If William Shakespeare were alive today (and not, as is more likely, rolling over in his grave), he might be writing superhero movies for Hollywood.  But there is no need to reanimate the bard of Stratford-on-Avon since the nearly as prolific Stan Lee is tapping into the rich vein of Shakespearean characters to create Romeo and Juliet: The War, “a futuristic and stylized” version of the classic play about doomed lovers from feuding families. 

 

According to Deadline, Lee is writing the series with Terry Douglas, while Skan Srisuwan is providing art for the comic, which will be published by start-up company 1821 Comics.  1821 Comics is being funded by entrepreneurs Paris Kasidokostas Latsis and Douglas.  Obviously comic books are attracting all this entrepreneurial interest because of the intrinsic merits of the medium and not on account of the potential to translate these four-color visions into adaptations in more lucrative media.

 

In Romeo & Juliet: The War the Montagues are potent Cyborgs, while the Capulets are genetically advanced humans with super speed and agility.  Together they bring the Empire of Verona to global dominance before their inevitable falling out.