Cleverboy
Oct 30, 2008, 05:35 PM
I thought this was an amusing development. Last month, I picked up a comic biography of McCain and Obama in the form of a "flip-book" called "Presidential Material (http://www.amazon.com/Presidential-Material-Flipbook-Barack-McCain/dp/1600103413)". The Obama artist had a more cartoony style, while the McCain artist's style was very traditional and biographical, an excellent style for much of the depictions of war. The cover was done by acclaimed artist J. Scott Campbell.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51LdtEJypFL._SL500_AA240_.jpghttp://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AHxt6GpwL._AA240_.jpg
Overall I was pretty impressed. Obama's biography had details I'd never heard before, and McCain's had a very personal insight into details of the Keating 5 incident I'd not read. Pretty good work.
This week's comics bring another entry. This time by Antarctice Press. This time, 2 separate books. "McCain the Comic Book" and "Obama the Comic Book". Here's the official release description:
http://www.newenglandcomics.com/ffast/nl278/images/thumb/Obama.JPGhttp://www.newenglandcomics.com/ffast/nl278/images/thumb/McCain.JPG
Joeming Dunn, Rod Espinosa & Chris Allen The 2008 presidential election promises to be one of the most historically significant in decades. Around the world, millions are looking to the election, wondering what direction the will country take.
Will the policies of the past decade continue, or will America set a new course? The candidates are celebrities, and what are the stories behind its candidates? Antarctic Press brings readers the stories of the two candidates with these new comic book biographies.
Obama: The Comic Book gives readers the story of Barack Obama, a person whose very presence on the ballot marks significant change. Written by Eisner nominee and Ignatz winner Rod Espinosa, this unauthorized biography presents a clear view of the life of this controversial candidate - the good and the bad - with a hard look at the issues surrounding him and what his candidacy means for the country.
McCain: The Comic Book brings you the story of John McCain, the Vietnam veteran leading the Republican bid for the highest office in the land. Written by Joeming Dunn, M.D., this biography delves into all the dark times and daring exploits of this candidate's past and asks just what he stands for. Can a former POW survive the presidential battlefield?
Both biographies are illustrated by Chris Allen (illustrator of Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver biographies for ABDO Publishing), and with these books readers can become educated about the candidates and the issues facing the country.
Personally... and I'm biased (being an illustrator/cartoonist)... I think these are GREAT! I read a gazillion articles a day, but its certainly a different feeling to flip through a visual medium like comics. I'd previously picked up the "comic" version of the 9/11 Report (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0809057387/sr=1-1/qid=1156268238/ref=sr_1_1/002-4009487-9801630?ie=UTF8&s=books)... which was absolutely fantastic (though also available, serialized, by Slate (http://www.slate.com/id/2147309)). The graphic novel report was so good it was endorsed by 9/11 panel co-chairs Tom Kean and Lee Hamilton who write the foreward.
Especially with something so momentous as the 2008 election, its great that the medium is doing its part to get people informed and involved in the selection of a candidate. I'd previously highlighted the efforts of Sean Tavis (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=542625), who used a comic strip to catapult his run for government office. Such efforts can clearly go awry (http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=5403426&page=1)... but, I'm digging what the pros have been cooking up on the subject of understanding politics and government. If most people were to guess what type of creation comes to mind when you hear "comics and politics", they'd inevitably think of something like "the super-duper friends (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr0MLl-fxuo&NR=1)". :D
Not sure if I'll pick up the latest. I'll have to check it out on the racks.
~ CB
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51LdtEJypFL._SL500_AA240_.jpghttp://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AHxt6GpwL._AA240_.jpg
Overall I was pretty impressed. Obama's biography had details I'd never heard before, and McCain's had a very personal insight into details of the Keating 5 incident I'd not read. Pretty good work.
This week's comics bring another entry. This time by Antarctice Press. This time, 2 separate books. "McCain the Comic Book" and "Obama the Comic Book". Here's the official release description:
http://www.newenglandcomics.com/ffast/nl278/images/thumb/Obama.JPGhttp://www.newenglandcomics.com/ffast/nl278/images/thumb/McCain.JPG
Joeming Dunn, Rod Espinosa & Chris Allen The 2008 presidential election promises to be one of the most historically significant in decades. Around the world, millions are looking to the election, wondering what direction the will country take.
Will the policies of the past decade continue, or will America set a new course? The candidates are celebrities, and what are the stories behind its candidates? Antarctic Press brings readers the stories of the two candidates with these new comic book biographies.
Obama: The Comic Book gives readers the story of Barack Obama, a person whose very presence on the ballot marks significant change. Written by Eisner nominee and Ignatz winner Rod Espinosa, this unauthorized biography presents a clear view of the life of this controversial candidate - the good and the bad - with a hard look at the issues surrounding him and what his candidacy means for the country.
McCain: The Comic Book brings you the story of John McCain, the Vietnam veteran leading the Republican bid for the highest office in the land. Written by Joeming Dunn, M.D., this biography delves into all the dark times and daring exploits of this candidate's past and asks just what he stands for. Can a former POW survive the presidential battlefield?
Both biographies are illustrated by Chris Allen (illustrator of Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver biographies for ABDO Publishing), and with these books readers can become educated about the candidates and the issues facing the country.
Personally... and I'm biased (being an illustrator/cartoonist)... I think these are GREAT! I read a gazillion articles a day, but its certainly a different feeling to flip through a visual medium like comics. I'd previously picked up the "comic" version of the 9/11 Report (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0809057387/sr=1-1/qid=1156268238/ref=sr_1_1/002-4009487-9801630?ie=UTF8&s=books)... which was absolutely fantastic (though also available, serialized, by Slate (http://www.slate.com/id/2147309)). The graphic novel report was so good it was endorsed by 9/11 panel co-chairs Tom Kean and Lee Hamilton who write the foreward.
Especially with something so momentous as the 2008 election, its great that the medium is doing its part to get people informed and involved in the selection of a candidate. I'd previously highlighted the efforts of Sean Tavis (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=542625), who used a comic strip to catapult his run for government office. Such efforts can clearly go awry (http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=5403426&page=1)... but, I'm digging what the pros have been cooking up on the subject of understanding politics and government. If most people were to guess what type of creation comes to mind when you hear "comics and politics", they'd inevitably think of something like "the super-duper friends (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr0MLl-fxuo&NR=1)". :D
Not sure if I'll pick up the latest. I'll have to check it out on the racks.
~ CB
