Cover Image: Manga Classics: Romeo and Juliet

Manga Classics: Romeo and Juliet

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Member Reviews

Absolutely loved the gorgeous art and the story. Amazing manga! The characters are so well drawn and everything is just ✨. Definitely recommended.

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Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know if it was the art style or just that I'm getting older, but to me this version seemed over the top in terms of dramatics. Yes, there's supposed to be passion, but the way the illustrations have been done made it seem more like people, Romeo especially, we're throwing hissy fits. This isn't my favourite adaptation of this story, but I can see how it might appeal to some.

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Thank you to Netgalley and UDON Entertainment for this ebook.

I'm OBSESSED with all things Shakespeare, and I love Romeo & Juliet, so when I found out there was a manga version that still contained the original language but also tried to make Shakespeare more accessible to general audiences, I was immediately intrigued. Ultimately, though, I wanted more from this. The art style didn't connect with me, and I feel like the illustrations didn't make the language as accessible as they could've been. Kudos for sticking to the original language, though!

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I enjoyed this Manga interpretation of William Shakespeare's classic tale of love and woe. It was well illustrated and easy to follow.

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Leider konnte mich diese Manga Classics Ausgabe nicht so sehr von sich überzeugen. Ich mochte den Zeichenstil nur so mittelmäßig, hätte mir für diese Geschichte etwas sanfteres gewünscht. Die Geschichte der Bilder entsprach nicht unbedingt meiner eigenen Vorstellung der Geschichte und es gab für mich auch mehr sexual tension zwischen Romeo und Mercutio als alles andere. Ich fand das Ganze leider etwas aus dem Fokus geraten. Dennoch finde ich das dieser Manga einen guten ersten Zugang zu diesem Klassiker geben kann für alle die sich noch nicht viel mit Shakespeare und seinen Werken auseinander gesetzt haben.

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While I generally like the art style of this Manga Classic, I often found that it did not fit the book, for example the whole tongue sticking out thing. What I did like were the visuals about all the characters being very overdramatic, especially Romeo.
I read Romeo & Juliet in high school, so it’s been a few years, but I forgot what an overdramatic character Romeo was and it’s a bit hilarious reading him like this with all the visuals accentuating it even more. Also, he was drawn perfectly.
Juliet was also sweet and very dramatic.
I was hoping the relationship would make more sense as a Manga, but no, still unbelievable. (You can probably tell I’m not a Romeo & Juliet fan.) Honestly, Mercutio and Romeo had much more sexual and romantic tension than Romeo and Juliet, there was just nothing there, sadly. Which makes the whole love at first sight and dying for each other even more unrealistic.
Also, this Manga used the original Shakespearean text, if I am not mistaken, which is very hard to read, so the accessibility is not higher with this one than the original, in my opinion, which was something that I loved in previous Manga Classics.
So overall, this was nice, but not really my thing.

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This adaptation of Romeo & Juliet was very cleverly done. The manga kept with the original writing style of Shakespeare's play, which was super cool. Some pages had a whole bunch of text, whereas other pages had no text at all. The pages without any text would have one giant illustration taking up the entire page. Even without dialogue, those pages conveyed a powerful message. This helped balance out the pages with a whole bunch of text. Overall, a great adaptation of a famous classic

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❥ 2 stars ☆

Romeo and Juliet is the most popular play by Shakespeare, and it’s probably the play that most people have heard about.

I like the story, the idea, the romance about Romeo and Juliet, and I also like manga.

I thought that I would really like this manga version that even has modern English, but it just didn’t work for me. A classic is called a classic for a reason, and maybe that’s why I didn’t like this as much.

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Manga Classics: Romeo and Juliet, an exquisite adaptation of William Shakespeare's timeless tragedy, holds a cherished place in my heart, akin to the Bard himself. This manga journey invites me to revel in nostalgia, while its awe-inspiring artistry makes it a deserving recipient of a resounding five-star rating.

Immersed in the world of Classical Comics during my formative years, the resurgence of Romeo and Juliet through this manga adaptation is a wistful trip down memory lane. Shakespeare's profound tale of love and tragedy, intricately interwoven with the captivating allure of manga, creates an unparalleled reading experience.

The visual tapestry woven in Manga Classics: Romeo and Juliet is nothing short of extraordinary. With every stroke, the illustrations transport readers into the heart of Verona, breathing life into each character with meticulous attention to detail. The artist masterfully captures the spectrum of human emotions, effortlessly inviting us into the depths of the characters' souls.

Beyond the characters themselves, the manga's ethereal beauty extends to the enchanting landscapes and meticulously crafted settings. Moonlit balconies and bustling Veronese streets come alive within the pages, suffusing the story with an immersive vibrancy. The manga medium's artistic style infuses the scenes with a dynamic energy, further heightening the emotional impact of the narrative.

Symbolism and visual metaphors take center stage in this adaptation, enriching the storytelling in mesmerizing ways. Like whispers in the wind, these artistic elements thread through the panels, deepening our comprehension of the characters' motives and intensifying the heart-wrenching tension that permeates the play's fabric.

Manga Classics: Romeo and Juliet stands as a triumphant testament to Shakespeare's immortal words. Seamlessly blending the Bard's eloquence with manga's visual storytelling prowess, it resurrects this beloved classic with an unparalleled enchantment. This adaptation rekindles the same emotions that captivated audiences of yore, while also captivating new readers with its timeless resonance.

For enthusiasts of Classical Comics and Shakespeare devotees alike, Manga Classics: Romeo and Juliet is an inimitable gem that demands discovery. Its evocative essence, breathtaking artwork, and reverential tribute to Shakespeare's legacy make it a true five-star marvel that should not be overlooked. Prepare to be spellbound by this enchanting resurrection of Romeo and Juliet's tragic tale.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review!

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This is a fun way to read Romeo & Juliet! I checked a few sections against my physical copy and the dialogue was verbatim.
I read an eARC and the graphics were granular, but I think the physical copy will look good! My -1 star was the mix of time period matching illustration and then very modern aspects, it gave a disjointed feeling to the style.

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Great way to expose a new generation of readers to a classic novel. My 11-year-old is dyslexic, and this makes reading a classic much easier for her. Thank you.

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*ARC provided by NetGalley in return for an honest review*

So… I usually adore manga classics, in fact they helped open the door to my adoration to classics. But this just wasn’t it. It focused far too heavily on the comedic aspect of the play, with over caricatures and while some of it worked in the manga’s favor most of it I felt hindered my ability to read and take it seriously. Overall, it’s not horrible, just not my cup of tea

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Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the arc in exchange of an honest review.
The illustrations were so beautiful and well done. If you like Shakespeare, you're definitely gonna like this manga.

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Thanks to NetGalley & UDON for allowing me to read the book in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly, I have grown up with the works of Shakespeare and am very familiar with each play. Adapting Shakespeare to a manga in the 21st century is difficult because of how different his style of English was to the English used today. The end result of that is that at times whilst reading, I felt that the meaning of some of the words or phrases used might have been lost on the author, as the scenes felt a bit divorced from the dialogue. However, the art style is still very good and each character was distinct enough that you were able to recognise everyone involved.

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Thank you NetGalley for gifting me a copy of Romeo and Juliet manga in return for my honest review.

3/5 stars

If you are a fan of William Shakespeare then you will absolutely love this! I wish that I had grabbed the modern interpretation of this manga but I didn’t so oh well.

Romeo and Juliet wasn’t my favorite of Shakespeares work but I still figured I would try it out in manga form to see if I found it more enjoyable. The drawings and illustrations were so well done that it definitely added a fun aspect to the play.

Did I enjoy it more then the first time I read it, yes. Will I reread it again, no I won’t. But if you want a fun way to read or reread a classic I would definitely recommend grabbing one of these to read.

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If I had known that this would be the version of the original text, I would not have requested a copy of this book.. I had to stop halfway through because I couldn't take it anymore. We all know that Shakespeare's language is not the easiest, and in manga format it is even harder to bear. I only give two stars because of the illustrations. Otherwise I couldn't even finish the book.
One day I hope to buy the modern version and be able to enjoy this story as it deserves.

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I’m very thankful that I got to read this ARC and I must say, it’s been a pleasure to see a Shakespearean work placed into a different kind of story telling. The stylisation of text and art, I think it’s been quite balanced and portrays this very classic piece very well. It’s a very refreshing way to indulge yourself into one of Shakespeare’s play. Usually, the drama would be put up on a stage but maybe this graphic novel is a bit of a modern twist, or maybe a nice introduction to the classics.

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This book adaptation is just perfect. It is brilliant and genius. The ones who came up with this idea and then made the drawings deserve all sorts of praise. I remember how I struggled reading the original Romeo and Juliet when I was at school. Not that the story was not good enough, it was… well. It was not the easiest thing to read even for an avid reader. This one? nothing has been lost of the original story, but the way it is presented makes it easy to understand and an exciting read. Who knew Shakespeare can make an exciting read!
Even my 10yr old was excited to read it and said she enjoyed it.

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I think the very idea of manga classics is brilliant and this book did not disappoint. Whether you are a fan of the classic or you want to dip your toe but are scared of classics, this is a great way to start or revisit them! I love the original story and rereading it in this format was such a great experience.

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The art style in this Manga Classic is beautiful! The visual aides with the story really enhances the reading experience. With that being said, I struggled to finish this. The tale of Romeo and Juliet is well known, and the manga does keep the wording from the original source. I had mixed feelings about that, however if you enjoy Shakespeare you will most definitely enjoy this! Unfortunately, Shakespeare’s prose still is not my cup of tea.

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