This episode delves into the remarkable creative collision between William Shakespeare, the titan of Western literature, and Osamu Tezuka, the founding "god" of Japanese manga. We explore how Tezuka used the dynamic, accessible medium of manga to not only adapt the Bard's tragedies and comedies but also to critique the moral and political contradictions of post-war Japan.The Shakespeare Manga Theater anthology, spanning nearly 25 years (1959–1982) of Tezuka’s career, demonstrates a fascinating evolution in adaptation—moving from relatively faithful narrative transposition to radical thematic appropriation.

CFP: Shakespeare: Remembered Futures, Imagined Pasts. Shakespeare in Comics and Manga

The idea for the issue of Multicultural Shakespeare devoted to Shakespeare comics and manga originated during discussions which took place during European Shakespeare Research Association conference in Porto in July 2025. We are looking for articles that will focus on reclaiming the past of comics and manga adaptations, their beginnings and roots, to acknowledge their present existence but also predict their future. We are particularly looking for articles about comics and manga Shakespeare adaptations and comics creators which have hardly been discussed before.Prof. Ronan Paterson [email protected] Anna Wołosz-Sosnowska, [email protected]

We all think we know William Shakespeare. He’s the foundation of the English-speaking canon, the genius whose words define tragedy, romance, and history. But what happens when you take the definitive highbrow text—the soliloquy, the iambic pentameter, the Elizabethan stage—and smash it headlong into a medium traditionally dismissed as juvenile: the comic book, or the graphic novel if you’re a grown up. In this episode, Koel will attempt to unpack this cultural collision by exploring three fundamental themes that define Shakespearean graphic narratives: First, Formal Translation, the challenge of turning language into pure visual rhetoric. Second, Cultural Interrogation, how comics force an ethical reckoning with historical prejudice. And third, Mythological Expansion, where Shakespeare’s characters literally escape their fate and turn the Bard himself into a character.

This 6 Minute Shakespeare Episode introduced by Koel Chatterjee discusses the main themes in Shakespeare Graphic Novels and the difficulty of translating Shakespeare's words into visuals using techniques unique to the art form.

Today we're discussing the Changeling in Medieval folklore and how Shakespeare uses and changes the 'fear of others' trope in Midsummer Night's Dream.Scripted by Koel Chatterjee

In this six minute (or less) episode we discuss why Shakespeare biofiction is quite a popular genre within the speculative fiction genre. Scripted by Koel Chatterjee

In this episode I speak to John Snodgrass and his work on Shakespeare's use of fairytales and the Fae people beloved to the English people in Shakespeare's time. John's work invites us to read Shakespeare not just as literature, but as living ritual—where fairies, witches, and queens aren’t just characters, but cultural echoes of something deeper and older. It’s a reminder that storytelling is never just entertainment; it’s how we make meaning, challenge power, and remember who we are.

For more on John Snodgrass' work visit https://www.j-snodgrass.com/about. For more on my academic work visit https://anglistyka.academia.edu/KoelChatterjee and for my less academic work visit youtube.com/Shakespop and @shakespop.co.uk on Tiktok

This episode places Shakespeare biofiction in fantasy fiction and explores Shakespeare the protagonist in Neil Gaiman's Sandman comics and Sarah A. Hoyt's Ill Met by Moonlight through the lens Annalisa Castaldo’s argument in Fictional Shakespeares and Portraits of Genius where she invites us to think of genius not as intellect or eccentricity, but as a guiding spirit.

This month is all about Shakespeare and the Folktale. We begin episode 1 with an exploration of the history of Shakespeare and Folklore Scholarship with an examination of the works of Thomas Keightley, Charlotte Artese, and John Snodgrass.

A transcript of this episode is available at: https://open.substack.com/pub/shakespop/p/shakespeare-and-the-history-of-folklore?r=54qe2x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueFollow me on Tiktok, Insta, and facebook @shakespop.co.uk,

Welcome to The Shakespop Podcast, your comprehensive guide to all things Shakespeare and popular culture. I'm your host, Koel Chatterjee, and I'm curious about tracing Shakespeare’s influence on global modern culture. Shakespeare is one of the most celebrated and influential playwrights in history. His plays have been performed all over the world for centuries, and they continue to captivate audiences across the world today. But Shakespeare isn't just a literary icon; he's also a pop culture phenomenon. His characters, themes, and language have been referenced and parodied in countless movies, TV shows, books, songs, advertisements, objects, and images. On The Shakespop Podcast, I'll explore all aspects of Shakespeare's legacy. I'll talk about his

And if you like this podcast, do subscribe and share. If you have any comments, feedback, or suggestions please email me at [email protected]. The Shakespop Podcast is written and produced by me, Koel Chatterjee, and is available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. You can also listen to episodes on the website at shakespop.co.uk.