Marvel legendJoe Quesadahas unveiled a new Shakespeare-themed imprint that will kick off withDisciple,a prequel toHamlet.Widely considered the finest writer humanity has produced, Shakespeare’s works have been reinterpreted for over 400 years. Now, Joe Quesdada’s newUndiscover’dimprint is set to bring fans high-quality Shakespeare adaptations across a variety of genres, and ScreenRant is pleased to bring fans a first look at its inaugural offering.
Disciple, billed as a prequel toHamlet,will be written by Quesada and writer/director/producer Charles Dorfman and drawn by Quesada with inks by Wade Von Grawbadger. For now, Quesada and company are largely keepingDisciple’splot under wraps, but Dorfman did have this to say about the book:
“Our launch title, DISCIPLE, sets the tone for the entire slate. It begins with Hamlet as a young boy and serves as a prequel to the classic tragedy, offering a fresh entry point into the world.”
Dorfman went on to stress that all the imprint’s books will be set in “our reality,” one that is “recognizable but reimagined.” The project fromAmazing Comicsis a unique collaboration between Quesada, Mad Cave Studios, and premier European publishing house Dupuis. The three companies will work in tandem to publish and distribute titles on both sides of the Atlantic.
Shakespeare Adaptations Have Generated Some Major Hits
William Shakespeare needs no introduction. An English playwright, Shakespeare crafted plays and sonnets that have endured for centuries. In tragedies such asHamletandOthello,Shakespeare explored the darkest corners of the human psyche, while comedies such asMuch Ado About Nothinggave audiences insight into romantic relationships. Shakespeare’s work remains popular with readers, and his plays have been continually updated for each era. Movies such asRomeo + Julietand10 Things I Hate About Youtook Shakespeare’s work to new heights in the modern era, introducing the Bard to new generations of readers.
Joe Quesada’sUndiscover’dimprint is historic. Comics have attempted many times to adapt Shakespeare to the page, with mixed results, andUndiscover’d, the first imprint devoted exclusively to the Bard, will attempt to breathe new life into these works by transporting them to new and exciting genres and contexts. Quesada promises these books will transcend genres:
Upcoming Undiscover’d stories will span genres like sci-fi, horror, hard-boiled crime fiction, war, and fantasy. These stories may jump across genres, centuries, and—who knows—even planets, but they’re all grounded in the same world: ours.
Some of Shakespeare’s plays, such asMacbeth, lend themselves to the horror genre. Others, such asThe Merchant of Venice,could be crime thrillers as well. The malleability of Shakespeare’s writings has helped keep his work alive for the past 400 years.
Undiscover’d Brings Even More Top Creators To Amazing Comics
Starting with aHamletPrequel is a Perfectly Audacious Move
DiscipleisUndiscover’d’s opening shot, and the publisher has other exciting titles lined up, but none have been officially announced. However,Undiscover’ddid reveal some of the A-list talent that has been assembled to bring the worlds of Shakespeare to life. Famous comic talents like Garth Ennis, J. Michael Straczynski, Ryan Stegman, Christopher Priest, and more join the likes ofJohn Wickcreator and writer Derek Kolstad for the imprint. These creators have made names for themselves in diverse genres, making them perfect for this exciting approach to new and adapted comics.
400 years after his heyday, William Shakespeare continues to invite readers, all who find something of the modern world in his works. After a decade of steering Marvel to new heights, Joe Quesada seeks to do the same to Shakespeare. The Bard’s writings still speak to us today, and a diverse set of creators are going to give them their own spin.
As the world barrels towards Shakespeare Day,Joe Quesada,Undiscover’dand Mad Cave are doing something amazing: creating an entire imprint devoted to William Shakespeare, and kicking it all off with a prequel to the legendaryHamlet.
