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I first met Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery about a year ago. They were discussing their new series, Kill Shakespeare, and I wasn't quite sure what to make of the name. Was this for real? Was it good? Yes is the answer to both, it turns out. Not only was it real, but it was excellent: a fun and irreverent yet totally respectful (if it's not an oxymoron to call something "irreverent" and "respectful" at the same time) work that reimagines Shakespeare and his characters. There are heroes (Hamlet, Juliet, etc.) and villains (Iago and Lady Macbeth, natch) and vivid storylines being woven throughout this 12-issue series, which will be collected in a trade volume this November. But for now, you can read all about the series and its creators in the GNR interview with Conor and Anthony.

When I first started working on GraphicNovelReporter, I have to admit that I wasn't too well versed on manga. That wasn't a problem, for the most part, because we had great reviewers from all walks of life who thoroughly embraced the format. I could learn from them, and more than that, I could rely on them to bring the greatest and most important works to my attention while I was racing to get caught up. Flash-forward several months, to when I was first asked to be an Eisner judge, and I was still learning. I had gotten some education, but let's face it: There's a lot out there, and it's hard to get a grasp on it when you're just starting out. But last year, as part of the judging experience, I had to immerse myself in even more of it.