Title: Macbeth: The Graphic NovelAuthor: text by William Shakespeare, art by Jon Haward, Gary Erskine, and Nigel Dobbin, adapted by John McDonald
Year: 2008
Reading the graphic novel of Macbeth has some of the advantages of seeing a stage or film adaptation, without having to sacrifice any of the text. The visual component contributes to the action and eeriness in Macbeth, which may not be apparent during a first reading of the text alone.
While the artwork does make it easier to follow the plot, I do miss the textual notes that editors usually add to the plays. Even if you can follow the play without looking to footnotes for explanations, it can be interesting to see editors' notes about passages that are particularly difficult or archaic. This is especially helpful if you plan to write an essay or examine the words themselves.
The book also includes historical information about the play, Shakespeare, the "real" Macbeth, theatre during Shakespeare's time, and Shakespeare in the present. There's even a page about how the graphic novel was created if you're more interested in the artwork. This is fun read for someone who's new to Macbeth, as well as for those who'd just like to see another interpretation.
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