DNF at around 40%
I have no previous experience with reading shakespeare which made this read very hard and sluggish for me. I really tried to read through it but it felt more like a chore so I had to give up. It's kind of a skill issue on my part so I feel bad for the low score but it is how I feel about it. The art is decent and I have no complaints with what the team behind this has created, it's just that I cant read shakespeare

This is an excellent teaching resource! I’ve used in my English classes this week for students struggling with plot and characters.

A sharp and accessible take on Shakespeare’s darkest tragedy. The Manga Classics adaptation keeps the original text intact while pairing it with dynamic, dramatic artwork that brings the paranoia and ambition of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to life. It’s a great entry point for new readers, and a fresh experience for those already familiar with the play. Both faithful and engaging—definitely one of the stronger adaptations in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley & Manga Classics Inc. For the copy of this book!

I am not very well versed in Shakespeare so I figured this might be interesting!
I know the general story of Macbeth, and this was decent/pretty close to what I expected. I really liked the art, and truly this makes a complex story far less overwhelming. I think that this is an amazing resource to explain the story to kids especially.

I thought the Graphic Novel illustrations and retelling were both really good; and I think any kid that absolutely loves Classic literature would enjoy reading this. I think for my classroom, most of my students might have a hard time connecting to the work, but making it into a manga makes more age appropriate for them.
I think the overall book/story might be a challenge for most of my readers unless they already know the story.

I love the twist of a remade old tail like the story of Macbeth but when you retail it with new additions, including you know Japanese characters in an anime form, it gives it a whole new vibe and it makes the story feel fresh again and it’s also really really good

i thought this was a beautiful take on the classic Shakespeare tragedy, the art style was amazing and i think this is a great way for someone who wouldn't usually read classics or aren't comfortable with them to get into the genre

The artwork was really intentional and the style worked well to compliment the back drop of the original text. The character design was perfect in my opinion and I would have changed nothing. I did find reading it in it's true form took away a bit from delving into the manga version which is carried so well by the artwork but that could have just been me.

Maybe I came into this book the wrong way. But usually graphic novel versions of classics are easier to understand and this one just wasn’t that. Loved the illustrations, though!

*3.5 stars*

Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's' most famous plays, also known as "the Scottish Play," for those who are superstitious. It tells the story of Macbeth as he becomes king and his descent into madness. I found this Manga to be a solid adaptation of the classic Shakespeare play. It has been a while since I've read or seen a production of the original, but it felt very faithful. The visual element of a manga was extra helpful in following the story, since it does use a lot of the original Shakespearean text. However, I wish the text was still written out in lines to make the rhythm more obvious. Overall, I enjoyed it and would recommend if you are a fan of Shakespeare or are currently studying Macbeth.

I first discovered Manga Classics when I saw their booth at Comic-Con last year, and I was instantly intrigued. So when I spotted Macbeth available on NetGalley, I was excited—especially since this would be my first time reading Shakespeare!

Growing up on anime definitely had me looking forward to this format, and it did not disappoint. Although the original Old English was a little challenging at times, reading it as a manga made it much more approachable and enjoyable for me.

The artwork was fantastic—detailed, expressive, and really brought the tension and drama of the story to life. I especially appreciated the author and artist notes at the end. It was so cool to see how they collaborated and approached adapting such a complex classic into a manga format.

I’m definitely planning to read more Manga Classics in the future. Huge thanks to NetGalley for the chance to dive into this creative retelling!

Manga of a literary classic and i wish I would have had this in high school when we were learning about Macbeth. This was so much better than the palon text and allows you to actually understand what is happening.

“Fair is foul, and foul is fair.”

Manga Classics: Macbeth was definitely a challenge for me. I’ve never read the original play by Shakespeare, and even though I have a decent level of English, the old-fashioned language made it really hard to follow the story. Honestly, I didn’t fully understand what was going on 😅.

That said, the manga format really helped. The artwork conveys a lot and kept me from feeling completely lost. The expressions, scene transitions, and the dark atmosphere made it easier to grasp the emotion and tone, even when I didn’t catch every word.

I won’t lie—it wasn’t an easy or smooth read, but it was an interesting experience. I’m now more curious about Macbeth, and I will try to read it again in the future.

⭐ Story: 6/10 (more because of my understanding than the actual plot)
⭐ Characters: 8/10 | ⭐ Illustrations: 9/10 | ⭐ Overall: 7.67/10

📆 Reading date: 25/06/25 - 27/06/25
📖 Read on: NetGalley ARC
💖 Thanks to NetGalley and UDON Entertainment for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the concept and the artwork was great. The Shakespearean language was quite hard to follow. I think the manga would be a lot more enjoyable if you already knew the story of Macbeth. Thank you for the copy.

It’s Macbeth with pictures. If you like Macbeth you’ll like it, if you’re hoping the pictures changes it and makes it more likable you probably won’t. Nothing wrong with it, the drawing style was cool

I found this to be really boring. It could not hold my attention long enough to get through more than. A page at t a time so I DNFd it

I teach Macbeth and this title is a great addition to the graphic novels I use to support understanding of the play. Macbeth is a universal tale of ambition, power, and corruption that translates well to Manga. Beautiful adaptation.

I really enjoy the Manga Classics series. Since they keep the text of the play intact, reading it is similar to seeing a performance of it. The art adds so much to the words and makes it easier to understand the Shakespearean phrases and old style language. You can see the expressions on the characters faces and I feel like I connect with it a lot more than I have for the Shakespeare plays that I've just read. I think this style of telling stories makes these older classics much more approachable and absorbable for a modern audience.

So it was interesting experiment as Macbeth is my favourite play. Drawings are really good, I liked how style of Macbeth changed through story to show us his descent into all of this madness. Also witches and Hecate! I love them in original so I was really excited to see them here and it didn’t disappoint.
“Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and caldron bubble.”
But if you think you will be struggling with original Shakespeare maybe try Modern English Edition as in this one dialogue can be a little hard to understand.

This book is a great introduction for those who want to get into Shakespeare but is intimidated by the original! It’s a very beautiful artstyle. It’s faithful to the original by having the same dialogue but still has its own manga charm. I recommend!