Timed to Shakespeare Day (April 23), Joe Quesada’s imprint Amazing Comics announced a new Shakespeare-themed universe. Of course, I’m me, so couldn’t get to running this until 2 days afterward. But the course of true comics love ne’er did run smooth…
Back at Comic-Con 2024, Quesada and co-creator Charles Dorfman talked about Disciple, a riff on Hamlet if Hamlet were a reaction to John Wick. At the Mad Cave Studios booth, they signed ashcans, so I got a look at a few pages with art by Wade von Grawbadger and colors by Richard Isanove. Believe me, they look gorgeous and the story sounds intriguing. I’m a Shakespeare nut and as Dorfman told me, it’s in his blood, too.
A collaboration among Quesada, Mad Cave Studios, and European publisher Dupuis, Amazing Comics’ first big move is amazing. Because even without having read the press release, I’d have said what Quesada says — Shakespeare’s themes are more relevant than ever. To be more specific, the playwright’s insight into modern psychology centuries before it existed is nothing short of… amazing. Don’t forget, of course, that Kill Shakespeare tapped into this zeitgeist, too.
Notice the talent line-up. I referenced John Wick a couple of paragraphs ago, so it’s no surprise that the creator of that franchise has signed up to write a book for Undiscover’d. Would that my quill could be as powerful…
From Amazing Comics:
Timed to Shakespeare Day, legendary comic book writer, artist, and former Editor-in-Chief and Chief Creative Officer at Marvel Entertainment Joe Quesada is announcing Undiscover’d, a new line of comic books co-created by Quesada and Charles Dorfman from Amazing Comics based on the timeless works of the Bard. Each title reimagines a specific Shakespeare play through a bold new genre and setting—while preserving the original character names and core themes. All stories will unfold in a version of our world—familiar, yet reimagined through the lens of genre, time, and imagination.
“Shakespeare’s themes are as relevant today as they were when he first put quill to paper, and by reimagining his work through a modern lens, we get to explore those truths in thrilling, unexpected, and emotionally real ways,” said Quesada. “At its heart, Undiscover’d is about rediscovery—of classic stories, of ourselves, and of the strange magic hiding in plain sight. We’re not building a new universe—we’re revealing fantastical layers of the one we already live in. These are tales of discovery and rediscovery, of fantastical imagination grounded in the familiar.”
Undiscover’d’s’ inaugural title, DISCIPLE, will be a dramatic reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, co-written by Quesada and Charles Dorfman, the writer and director of Barbarians and producer of the Oscar-nominated The Lost Daughter. Dorfman will be making his comics debut with the series illustrated by Quesada and inker Wade von Grawbadger, with colorist Richard Isanove and letterer Joe Caramagna.
“Some of Amazing Comics’ Undiscover’d titles will draw direct inspiration from Shakespeare’s original plays, while others will take more unexpected paths—always staying true to the core themes that made them timeless,” said Charles Dorfman. “Our launch title, DISCIPLE, sets the tone for the entire slate. It begins with Hamlet as a young boy and serves as a prequel to the classic tragedy, offering a fresh entry point into the world. All Undiscover’d stories take place in our reality—recognizable but reimagined through different genres and eras. ”
“Upcoming Undiscover’d stories will span genres like sci-fi, horror, hard-boiled crime fiction, war, and fantasy,” said Quesada. “These stories may jump across genres, centuries, and—who knows—even planets, but they’re all grounded in the same world: ours. We’ve got an AMAZING slate of talents already on board, and it’s just the tip of the iceberg. In the weeks and months ahead, we’ll be announcing even more creators joining the fold—and soon, the projects they’ll be bringing to life.”
Amazing Comics is a unique collaboration between Quesada, Mad Cave Studios — the Miami-based comic publisher that has carved out a reputation for bold storytelling, creator-focused comics, and boundary-pushing ideas — and premier European publishing house Dupuis. The three companies will work in tandem to publish and distribute titles on both sides of the Atlantic.
Amazing Comics will feature comic books written by some of the biggest names in the entertainment and comic book industries, including:
Derek Kolstad, the writer and creator of John Wick and Nobody;
J. Michael Straczynski, the creator of Babylon 5, co-writer of the TV series Sence8, screenwriter of Clint Eastwood’s Changeling and the MCU Thor film;
Steven Paul Judd, the writer on Dark Winds and Echo television shows;
Christopher Priest, legendary writer of Black Panther and Deadpool for Marvel Comics;
Garth Ennis, writer and co-creator of The Boys and Preacher comic books;
Ethan Sacks, writer of Star Wars for Marvel Comics and co-writer of the acclaimed Image Comics series A Haunted Girl;
Charles Dorfman, writer and director of Barbarians, and producer of the Oscar-nominated The Lost Daughter.
Upcoming Amazing Comics will be illustrated by all-star artists, including Quesada himself, as well as:
Esad Ribic, artist on Marvel’s Secret Wars, Silver Surfer: Requiem, X-Men and Thor for Marvel Comics;
Ryan Stegman, artist on Venom, The King in Black, X-Men, Vanish, and Missionary
Ronan Toulhoat, artist of the immensely popular European albums Daemon and Dog Head
“Shakespeare was the original master of spectacle and soul—he was blood, betrayal, lust, and ambition and, of course, heroics,” said Quesada. “His plays are timeless because they’re universally relatable and packed with emotional and narrative twists. We’re not doing straightforward adaptations or Classics Illustrated. We’re creating bold high-octane comics with heart—stories designed to introduce an entirely new generation to the Bard.”
A release date for DISCIPLE has not been announced.
Here’s hoping that by SDCC 2025, we’ll get more news on Undiscover’d. Dare I hope for a first issue of Disciple?
