Who is your favourite Shakespeare character?

Announced last week, we will be running a SHAKESPEAREAN DEADLIEST WARRIOR beginning later this week which will pit some of the Bard's top characters in a tournament to figure out who is the most popular.  Voting will be done by our fans and followers on this website, Twitter and Facebook.We have already placed HAMLET, JULIET, OTHELLO, LADY MACBETH, IAGO, RICHARD III, FALSTAFF, PUCK, DON JOHN and TAMORA into the contest.  There are six (6) other slots open so we'd like YOU to suggest who should be included. Thus far we've received opinions such as Coriolanus, Prospero, Beatrice and/or Benedick, and the bear from Midwinter's Tale(...).  Please leave a comment with your suggestion here or on our other social media sites and check in with us on Wednesday as everything begins!

Photos from our Toronto Launch Party

Here are some photos from our Toronto Launch Party from last week (Nov 16th)... We have hundreds of them so these are some and we'll post more in the next day or two...Thanks to my good friend Kuntal Variya for serving as our photographer for the evening - she did a fantastic job!

Who is the Greatest Shakespeare Character?

Starting next week we are beginning our version of Shakespearean Deadliest Warrior... A chance for our fans and followers on this site, Facebook, Twitter and elsewhere to raise their voices and tell us who the greatest Shakespeare character of all-time is - and win prizes in the process!We will running the tournament in a round of sixteen bracket format and each day people will be able to vote on the particular pairing.  Before this, however, we will be asking you what characters should be listed in the Sweet Sixteen.  We will include the major ones that we've included in our story thus far (Hamlet, Juliet, Othello, Falstaff, Lady Macbeth, Richard III, Iago, Puck, Don John, Tamora) but that leaves six slots open.  The tournament will run for the next four weeks until the final winner is declared.WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE MIX? Tell us here - or on Facebook or Twitter!  And look for the announcement of the final brackets next week and when voting will begin!

ComicBookDaily: 'Conventions energize Kill Shakespeare creators"

A good interview of Conor, Andy and I conducted by Andrew Ardizzi from ComicbookDaily... He visited us at two events last week (our signing at The Beguiling and then the Fall Toronto Comic-Con).  Andrew is a really smart reporter who is good at getting us to give honest answers (he researches and put together good questions for us) and the article captures both the highs and lows of our recent signings and art gallery tour...You can read the interview by clicking on the image.

CommandN loves them some Kill Shakespeare AND Hal-Con

As many of you have read Kill Shakespeare had a GREAT time at Hal-Con:

The people were amazing, and the event was as much fun as I have had at any convention in my life.In fact I bet a lot of you are thinking "man, I'm sorry I missed that".Well... the people at CommandN thought so too, so they have put together a FANTASTIC special on the event -- which you can check out right here!We're scattered throughout the special -- but the whole thing is well worth your watching while.And, if you haven't had your fill of Kill Shakespeare, Halifax and Conor -- then check out Haligonian.ca where Conor was interviewed by a gentlemen who had an English accent - for no discernable reason...Click on interview #27.

"A tour de force of the storytelling marriage of words and art"

My last post for the day (actually have to sit down and do some writing)... This might be the best review that we've gotten thus far, and may ever get.  ComicBookResources has just posted a review of Issue #7 and it is amazing.  They praise the story, the art, the characters and the series.  The best section:"This issue is a tour de force of the storytelling marriage of words and art that make comics the perfect medium for this tale. It also feels like this tale has jumped from being some sort of pastiche homage to actually being its own beast. This isn’t imitation; This is evolution. This comic is serious and fun and emotionally draining in all the right ways; a pure pleasure to become immersed in."We're really happy to receive this review but also happy for Andy - he put so much time and effort into this issue.  The artwork really is amazing.Click on the link below to read the full review.We were also listed in the site's The Buy Pile this week as well as a "Buy", the top ranking.  You can read it here.

Issue #7 Artwork

I would normally throw laudatory remarks about the artwork that Andy does on the series, but instead I will quote Ryan K. Lindsay's review of this issue, which does the summary much more justice:"Belanger has been a showcase of this series throughout. He puts everything into each page to make the characters jump out at you and this issue is a great opportunity for him to show true emotion in his players. He has also always worked hard to create dynamic pages but here he truly expresses something different. He frames scenes with the velvet curtain of the stage and he adds so many layers to the imagery that you feel a sensory overload that weighs you down. He has stepped up his already incredible game here and elevated this issue into a modern classic."

Issue #7 Cover

Issue #7 hits the comic stands this week (a week earlier than we thought, so it was a surprise to us...).  We'll be posting some of the early reviews in the next day or two but they are very, very strong!  I'll be posting some of the artwork from the issue later today but wanted to get the ball rolling by posting a hi-res version of the excellent cover art by Kagan McLeod.  This is probably the best cover he's done for us yet!

Andy's old stomping grounds...

This is a story of a young boy named Andy, whose father would bring him to the local comic book store as a bonding experience.  That young boy became really fascinated and obsessed with comics and loved his times at the store.  Years later Andy grew up to be the artist of a very successful literary mash-up comic, Kill Shakespeare.  And that comic book store?  Carry-On Comics in uptown Waterloo!Andy is making his triumphant return to his original comic book store this upcoming Wednesday and he, Conor and I are doing a signing there from 4:30 - 7pm.  It's also a homecoming for Conor and I as we both went to Wilfrid Laurier, just down the street.

If you're in Waterloo please join us for some fun and nostalgia!

Andy's Dream Comes True

We found out earlier this week that Andy's dream came true as Kill Shakespeare was reviewed by Fangoria magazine!  Andy has been a reader of this publication for the last 20+ years and it was great to see that not only did they review us but they REALLY LIKED the book!  A review of four skulls is pretty good and they describe Andy's artwork as:"Andy Belanger’s artwork is vibrantly exaggerated, and unflinching in the violence department; Belanger does not hold back when Richard III savagely gouges a soldier’s eyes out. You’ll be covering your face after you see Juliet hurl a spear through a man’s nose."Click on the logo to read the full review.

KilL Shakespeare Love Match?

Well it seems like we had a possible love match at the Kill Shakespeare launch the other night.Now this is NOT meant to embarrass anyone but meant to maybe connect two people who would like to be connected.The following as appeared on Craigslist "Missed Connections" page.It's from a Man to a woman. The guy is 31.I saw you at the Kill Shakespeare Comicbook signing from across the room last night, we locked eyes quite a few times and smiled - yet neither of uswanted to say hello. We were with our own friends.You're tall, asian, with a beautiful smile. Write me if you read this! I'd love to meet you.The link to the ad is here.Hopefully this is the start of something beautiful!

Signing at The Beguiling - this Wednesday!

We are doing a book talk and signing at The Beguiling this Wednesday to promote and discuss our graphic novel.  We'd love for everyone to come out to the event - unlike our Launch Party tonight this will allow more conversation and discussion.We are doing a discussion at The Central (603 Markham, right next to The Beguiling) from 6-7pm and then a signing from 7-8pm.  Come and hang out with us!  Exact details about the event can be discovered on The Beguiling's website.

Congrats to a friend of Kill Shakespeare!

Having just gotten back yesterday from our whirlwind trip through New York and Philly, I quickly caught up a number of things that have happened in the last little while.  One thing that I missed while away was the announcement that Jeremy Boxen won a Gemini Award on November 3rd for dramatic writing (Cra$h and Burn).For those that don't know, the Gemini Awards are the top Canadian television awards - the Canadian Emmys, if you will.  Jeremy is a really talented writer that I've known for almost nine years, have worked on a few projects with, and also played a crucial role in the life of Kill Shakespeare by being the person who introduced us to Andy Belanger (through his friend Cameron Stewart).Congrats, Jer!

WE'RE NEW YORK TIMES-WORTHY!

We received a VERY pleasant surprise in our Google Alerts folder the other day, a notice that the New York Times had mentioned the series.

"Hmm," we thought. "Perhaps some intrepid reporter has found out about the series and tossed us in a larger story about the Bard and his relevance in today's society. Maybe someone in NYC is mounting an 'edgy' staging' of one of Shakey's plays?"But no, it was even better than that -- we're a NEW YORK FREAKIN' TIMES GIFT GUIDE recommendation.Click here to see what has us all hot and bothered... and again thanks to all of our supporters for buying the comics and now the trades which have given us the legitimacy to get people like the Times interested!

The South Street of Philadelphia

Conor, Andy and I returned to Toronto at about 6:30am this morning after driving through the night from Philadelphia.  We've already posted a number of entries and photos from our stay in New York but Philly found us at some great places and meeting some cool people.One of the reasons we ventured out to Philly was because of Conor's trip earlier this summer (you can read about it here) where he met Joe Turner at Atomic City Comics, a great comic and pop culture store.  We did a signing there on Friday night and then returned for a couple hours the next day to hang out.  Joe and the gang there are fantastic and really promoted our stay and introduced us to a number of great people.Photos from our signing(s) are below.

EATSLEEPGEEK says: "Kill Shakespeare: 'All the Goodness of the Bard, none of the suck'"

With the first trade starting to proliferate across stores (comic shops have had it for one or two Wednesdays depending on their locale, and bookstores join in the fun this Tuesday), we're starting to see reviews that come from areas that are less comic-focused.While EATSLEEPGEEK certainly knows their comics they are more of a general pop-culture site - so it is great to see that they too think there is a little bit of awesome to be had within the comics pages.It's also one of the better critiques of the art -- and Andy and Ian both come through with flying colours (appropriate for Ian, no?)So click here for the review, and pass it on to some friends you know who may still be on the fence on the series.

More Photos from the Gallery

For those of you who couldn't make it we continue our photo essay from the gallery show we had here in NY at the Chair and the Maiden gallery.

These photos were taken by the lovely and talented George Goss, a local photo-journalist who just so happened to be covering another event down the road.

It's always rewarding when we get to meet new people through this adventure and George was a fantastic example of that. I mean how many people would just poke their head in, say hi, and start snapping pics for us?

All in all this is just another example of why we have been having SO much fun with this project and why we are looking forward to our Toronto Book Launch where we can rub elbows with family and fans from the T-dot (and also friends who hate what we are up to but are too polite to say so....).

So see you all on the 16th at 918 Bathurst - doors open at 6:00 PM and the fun and food will last until 8:30 or so.

I want my MTV!

We were interviewed by MTV Geek last month during the New York Comic-Con and they have just posted the video on their website.  A fun little interview with sharp editing that cut up the ramblings of the three of us...Click on the MTV image to check it out!

Scenes from an Exhibit

Last night was the opening night of The Art of Kill Shakespeare, a gallery showing at New York's Chair and the Maiden.  The opening night was a smash success with a large number of guests (so many that the place was packed and people spilled out onto the street).  The highlights included us grabbing Michael Moore, who was passing by on the street, to come and check out the art (he and Andy ended up singing the Canadian national anthem), hanging out with our publicist Lonnie McCullough, appearances from a number of top New York artists and musicians, and, of course, a stranger that stayed the entire night and ended up getting drunk and almost passing out...For those that missed this event, we are having a signing/showing at the gallery on Tuesday night from 6-8pm.  Don't miss it!Special thanks for last night go to J.Bone, Crystal Luxmore and Jen Heath for coming down from Toronto for the event, Vanessa King for connecting us to the gallery, and most importantly, John and David from Chair and the Maiden for organizing such a great time!Some photos here...

Crashing the Forbidden Planet in New York!

We arrived in New York yesterday and started setting up everything for our gallery show beginning this evening at Chair & The Maiden.  The artwork looks great and I'll hopefully be able to post some pictures later today or tomorrow.On Monday night (the 8th) Conor, Andy and I will be stopping by Forbidden Planet (840 Broadway) for an hour-long signing.  Forbidden Planet has been a great champion of our series (we visited them back in May for a bit) and it's great to be able to set up shop there for a while.  If you're in New York stop by and visit us!