The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents: Macbeth

Title: The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents: Macbeth
Author: Ian Lendler
Illustrator:  Zack Giallongo ; Colors by Alisa Harris
Publisher: First Second (:01)
Copyright: 2014
Price: $12.99
ISBN: 978-1596439153
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: Have you ever wondered what the zoo animals do at night after everyone has left? At the Stratford Zoo, the animals break from their cages and put on a play for each other. On this particular night, readers witness Shakespeare's Macbeth, adapted for a zoo setting, including comments from the audience.
---------  
Recommended Audience: Upper elementary
 --------  
Things to be aware of: cartoon violence
----------  
Further Thoughts: Let me just start off that I am not familiar with Macbeth, the play, so I have no idea how close this is to the actual play.

But, let me say that I did enjoy this adaption.

The Lion is Macbeth  He is hungry for something more than a very large hot dog. What he learns is that he's hungry for POWER. Following the prophecy by the three witches, Macbeth spirals downward until finally he is dethroned. The elements of the play are here: key phrases, key characters, key plot points, but there's so much more! Lady Macbeth is a cheetah, a fact lost on her until late in the story and ends up adding to her demise in a swath of bubbles and soap (it's almost comedic). The man who brings down Macbeth is a stork and of the "hard boiled" detective type. There are audience members (mostly two kid monkeys) making comments throughout the story and lots and lots of ketchup.


Overall feeling: A great adaption with comedic timing for a Shakespearean tragedy. A great introduction to Shakespeare's great work Macbeth. I really hope this team adapts more (the last page hints that the next night is Romeo & Juliet).

--------------  
Source: Library/Review

Zeus: King of the Gods - Olympians - Vol. 1

Title: Zeus: King of the Gods (Olympians Vol. 1)
Author: George O’Connor
Illustrator: George O’Connor
Publisher: First Second (:01)
Copyright: 2010
Price: $16.99
ISBN: 978-1-59643-625-1
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: Zeus, the youngest child of Kronos, escaped being eaten alive by his father and has grown into a man bent on righting the wrongs done to Mother Earth. With the help of some friends and his siblings, Zeus embarks on a mighty war against his father and the other titans to help shape the world that the Greeks knew.
---------
Will Teens Like It? Depends on the teen.
--------
Things to be aware of: Nothing.
----------
Further Thoughts: When I first saw this title, I thought that it would be dull, uninteresting, and have a short shelf life. Surprisingly, I enjoyed reading this title and find it seems to have a slight popularity. The tone of the story is that of typical myths mixed a little with a storyteller, for example, the storyteller hints at future stories to be told, but “that is for another day.” The pacing of the text is well timed to give the right suspense when needed to its soft mellow tone as the story builds up.

O’Connor’s art style is similar to that of the superhero comics and maybe even a little of the historic comics’ style. O’Connor says in his afterward that he grew up reading those comics, so his artwork pays tribute to the style seen in the past, but adds a modern flair that strikes the right balance for the story of Zeus.

An added bonus to this particular book is the extra stuff in the back of the book. Movie style posters give quick facts on particular characters as they strike an action pose. There are notes explaining Greek names and future stories. Lastly, the book rounds out with mediocre discussion questions and recommended reads.

Overall, I found this to be a refreshing read in the “adaptation” department. The author/illustrator struck the right balance between showing and telling as well as modern art and classic, that I was not bored with the book. In fact, I was determined to finish the book once I started it. I’d highly recommend this for a school library looking to round out their graphic novel collection with interesting, yet appealing graphic novels.
------
Bonus: ALA Great Graphic Novel 2011
------
Source: Library copy.