This was my first venture into comic book and classical scene. This had to have been before I graded with my B.A. so 2013/4.
As I posted on a different page, there are a lot of Shakespearean mixes with comic books, but Shakespeare wasn’t the only Classics writer in existence. Joss Whedon, as I posted on the other page, has been greatly influenced by the playwriter, and Joss Whedon isn’t just into movies and t.v. shows. His shows have sequels that take on the comic book from. I personally buy them. Buffy the Vampire Slayer was in comics while the show was running years ago. But the sequel to the series became comics. Now, in 2019, Joss Whedon has revived it and authorized a reboot Buffy in the now (instead of 90’s and early 00’s).
Honestly, I don’t think anyone realizes the impact the old classics have on modern day literature. In fact, one Shakespearean actor, famous he is, director and set the tone for all Thor movies that come after: Kenneth Branagh. This man directors and acts and probably writes as well. You might recognize him from Harry Potter, though.
My mentor introduced him to me during our Shakespeare class where I watched a play on film for the first time, and, you guessed it, he was the main start. I believe it was called As You Like It or something. Poor Beatrice should have just gone into the kitchen and, after time traveling and meeting Medea, walked out with a Cast Iron…
But I digress. The point of this was to get the idea out. Now, because of these connections, I can watch Shakspeare plays and such and connect/give them a chance. I even voluntarily bought Macbeth and almost did a thesis with this as a focus. Challenge yourself! Maybe you can like Shakespeare too…, and not be limited to versions like this (not that there is anything wrong):
Below are resources for “Classics/Comic” that may be interesting/useful.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Primary Sources: Subject of choice>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sandman series is from an imprint of DC comics that contains influence from ALL types of literature. Myths (he is Morepheus), Religion (Hell and Lucifer are characters, Lucifer even gets a spin off series), Shakespeare appears, many other historical influences.
The Henry IV-Henry V film I spoke of with Tom HIddleston? Yeah, I think it is actually a miniseries. It is part of BBC’s miniseries of Shakespeare. They are amazing not just because the actors chosen are just that. The writers stay true to the original Shakespeare (or as original as we can get since we, technically, aren’t sure which versions we have gotten-another story, another day).
<<<<<<<<<<<<Secondary Resources: Analysis and Critical Approaches>>>>>>>>>>>>
Critical texts are the marrow to a research paper. If that even makes sense. Whether you are looking at Shakespeare adaptations or Shakespeare itself, you will always find some critical resources on Shakespeare. Remember, theory is your friend. If you cannot find a secondary, critical, source on your specific primary, go back a little. I am sure pioneering, while a bit difficult, will be much rewarding. After all, who doesn’t like being first? Don’t you want to be that one person to say: hey look at this! Besides, someone has to do it.
One theory focuses on “villainy” and another on theory when it comes to psychoanalyzing films.
The other two on the right focus more on the comic book side of things. Sometimes, there are just critical theory in comics books, but sometimes you can get specific critical.
Honestly, the bad thing about this field is that you have to look everyWHERE, and you never know what could be of use. Start a conversation in this field or continue it, my friends.
Remember the good old publishers and organizations. Sometimes just going straight to them can save you some trouble:
| The Comics Grid: Journal of Comics Scholarship |
| Comic Studies Society |
| Shakespeare Quarterly : this is a journal that has been around a LONG time |
| Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association |
| Taylor & Francis (publisher) |
| Wayne State University Press (huge publisher) |
This is the digital age! The internet is your friend and your foe. Be wary of what you use but don’t be afraid to look. The following are websites that may help.
- Shakespeare Glossary: Ever needed a translation for Shakespeare? Look no further for an online resource. I, myself, have two different dictionary type print books to help me.
- Folger Digital Editions: Folger, a long time Shakspeare publisher, has a website for you.
- Online Shakespeare copies: MIT has created a website that allows EVERYONE access to Shakespeare’s works since 1993. It is an “.edu” website, so it’s probably safe.
- Marvel Unlimited: It costs a yearly fee, but you can read almost any and every comic Marvel has published up until about 6 months ago. It updates weekly, and I think it does have a 6 month wait for new comics.
- DC Universe: a new program that comes with almost all of DC’s comics, movies, T.V. shows, and original shows as well that only show up here. It is monthly or yearly price. Like a Netflix with books and movies.
Individual articles are good as well. Newspapers and Magazines, depending on subject and source, can add to a paper. And you never know what one thing may lead to another (see two and three)
- Entrepreneur magazine has an entire section just for Marvel.
- “Richard was a brave, educated, and progress monarch…” : which leads to another article about historical Richard III—-
- “Peter Rhodes on voting for a monarch...”
- “The tyranny, or lack thereof, of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar”
- “Why I hate being a comic book scholar” : branch out, see things for a different perceptive…and he is reviewing a critical book on comic books that sounds like it doesn’t really support comic book research.
These are just a few examples of what you could use. There are so many resources out, but the problem is trying to find all of them. It is difficult trying to piece together what and where. It is why, in the future, I hope to create a database for this genre: for popular culture. So people don’t have to look at Google, databases, and every which way else. Yes, it will probably require you to visit a library, but what I want is to have a database that is RECORD of the resources as well as copies. Sometimes it won’t have anything but a record, but that’s ok. I want to have guides on my database that says: if the full text isn’t here, look here. But that is going to be years down the road. First, basic things like this.
Catalyst of the Story 