Instead of the widely known tragic love tale by William Shakespeare titled Romeo and Juliet, there’s a fresh take on it – a western-themed fantasy adventure graphic novel called Romeo vs. Juliet: A Kill Shakespeare Adventure from Gemstone Publishing. This new graphic novel is part of the celebrated Kill Shakespeare series by Anthony Del Col (writer), Stefan Tosheff (artist), and Becca Carey (letterer). You can catch a sneak peek at the brand-new trailer for Romeo Vs. Juliet in the video above!
In this new twist on the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet, we find ourselves five acts in, with the story unfolding after their initial clandestine meeting. Here, Juliet has transformed into a mercenary, safeguarding a humble nunnery from external threats. This protective role eventually brings her face-to-face with her past love, Romeo. The unexpected reunion will unveil Juliet’s hidden truth, as she harbors a secret: she is pregnant, but unsure if the father is Romeo or Hamlet.
In our conversation with Anthony, we delved into various aspects of the series, discussing why it resonates so well with a Western ambiance, his passion for interpreting Shakespearean worlds, and his experiences reimagining such a timeless tale. Naturally, our discussion began by addressing the trailer, asking if there are any insights he’d like to share about it that readers and viewers should be aware of.
Del Col particularly enjoys the process of collaborating with trailer designer David Howard, a key aspect of any project for him. This step helps him distill the project to its core and boosts his enthusiasm even further for something he’s already developed. He hopes this trailer will ignite the same curiosity in viewers too!
Del Col explained that his continued attraction to Shakespeare lies in the richness of the characters he has been able to develop throughout numerous tales.
In Del Col’s own words, “Just like the Bard himself might say, ‘The whole world is a stage… and I, William Shakespeare, crafted its most memorable characters.’ Now, this isn’t an exact quote, but let’s roll with it. You see, there’s a reason why Shakespeare continues to be celebrated and acted out by the finest talents over four centuries after his passing: he brought forth the most captivating characters in history. As a storyteller, one of the toughest challenges is developing engaging and multi-dimensional characters. I thoroughly enjoy working on Romeo vs. Juliet and Kill Shakespeare because I’m gifted with these fantastic characters to begin with, allowing me to put them in my sandbox and create fresh tales and new paths for them to follow. As a devotee of Shakespeare, what could be more gratifying?
In the original tale, Romeo and Juliet die at the end, but this version presents an alternative scenario where they could have lived on, offering numerous speculations about what their lives might look like if they had managed to survive.
In discussing a beloved love story, Del Col mentions that the tale of Romeo and Juliet is the one most often brought up. He adds that Taylor Swift has even penned a song about it (which he admires). This story established the blueprint for modern tragic romances. Del Col finds the characters of Juliet and Romeo to be captivating, complex, and filled with unique traits. When creating “Romeo vs. Juliet,” Del Col enjoyed crafting a continuation for Juliet, exploring what she might have become if she survived the tomb scene with Romeo. He also shares his excitement about adding a love triangle (and a pregnancy) to the narrative, making it more intriguing for both himself and readers.
The question that followed was, why choose a Western? “As I pondered over what my next narrative would be, an image emerged: a classic high-noon standoff featuring Juliet and Romeo. Both suffering, both resolved to kill each other, yet both with strong reservations. This vision sparked an idea in me, and I instantly became engrossed, developing the story around it – a border town, a convent, a puzzling enchantment, and a motley crew of characters reminiscent of ‘The Magnificent Seven’ from Shakespearean lore.” Del Col explained. “I find the Western genre captivating and believe it provides an ideal setting for a Shakespearean storyline, which typically features climactic confrontations and verbal sparring among characters.
The narrative unfolds across five distinct sections, much like the initial play, and it was intriguing for Anthony and Stefan to reimagine these characters and place them in dramatically altered situations.
In a nutshell, “Romeo vs. Juliet” can be seen as one of Shakespeare’s ‘Magnificent Seven’, with the main character, Juliet, leading a group to protect the border town nunnery, according to Del Col. The most engaging (and at times challenging) aspect was deciding who would join her diverse team. It was a delight to receive Stefan’s character designs and watch the characters come alive through his artistic talent.
Romeo vs. Juliet: A Kill Shakespeare Journey
Release Date: April 22nd
Discover the official synopsis below.
In this unique retelling of Shakespeare’s classic tale, find out what happens when the Bard’s most iconic characters collide in a world where they never should have met. In “Romeo vs. Juliet: A Kill Shakespeare Adventure”, the fate of Shakespeare’s universe hangs in the balance as the warring forces of good and evil fight to control it. Join Romeo, Juliet, Hamlet, Iago, and other beloved characters on their thrilling journey to restore peace and order. Will love triumph over destiny? Find out when this exciting new adventure hits stores on April 22nd!
In this revised version, the world’s most renowned romantic couple, once deeply in love, now stand as bitter adversaries, locked in a lethal confrontation! This tale, set against the backdrop of the Old West, features Juliet Capulet, a skilled mercenary and expectant mother, who is hired to defend a border town convent from Romeo’s wicked followers. As preparations are underway, she crosses paths with her former allies, including Hamlet, Othello, and the trickster Puck (forming an extraordinary team reminiscent of “The Shakespeare Seven”). However, they soon uncover corruption within the convent and a mystical power that fuels dreams… all while Juliet seeks to identify the father of her child: is it Hamlet… or the man she must ultimately slay, Romeo.
Award-winning author Anthony Del Col (Luke Cage: Everyman, I Escaped a Chinese Internment Camp) and illustrator Stefan Tosheff are reviving the series Kill Shakespeare with a fantasy Western that is perfect for readers who enjoy works by Neil Gaiman, Fables, and Lore Olympus.
Read More
- Invincible Season 4: What We Know About Release Date and Plot Speculation!
- ONT PREDICTION. ONT cryptocurrency
- ZK PREDICTION. ZK cryptocurrency
- MNT PREDICTION. MNT cryptocurrency
- HBAR PREDICTION. HBAR cryptocurrency
- INJ PREDICTION. INJ cryptocurrency
- NYM PREDICTION. NYM cryptocurrency
- TRB PREDICTION. TRB cryptocurrency
- DGB PREDICTION. DGB cryptocurrency
- FIL PREDICTION. FIL cryptocurrency
2025-03-15 01:10