 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 29, 2020
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 24, 2021
This doesn't re-imagine Hamlet so much as simply re-set it. Not sure who the audience for this might be, though... its "underground" graphic style and its evocation of the punk era seemed designed to appeal to a Gen-X audience that doesn't really need to be enticed to appreciate Hamlet anymore.
February 5, 2021
Good Night To Read Blog Review
There are numerous Shakespearean adaptations available in graphic novel and manga formats. Kev F. Sutherland offers something completely different. Twists on classic plays with clever cultural and literary allusions. Think surprising flavours like rosemary, marshmallow, peppercorns or popping candy- something with an extra zing.
The Prince of Denmark Street
Hamlet thinks he is
Punk cool strutting down Denmark
Street in high dudgeon.
TAGLINE- “Something’s rotten, look at the state of Denmark Street.”
Kev F offers a funny and refreshing homage to London’s ‘Tin Pan Alley’ of the 1960s/1970’s- Denmark Street. Shakespeare’s words transform into music lyrics as Punk Rocker Hamlet is determined to avenge the death of his Elvis styled father. Opening with a panoramic sweep of Denmark Street, the novel injects a trendy atmosphere into the play with a succession of gloriously expressive panels demonstrating Sutherland’s flair as a cartoonist.
Music history fans will love the comical allusions to the music business, the cultural in jokes, the lively word play and the quirky illustrations. A Play List for the Danes and a fascinating afterword about the music scene on Denmark Street add to this vibe. There is a also a teasing twist to Shakespeare’s original plot giving it that extra bit of flavour.
To satisfy students and Shakespeare purists, a full copy of the play is also included.
There are numerous Shakespearean adaptations available in graphic novel and manga formats. Kev F. Sutherland offers something completely different. Twists on classic plays with clever cultural and literary allusions. Think surprising flavours like rosemary, marshmallow, peppercorns or popping candy- something with an extra zing.
The Prince of Denmark Street
Hamlet thinks he is
Punk cool strutting down Denmark
Street in high dudgeon.
TAGLINE- “Something’s rotten, look at the state of Denmark Street.”
Kev F offers a funny and refreshing homage to London’s ‘Tin Pan Alley’ of the 1960s/1970’s- Denmark Street. Shakespeare’s words transform into music lyrics as Punk Rocker Hamlet is determined to avenge the death of his Elvis styled father. Opening with a panoramic sweep of Denmark Street, the novel injects a trendy atmosphere into the play with a succession of gloriously expressive panels demonstrating Sutherland’s flair as a cartoonist.
Music history fans will love the comical allusions to the music business, the cultural in jokes, the lively word play and the quirky illustrations. A Play List for the Danes and a fascinating afterword about the music scene on Denmark Street add to this vibe. There is a also a teasing twist to Shakespeare’s original plot giving it that extra bit of flavour.
To satisfy students and Shakespeare purists, a full copy of the play is also included.
August 23, 2020
Auch wenn das Buch eigentlich eigenständig ist, sollte man Findlay MacBeth gelesen haben, da es in diesem Buch zwei inside Jokes gibt, die auf dieses Buch verweisen und sowohl dieser Adaption als auch Findlay MacBeth einen neuen Twist geben.
Prince of Denmark Street ist, wie der Name schon andeutet, eine moderne Adaption von Shakespeares Hamlet. Das Setting ist in diesem Fall aber Londons Denmark Street und die Musikszene der damaligen Zeit. Hamlets Vater ist somit der King of Rock und sein Onkel ein fieser Musikproduzent.
Anders als die Shakespeare Mangas ist hier nicht der reine Originaltext verwendet, sondern nur mit eingestreut zwischen „normale“ Text Passagen.
Genial ist der Twist, der diese Geschichte etwas anders enden lässt und die Machtverhältnisse komplett verändert im Gegensatz zum Original, etwas, was nur in diesem Setting funktioniert und das sehr stimmig.
Wenn man den Comic liest, sollte man mit dem Einführenden historischen Teil über Denmark Street beginnen, damit man das Setting versteht besonders, wenn man jünger als 50 ist.
Sollte man das Shakespeare Original nicht kennen, so ist dieses auch komplett im Anhang enthalten.
Die Zeichnungen sind Geschmackssache. Sie sind professionell und nicht so mein Geschmack aber OK und gut.
Der Druck ist ein wenig pixelig und könnte besser aufgelöst sein.
Prince of Denmark Street ist, wie der Name schon andeutet, eine moderne Adaption von Shakespeares Hamlet. Das Setting ist in diesem Fall aber Londons Denmark Street und die Musikszene der damaligen Zeit. Hamlets Vater ist somit der King of Rock und sein Onkel ein fieser Musikproduzent.
Anders als die Shakespeare Mangas ist hier nicht der reine Originaltext verwendet, sondern nur mit eingestreut zwischen „normale“ Text Passagen.
Genial ist der Twist, der diese Geschichte etwas anders enden lässt und die Machtverhältnisse komplett verändert im Gegensatz zum Original, etwas, was nur in diesem Setting funktioniert und das sehr stimmig.
Wenn man den Comic liest, sollte man mit dem Einführenden historischen Teil über Denmark Street beginnen, damit man das Setting versteht besonders, wenn man jünger als 50 ist.
Sollte man das Shakespeare Original nicht kennen, so ist dieses auch komplett im Anhang enthalten.
Die Zeichnungen sind Geschmackssache. Sie sind professionell und nicht so mein Geschmack aber OK und gut.
Der Druck ist ein wenig pixelig und könnte besser aufgelöst sein.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews