The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents Macbeth: 08/31/15

The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents Macbeth by Ian Lendler is a graphic novel adaptation / retelling of the Scottish play by Shakespeare. Now when I see an animal themed "presentation" of something famous like this, I'm skeptical. So often, these things are dumbed down, simplified, and so far removed from the original that there's no point in keeping any reference to the title except perhaps to make it sound vaguely educational.

Not so with the Stratford Zoo series (their take on Romeo and Juliet comes out in this year). Though the animals are doing their own thing, the characters are still recognizable. The humor is on point plot-wise and outlandish at the same time (as a good parody should be).

But what makes this book really something special, something to show to everyone (as I have been doing!), is the acting by the animals. Or, put more succinctly, the artwork by Zack Giallongo, is hilarious. It's like reading the storyboard to an old Warner Bros' short (think Tex Avery, Chuck Jones, or Friz Freeling).

Five stars

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