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Manga Shakespeare
Manga Shakespeare: Twelfth Night
TRUE LOVE'S SEASON
In this comedy of mistaken identity and thwarted love, Viola and her twin brother, Sebastian, are shipwrecked on Illyria, where they wreak havoc on the romantic lives of Countess Olivia and Duke Orsino. Viola, dressed as a man, can't shake the attention of Olivia—but she only has eyes for Orsino. Transported into a steampunk-inspired nineteenth century, this interpretation of Shakespeare's beloved classic captures the chaos and poetry of the original in a whole new way.
The Manga Shakespeare series is an exciting new way to read the works of William Shakespeare—and much more fun than a study guide! Using Shakespeare's original text and drawing inspiration from modern Japan, each of the books brings to life one of the most important works od literature in the English language. Whether it's for school or for relaxation, whether you're a fan of manga or of the Bard, Manga Shakespeare won't disappoint!
In this comedy of mistaken identity and thwarted love, Viola and her twin brother, Sebastian, are shipwrecked on Illyria, where they wreak havoc on the romantic lives of Countess Olivia and Duke Orsino. Viola, dressed as a man, can't shake the attention of Olivia—but she only has eyes for Orsino. Transported into a steampunk-inspired nineteenth century, this interpretation of Shakespeare's beloved classic captures the chaos and poetry of the original in a whole new way.
The Manga Shakespeare series is an exciting new way to read the works of William Shakespeare—and much more fun than a study guide! Using Shakespeare's original text and drawing inspiration from modern Japan, each of the books brings to life one of the most important works od literature in the English language. Whether it's for school or for relaxation, whether you're a fan of manga or of the Bard, Manga Shakespeare won't disappoint!
207 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2010
About the author
Richard Appignanesi
83 books34 followersRichard Appignanesi is a published adapter and an author of young adult books. Published credits of Richard Appignanesi include Manga Shakespeare: Julius Caesar (Manga Shakespeare), Manga Shakespeare: Macbeth (Manga Shakespeare), Manga Shakespeare: Hamlet (Manga Shakespeare), and Manga Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet (Manga Shakespeare).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
January 28, 2020
As someone who had already read the play and seen a couple performances, this didn't add a ton for me (except to emphasize the obvious emotional weakness in having Sebastian not end up with the Captain). The art is nice, the minor steampunk touches totally pointless, the overall tone a little flat but mostly fine.
For a reader who has a hard time with Shakespeare's language or who simply enjoys graphic narration more this gives a decent summary of the story. If you're reading this for school I wouldn't rely on it to cover everything; read the original text as well, or a Cliff's notes type guide.
For a reader who has a hard time with Shakespeare's language or who simply enjoys graphic narration more this gives a decent summary of the story. If you're reading this for school I wouldn't rely on it to cover everything; read the original text as well, or a Cliff's notes type guide.
January 10, 2021
*3.5
I haven't seen many movie adaptations of Twelfth Night, but I truly love the 1996 one with Helena Bonham Carter. I've watched it four times. The movie moves around the plot of the play a bit - it actually makes it make a little more sense, in my opinion. Having Viola say "whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife" halfway through the movie when she actually falls in love with Orsino in comparison to when she says it in her very first scene really works. And, even though the play itself ends pretty openly with a lot of the characters, the movie ties up those loose ends very well.
So, from the start, I realized that this Manga was more faithful. I do think that it doesn't hold quite as well as the movie did with the plot, but it is quite good in many ways. I do think, though, that this should've made some effort to tie up some of the loose ends with other characters. It felt a bit unfinished that way without it, even though I do know that this is how the play itself ends.
3.5/5 stars. I am definitely interested in checking out other Manga Shakespeare books. They are quite unique.
I haven't seen many movie adaptations of Twelfth Night, but I truly love the 1996 one with Helena Bonham Carter. I've watched it four times. The movie moves around the plot of the play a bit - it actually makes it make a little more sense, in my opinion. Having Viola say "whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife" halfway through the movie when she actually falls in love with Orsino in comparison to when she says it in her very first scene really works. And, even though the play itself ends pretty openly with a lot of the characters, the movie ties up those loose ends very well.
So, from the start, I realized that this Manga was more faithful. I do think that it doesn't hold quite as well as the movie did with the plot, but it is quite good in many ways. I do think, though, that this should've made some effort to tie up some of the loose ends with other characters. It felt a bit unfinished that way without it, even though I do know that this is how the play itself ends.
3.5/5 stars. I am definitely interested in checking out other Manga Shakespeare books. They are quite unique.
March 11, 2017
Twelfth night is my favourite Shakespeare play, it was the first one I ever saw the RSC do and the woman playing Maria was fantastic. This is a comic book adaptation that keeps a lot of the original dialogue. It's done in the style of a romance manga and the art work is stunningly gorgeous! Because it's a comic there is no difference between the twins, except their costumes and they are beautifuly androgynous in a way that only anime characters can be. Olivia is beautiful, Orsino is beautiful! So glad I found a copy of this.
September 23, 2020
Twelfth Night is one of my top five favorite Shakespeare plays, so I really enjoyed this! The art is super cute and the identical twin plot line works very well in mediums where you can actually make the characters identical.
This is also the queerest Shakespeare play, which is saying a lot. Viola is the straightest character in this whole thing and she spends 95% of her stage time in men's clothing lmao.
Poor Antonio just wanted to love Sebastian but Sebastian had to run off and marry the first woman he met. 😔
This is also the queerest Shakespeare play, which is saying a lot. Viola is the straightest character in this whole thing and she spends 95% of her stage time in men's clothing lmao.
Poor Antonio just wanted to love Sebastian but Sebastian had to run off and marry the first woman he met. 😔
June 9, 2023
4 stars - I thought this was sooo cute! I thought that even tho I got a little bit confused with certain parts bc i’m not too familiar with shakespeare, it was quite funny and entertaining. I loved how this is in manga form, it was much easier to understand things by seeing them, I think this is a really good introduction to shakespeare and it was overall just pretty enjoyable!
January 14, 2021
Puanım 4/5 (%78/100)
On İkinci Gece'yi daha önce hem İngilizce hem Türkçe okumuş ve birkaç kere izlemiş birisi olarak yeni bir şey öğrendiğimi diyemem. Fakat amacım bir şeyler öğrenmek de değildi, eğlenmekti. Sık sık manga okuyan ve seven birisiyim. Bunun üzerine Shakespeare'in de bütün eserlerini severek okudum. İkisi birleşince ilginç bir şekilde çok güzel olmuş. Özellikle çocuklar veya Shakespeare'in dilini karışık bulanlar için çok yararlı bir seri olmuş. Karakterler az çok hayal ettiğim gibiydi özellikle Malvolio. Okuması kolay ve eğlenceliydi, çizimleri de çok beğendim. Kitabın sonunda özet ve yazarın hayatının da koyulması hoş olmuş. Başarılı bir kitap tavsiye ediyorum.
On İkinci Gece'yi daha önce hem İngilizce hem Türkçe okumuş ve birkaç kere izlemiş birisi olarak yeni bir şey öğrendiğimi diyemem. Fakat amacım bir şeyler öğrenmek de değildi, eğlenmekti. Sık sık manga okuyan ve seven birisiyim. Bunun üzerine Shakespeare'in de bütün eserlerini severek okudum. İkisi birleşince ilginç bir şekilde çok güzel olmuş. Özellikle çocuklar veya Shakespeare'in dilini karışık bulanlar için çok yararlı bir seri olmuş. Karakterler az çok hayal ettiğim gibiydi özellikle Malvolio. Okuması kolay ve eğlenceliydi, çizimleri de çok beğendim. Kitabın sonunda özet ve yazarın hayatının da koyulması hoş olmuş. Başarılı bir kitap tavsiye ediyorum.
January 1, 2018
It's my favorite play, but in Manga form & everyone is pretty. How can it go wrong?
But no, it's a lovely adaption of the play with clean, lovely artwork and I adore it from cover to cover.
But no, it's a lovely adaption of the play with clean, lovely artwork and I adore it from cover to cover.
August 11, 2020
The manga drawings did not entice nor help that much in following the plot
March 9, 2021
I love the Manga Shakespeare books 📚 they are so easy read and beautifully illustrated 🥰
March 17, 2024
"O time, thou must untangle this, not I! It is too hard a knot for me to untie."
What a fun way to explore this play!
This comic book version of the play was definitely a fun read, but it didn't add much more to the play itself aside from some really funnily drawn characters.
I reeeeaaally liked the way Malvolio was drawn with his cross gartered yellow stockings, he looked just as awful as I imagined him to look when I first read this play!
I definitely recommend picking up a copy of this if you like the play and mangas/comic books.
What a fun way to explore this play!
This comic book version of the play was definitely a fun read, but it didn't add much more to the play itself aside from some really funnily drawn characters.
I reeeeaaally liked the way Malvolio was drawn with his cross gartered yellow stockings, he looked just as awful as I imagined him to look when I first read this play!
I definitely recommend picking up a copy of this if you like the play and mangas/comic books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2018
Totally made things in the play easier to understand, plus the art is great.
March 22, 2021
Re-Read Review (March 21st, 2021):
Li really captured what I enjoy about this play but also captured her version for Illyria so well, I surprised it didn't resonate with me sooner. The characters are all incredibly animated, and the script flows well in an abridged format. Although I loved this manga adaptation at 16, I think talking about this play recently in my Shakespeare Comedies and Romances class really helped me appreciate it more. This will remain, hands down, my favorite from the Manga Shakespeare series.
Original Review (June 12th, 2016):
I read an abridged version of this play back in 8th grade, and I fell in love with it. I'm planning on rereading the whole play later, since I think this is my favorite Shakespeare play thus far. The comedy is beyond bizarre, I found myself rooting for most of the characters, and there's so much charm in this play that manages to shine out.
As with the manga adaptation, it was done excellently! This was my first time experiencing the full original dialogue of the play (outside of a monologue of Feste), and it was easier to understand compared to Julius Caesar. The illustrations were also pretty good, though they were a little choppy at the beginning. The chibi parts were my favorite out of them. They were so darling! :3
Feste still remains as my favorite character though. The jester of Countess Olivia's household, he never fails to make me laugh, or to charm me massively. I loved how he was drawn here.
So basically, I loved this, and I'm really interested to read more from the Manga Shakespeare series.
Li really captured what I enjoy about this play but also captured her version for Illyria so well, I surprised it didn't resonate with me sooner. The characters are all incredibly animated, and the script flows well in an abridged format. Although I loved this manga adaptation at 16, I think talking about this play recently in my Shakespeare Comedies and Romances class really helped me appreciate it more. This will remain, hands down, my favorite from the Manga Shakespeare series.
Original Review (June 12th, 2016):
I read an abridged version of this play back in 8th grade, and I fell in love with it. I'm planning on rereading the whole play later, since I think this is my favorite Shakespeare play thus far. The comedy is beyond bizarre, I found myself rooting for most of the characters, and there's so much charm in this play that manages to shine out.
As with the manga adaptation, it was done excellently! This was my first time experiencing the full original dialogue of the play (outside of a monologue of Feste), and it was easier to understand compared to Julius Caesar. The illustrations were also pretty good, though they were a little choppy at the beginning. The chibi parts were my favorite out of them. They were so darling! :3
Feste still remains as my favorite character though. The jester of Countess Olivia's household, he never fails to make me laugh, or to charm me massively. I loved how he was drawn here.
So basically, I loved this, and I'm really interested to read more from the Manga Shakespeare series.
July 2, 2013
I don't think manga style quite works with this one. It really feels like emphasis has been added to the wrong parts, with it missing from others, in order to fit into the anime style. Some characters feel partially unexplained.
If you have not read Twelfth Night before, it might be worth reading the back summary at the same time you read the story in order to understand what is going on.
The one decent thing about the manga adaptation is that both characters do look exactly alike, a feat usually not well pulled off by modern day actors.
If you have not read Twelfth Night before, it might be worth reading the back summary at the same time you read the story in order to understand what is going on.
The one decent thing about the manga adaptation is that both characters do look exactly alike, a feat usually not well pulled off by modern day actors.
July 13, 2023
Well illustrated and using the conventions of Manga expression to bring out the nuances in Shakespeare's text this is a great introduction to Twelfth Night for anyone who finds reading a play text difficult. Li brings to life the comedy of the play, graphically showing the anarchic sense of fun that was current in Shakespeare's time. The drawing is achingly beautiful, I'm not sure who I'm more in love with!
May 25, 2012
Romantic comedy about mistaken identity. Twins Viola and Sebastian survive a shipwreck near a strange country. Neither knows that the other is alive. Viola disguises herself as a pageboy and promptly falls in love with the Count who employs her. Sebastian falls for the woman who the Count is trying to woo. Appealing artwork helps to make the dialog more accessible.
February 8, 2014
It captivated my heart!!!
August 31, 2014
The character designs are marvelous. I've read Twelfth Night before but this just made me love the story and the characters more.
November 19, 2020
A great adaptation of Twelfth Night - probably the best title in the Manga Shakespeare series.
October 11, 2016
Such cute character desgins, and a quite funny plot. Yet another one for me to get to this year in original form.
March 7, 2020
As my review I will copy and paste part of the assignment I turned in because I had to read this. Also clearly indicated is why I only received a 9/10 laaaaaaammmmmee
Manga Shakespeare Twelfth Night is a successful example of an adaptation. It sticks with the same plot and characters yet makes it more accessible and fun for people who are not fans of Shakespeare’s works or think they are too hard to read. It holds to the play but puts the setting in a fun Steampunk world manga. By streamlining the dialogue, yeti keeping it in the original language, it allows the reader to experience the words of Shakespeare in a quick way. By also adding the cute chibi characters throughout the book, it gives the reader a look at what the inner emotion the characters are feeling.
I think this an amazing use of the play to try and reach a younger audience whether it be through and adaptation or appropriation. If the person is curious enough it will always lead back to Shakespeare’s original works, keeping his plays relevant for many years to come.
Manga Shakespeare Twelfth Night is a successful example of an adaptation. It sticks with the same plot and characters yet makes it more accessible and fun for people who are not fans of Shakespeare’s works or think they are too hard to read. It holds to the play but puts the setting in a fun Steampunk world manga. By streamlining the dialogue, yeti keeping it in the original language, it allows the reader to experience the words of Shakespeare in a quick way. By also adding the cute chibi characters throughout the book, it gives the reader a look at what the inner emotion the characters are feeling.
I think this an amazing use of the play to try and reach a younger audience whether it be through and adaptation or appropriation. If the person is curious enough it will always lead back to Shakespeare’s original works, keeping his plays relevant for many years to come.
August 2, 2022
Never had I heard of this classic by Shakespeare and never will I ever truly read a classic by Shakespeare especially in the original English wording (except for Romeo and Juliet which I had to read but in modern English).
This story was fine. There wasn’t anything really incredible or stand-out, but the art work was absolutely gorgeous and beautiful.
I did read the synopsis at the end before starting the story so I am not sure if that helped me or not understand the story because to be faire the slightly more Shakespearean way of speaking that is used in this narrative really threw me off at first. Got used to it but definitely isn’t always easy to read.
Ridiculous as this story is (like how does the count or whatever his title is end up falling in love with the girl twin all of the sudden…. Like what? And then all the confusion around the two twins and everything) it was still fairly enjoyable.
This story was fine. There wasn’t anything really incredible or stand-out, but the art work was absolutely gorgeous and beautiful.
I did read the synopsis at the end before starting the story so I am not sure if that helped me or not understand the story because to be faire the slightly more Shakespearean way of speaking that is used in this narrative really threw me off at first. Got used to it but definitely isn’t always easy to read.
Ridiculous as this story is (like how does the count or whatever his title is end up falling in love with the girl twin all of the sudden…. Like what? And then all the confusion around the two twins and everything) it was still fairly enjoyable.
July 2, 2018
I've had this book for at least five years and finally mustered up the courage to read it - I really don't like Shakespeare's language. But I do love his stories, and Twelfth Night is no exception.
This manga adaptation was easy to follow and beautifully drawn to boot. Some of the character designs are a little... excentric, but I actually really like that; as well as the steampunk elements.
I've never understood the ending to this tale, where the Duke suddenly marries Viola even though he's been after Olivia all this time. What a fickle heart.
This manga adaptation was easy to follow and beautifully drawn to boot. Some of the character designs are a little... excentric, but I actually really like that; as well as the steampunk elements.
I've never understood the ending to this tale, where the Duke suddenly marries Viola even though he's been after Olivia all this time. What a fickle heart.
January 20, 2021
Great drawing, details and using it to tell the story. This is a story about two twins and their name were Viola and Sebastian. Viola thought she had lost the her twin at sea. So viola, who is a female. She cut her hair and dress up as a boy to service the lord who own the land and she fall in love with him but he fall in love with a countess. He sent the viola to tell the countess, his love again but the countess fall in love with her. In the end, Viola and Sebastian found true love with the one they love as well the lord and countess found out the truth about the twin and marry them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2021
After doing this as a school version way back when I simply couldn’t resist getting this story. While being simplified the fun of the plot is kept and it is still easy to understand, which for Shakespeare can be quite hard to do. The art is absolutely gorgeous and compliments the simplicity of the structure and highlight the comedic aspects without detracting from any other part.
This is something I would recommend to anyone struggling to get a head around Shakespeare plays as the visual highlights the importance of each scene without overdramatising it.
This is something I would recommend to anyone struggling to get a head around Shakespeare plays as the visual highlights the importance of each scene without overdramatising it.
July 25, 2018
I just adore the Shakespeare Manga! I think it's a really nice way to make Shakespeare more approchable for some people out there and that includes me! I do love seeing his plays on stage but find it a little hard to read them and this format is just perfect. The art is incredible! And it keeps all the charm of the story and character of Twelfth Night! Cannot recommend enough.
September 26, 2018
Not being very familiar with graphic novels, I found this edition amusing and perplexing. Although I thought the story line was conveyed well and I appreciated the use of the actual script lines, it would have been difficult to follow had I not known the plot very well. Probably more the weakness of the genre and not the fault of the artist.
March 25, 2019
Loved it
I am a big fan of Shakespeare whether it be a tragedy or a comedy. And this is one of the best comedies I've ever read. If you have ever seen the play or even just a movie of Twelfth Night you will like this. It is also a good way to introduce Shakespeare to your teenager or child.
I am a big fan of Shakespeare whether it be a tragedy or a comedy. And this is one of the best comedies I've ever read. If you have ever seen the play or even just a movie of Twelfth Night you will like this. It is also a good way to introduce Shakespeare to your teenager or child.
July 12, 2022
grateful Shae could fill in the missing details... she got me Shakespeare manga because she knows my literary IQ is too small for the real deal; however, I think Shakespeare is probably better to read in play form as he wrote it. Shae also got this for me at Shakespeare's birthplace so she's basically the most wholesome wife who is the living definition of sex.
February 28, 2024
Twelfth Night oughta be one of my FAVOURITE Shakespeare plays. I am so amazed - how does he manage to write the GAYEST straight romance story ever? Like - I have no doubt in my SOUL that EVERYONE in this play is bisexual. It is basically canon. Basically. This manga-version made me even more sure lmao
May 25, 2019
3.5 ⭐️’s
Don’t get me wrong, I love the Shakespeare play! But you see I generally don’t read that much manga, so seeing a Shakespeare play in mega format was a little bit jarring! I really wish that there are more Shakespeare graphic novel options!
Don’t get me wrong, I love the Shakespeare play! But you see I generally don’t read that much manga, so seeing a Shakespeare play in mega format was a little bit jarring! I really wish that there are more Shakespeare graphic novel options!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews