I've enjoyed many of the "Manga Shakespeare" books, and was pleased - and surprised! - to find a near-complete selection of them at the Used Book Superstore the other day, with multiple copies yet. [I'm guessing these are remaindered, as, apart from a tiny mark, they seem new.] They're selling for $5.99, not bad compared to the cost of a new book.

This adaptation of Othello uses a "carnival" theme, with all the characters being costumed - or are they? - in various exotic ways. But as they seem to wear these "costumes" all the time and over the course of the days/weeks that elapse in the story, it really looks as though they're actually shaped that way: Othello has wings, several characters have horns, Cassio has puppy ears and tail...

As with all the books in the series, the first few pages are color illustrations introducing the cast (very helpful in telling them apart later on). Both Iago and Cassio are drawn as very young characters, as in 12-year-olds, which adds a jarring note: Iago certainly looks fierce enough, with his wicked grins and fistful of throwing knives, but still, a kid? The Duke of Venice - wow! He's depicted as some kind of marine god, with horns and three eyes, bare-chested, and with his Senators - also nude, and apparently mer-people as well - bound to him by chains. (I'd have liked an entire story based on that little scenario {grin}.)

The story is presented fairly well, with many of the best-known speeches present in part or entirely, and the artwork supports the emotion of the scenes, though the carnival appearance makes it seem as if the whole thing is a hallucination. And here, while Cassio doesn't get the last word, he does get the last panel - and makes the most of it... An interesting look at the play, and one that I hope will tempt people into reading the original - or, better, catching a performance of it.

I plan to leave this book on the book-swap shelf in the Tyngsboro post office lobby at about 1:15 or so. Hope the finder enjoys it!