“The world is not thy friend, nor the world’s law…” A young man seeking a quick exit shows up at the doorstep of a retired chemist, and the money is just too princely a sum to refuse. The chemist comes out of exile for one last job, to pay his poverty…and his conscience. “Mantua County” is the setting for the Apothecary’s tale, the poisoner in William Shakespear’s “Romeo and Juliet.”

“Mantua County” is a quiet reflection on responsibility and regret. We see into the mind of a man at the edge of society, a man trying desperately to find humanity in his ‘line of work.’ Written by Erik Radvon with art by Seva Khibkin.

Erik Radvon is a writer, editor, and journalist whose work has appeared in several award-winning publications. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife Jessika and an anti-social guinea pig. Samples of his work may be found at www.radvon.com and inane mutterings of 140 characters on Twitter @radvon4realz.

Seva Khibkin is an artist, designer and developer in the Boston area. His degree is from the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University. He has worked on a number of projects, and enjoys collaborating with other artists in the area.

“MANTUA COUNTY” is available NOW on the Red Stylo Media Store for $1.99. BONUS with this download includes a page from Zombie Hamlet a Shakespeare Shaken mini-series written by Eisner Nominee Jeremy Whitley, with art by Gabriel Dunston!

SHAKESPEARE SHAKEN is a folio of thirty original comic stories and vignettes inspired by the plays, poetry and life of William Shakespeare. This isn’t a suicide pact with your lover of four days because you’re like twelve or something…it’s Shakespeare SHAKEN, not stirred!