If Shakespeare Were to Write Comics+Did you Know The Avengers is based on Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida?

[Actually, The Avengers isn’t based off of Troilus and Cressida, but hey, it got your attention, right?]

Has anyone ever compared Shakespeare with a comic strip? Let’s think about it for a minute—the two are almost completely opposite, right? William Shakespeare’s use of ornate language would not work well in a comic. Just imagine the scene in Titus Andronicus where Marcus goes on and on about Lavinia’s lost limbs. We discussed in class how the average American today would have no idea that Marcus is bewailing his niece’s misfortune. If someone has just lost their hands and tongue, we just don’t say:

Why dost not speak to me?

Alas, a crimson river of warm blood,

Like to a bubbling foundation stirred with wind,

Doth rise and fall between thy rosed lips,

Coming and going with thy honey breath. (II.iv.21-24)

At least, if someone just cut my tongue off, I am not expecting that kind of a response from anyone. Can you imagine a comic strip of that? I’d imagine a girl with what looks like a waterfall worthy to be the 8th of the 7 Wonders of the World just gushing from her mouth. There would also need to be roses around, beehives, and a river. I guess it could work, because Shakespeare and comics are both witty, full of puns, and often employ satire. Still, I’ve never seen a Shakespeare comic.

However, I have seen the Avengers and I’m assuming that many of you all have, too. Even if you haven’t seen the movie, you probably know the plot line. I know they just released the new one, but consider the first one for a moment. The simplified plot line goes like this: There is a problem. So, call in the superheroes because they are heroes with super powers.

If you think about it, Troilus and Cressida (T&C) is similar to this because basically it’s a bunch of superheroes fighting because there is a problem and they are super men. The men fighting in T&C and the men in the Avengers all come with character backgrounds that the audience already knows. Shakespeare’s audience would have known the stories of Hector, Achilles, Ulysses, Helen, Priam, Diomedes, Aeneas, and others. Likewise, contemporary audiences know the stories behind Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, and the other major characters. Neither the writer of T&C or the directors of Avengers have to spend any time then on the back story of the characters, or explaining who they are. They come in as heroes and the audience have certain expectations for them.

I found that tAjax and Hulk were rather similar because both of them are big and strong and like to use their brute force when fighting. Ajax does a lot of punching; Hulk likes to smash. But, Achilles is also comparable to Hulk because at first, neither of those two characters want to fight. Hulk is hiding in Indonesia so that supposedly no one will find him. Black Widow does find him and she convinces him to join their cause. Similarly, Achilles does not want to fight, but after he is taunted and made jealous, he appears to fight.

Next time you look at comic strips, see if you can find similarities with Shakespeare’s writing. Let’s be honest, one the basic level, both are funny. Try going beyond that. Shakespeare is not “so five seconds ago.” He’s inspiration for things yet to come!