Anthony Del Col
Anthony Del Col is a writer who has garnered considerable acclaim in his career, earning nominations for esteemed awards like the Ringo, Joe Shuster, and Harvey Awards for his comic work. He also received the Pulitzer Prize for Illustrated Reporting for his collaborative work with Fahmida Azim and Josh Adams on “How I Escaped a Chinese Internment Camp.” His early prominence in the comic industry stemmed from his collaboration with Conor McCreery on the Image Comics series “Kill Shakespeare,” launched in 2010.
Anthony is returning to the Bard realm with the latest addition to his celebrated Kill Shakespeare series, Romeo Vs. Juliet: A Kill Shakespeare Adventure. Scheduled for release in paperback on November 19, 2024, this original graphic novel features artwork by Stefan Tosheff, lettering by Becca Carey, and a cover by the renowned artist Richard Isanove, highlighting two of literature’s most iconic characters and delivering an unprecedented twist.
But that wasn’t all. On September 24, 2024, Gemstone published Kill Shakespeare 1st Folio, a new compendium edition of the groundbreaking Kill Shakespeare series, collecting Volumes 1 and 2, by co-writers Del Col and Conor McCreery, artist Andy Belanger and colorist Ian Herring. This will be followed Kill Shakespeare 2nd Folio in the spring of 2025.
A Conversation with Anthony Del Col
Before the release of his latest book, we had the chance to discuss with Anthony his early days, the original concept he and Conor developed to popularize the Bard, and his choice to return to it with “Romeo Vs. Juliet: A Kill Shakespeare Adventure.” So, without further delay, we welcome Pulitzer Prize Winner Anthony Del Col to GVN Talking Comics.
The Love of Writing
GVN: Thank you so much for sharing a bit of your day, Anthony. Since this is the first time, I have had the privilege of speaking to you, let’s start with a look at your creative beginnings. When did you first develop a love for writing and which creators or books fostered your interest in that craft?
ADC: When I was younger, I would answer the “What do you want to be when you grow up?” question with a simple answer: “A writer.” But I remember thinking at the time that it wouldn’t happen. I grew up in a small mining community in Northern Canada and – other than Shania Twain – things like that didn’t happen. I won some small community awards, but I became content with the idea of being a reader, not a writer.
A number of years later, I was working as a manager in the music business (Nelly Furtado was one of our clients) and I co-conceived Kill Shakespeare with Conor McCreery. It was an idea that so excited me that I realized I needed to sit down and (co-) write it. So that was the initial push that got me into the act of writing.
In terms of influences, there are many, but I’d like to highlight one specific one: Michael Chabon. I read his The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay, and it got me not only excited about the comics medium but more importantly creating stories within it. And when Kill Shakespeare first launched in 2010, I was able to say hello to him at one our first shows and thank him for the inspiration. It was a great moment.
Anthony’s Education
GVN: You have received a comprehensive education to prepare for your career, obtaining a degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, as well as completing programs at the Canadian Film Centre and the Sundance Institute’s New Frontier Story Lab. For those interested in pursuing similar paths, how did your experiences at these various institutions contribute to your career preparation?
ADC: We’re all the sum of our experiences, right? At business school I learned the importance of understanding “what” we’re actually creating – an entertainment experience. People only have a certain amount of free time to read/watch/play so it’s important to create something that will excite them to choose your creation rather than anything else they would do.
At the Canadian Film Centre in Toronto, I learned how to put something together – to rally a team, focus on budgets, get stuff done on time. It sounds simple but so many people forget these various elements.
And at the Sundance Lab I learned what a story actually is. I learned SO MUCH in those three days on the essence of storytelling, how to build characters – and most importantly how to tear down a story and build it up again.
Making Shakespeare Relatable
GVN: As you had mentioned, in 2010, you co-created Kill Shakespeare with Conor McCreery. As you developed the storyline, how important was it for you to ensure that the story was relatable to those who might not be as familiar with Shakespeare’s prose as others?
ADC: If we had a mission statement in those early days, I’d say it was exactly that. We wanted to create something that would ignite interest in the Bard and his characters/plays for the most skeptical of readers. Shakespeare is the greatest storyteller of all-time but most people fall asleep in class when forced to read his plays. We realized that by telling our tale we could spotlight the great elements of his work – the action, drama, love, lust, comedy and violence – and put them on display for everyone.
Shakespearean Surprise
GVN: Of course, Kill Shakespeare was a huge hit with fans and critics alike. Did you have any idea at that time that the comic would capture the imagination of readers as it did?
ADC: To paraphrase the Bard himself, it was such stuff that dreams were made of… I think every time a creator sits down to bring something to life (with images, words, etc.) the hope and dream is that it’ll be a success. It’s simple motivation to undertake the painful act of creation. But I know from experience how hard it is to cut through to readers and reviewers, when the series started to gain traction, we were pleasantly surprised.
It took a LOT of work, though. Conor and I spent a LOT of time on the road, attending shows, doing signings, cold-calling and emailing people. I feel like the amount of time we spent marketing and selling the series was 10x the amount of time we took to create it.
Media Adaptations
GVN: Because of the book’s great popularity, you have adapted it into a number of different media formats. Including an audio drama, a play, and a board game. Were these concepts you envisioned from the start or were they more a product of expanding the IP once fans expressed their interest in the world you had adapted?
ADC: Just like above, we had hopes that Kill Shakespeare could be adapted into other mediums, but until it actually happens, we have no expectation. I think the first opportunity that came along was the audio drama, with Audible Germany. That came out of a conversation I had at a London comic convention (MCM?) and within months we were talking about how it could be adapted… into the German language.
“Romeo Vs Juliet: A Kill Shakespeare Adventure”
GVN: Your next venture in the world of Kill Shakespeare centers on an adaptation of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet in “Romeo Vs Juliet: A Kill Shakespeare Adventure.” What made you decide to return to the “Kill Shakespeare” world and how did you decide on Romeo and Juliet as the focus?
ADC: The Kill Shakespeare series was actually on hold for a few years because of rights – the publishing and other elements were tied up with various entities and that prevented Conor and I from doing anything with the story. But after a number of legal maneuvers, we were finally able to get everything back.
In terms of the Romeo vs. Juliet storyline, it all started with an image (like my stories often do) – the two titular characters staring each other down in a high noon-style showdown. That image wouldn’t get out of my head, and I realized it’s what I wanted to build the next Kill Shakespeare story around. And as a fan of the Western genre, I realized it would fit in seamlessly, as some of the best tales (like “The Magnificent Seven”) involve a team of allies staring down their enemies.
A Synopsis of the Tale
GVN: Please share a summary of the new book and let us know which of Shakespeare’s other iconic characters you have incorporated into the narrative.
ADC: Romeo vs. Juliet is a Shakespearean Western that finds warrior-for-hire (and pregnant) Juliet Capulet convinced to protect a border town nunnery from the evil forces led by her ex, Romeo. Juliet reluctantly reunites with her old allies, including Hamlet, Othello, Puck (a “Magnificent Shakespeare Seven”) and they soon discover something rotten in the state of the nunnery and a magical force that dreams are made on.
There are other characters brought into this adventure but the one I’m most excited about is Hermia (originally from Midsummer Night’s Dream). She’s the leader of this nunnery and pushes Juliet throughout to challenge who she really is and wants.
“Kill Shakespeare 1st Folio”
GVN: A showdown at the Shakespeare Corral, eh? However, this isn’t the only “fix” for Kill Shakespeare fans. Gemstone is introducing “Kill Shakespeare 1st Folio,” a new compendium edition of the groundbreaking Kill Shakespeare series, collecting Volumes 1 and 2 which was released on October 1st. What will this new collection offer longtime fans of the series or is it aimed more at new readers?
ADC: Kill Shakespeare had, unfortunately, been out of print for a few years (again, problems noted above). So, the first thing we decided, when we met with J.C. Vaughn from Gemstone Publishing, was to re-release the original stories so new readers could discover our world and become excited by Shakespeare.
It’s a beautiful book that collects our “Original Tale” (volumes 1 and 2) in one book. I’m really happy with the design of it and is a great way to get back into the story.
“How I Escaped a Chinese Internment Camp”
GVN: Excellent. Thank you once again for speaking with us today, Anthony. Before we conclude, I have one final question for you. You won a Pulitzer Prize for Illustrated Reporting for collaborating with Fahmida Azim and Josh Adams on “How I Escaped a Chinese Internment Camp.” When you started that project, did you ever consider the possibility of receiving that kind of recognition, or was it simply an important story that you all felt needed to be told?
ADC: It was definitely the latter. I had been aware of the Uyhgur genocide for a couple years. When I had the opportunity to pitch a story to Business Insider that would tell a single person’s experience, I did it. They greenlit it immediately, and when we met Zumrat Dawut and decided to focus the story on her, I realized that this might become the most important comic story I would ever create.
The Pulitzer is quite nice (quite nice!). But what I’m happiest with is that it led more people to read about Zumrat’s odyssey and ask questions about what’s currently happening in China. A lot of people don’t know that the government there is trying to eradicate an entire culture of over 1 million people.
Gemstones Kill Shakespeare 1st Folio by Anthony Del Col, Conor McCreery, and Andy Belanger is available now where great books are sold. Gemstones Romeo vs. Juliet: A Kill Shakespeare Adventure by Anthony Del Col, Stefan Tosheff, lettered by Becca Carey, and cover artist Richard Isanove comes out in paperback November 19th.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 60 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove headfirst over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 21-year-old young man with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
