A great graphic novel can deliver emotion, drama, and information in a more succinct, and possibly a more powerful manner than a traditional novel, which offers more details and greater scope of a subject. They’re just different mediums. Graphic novels can offer a satisfying glimpse that wets the reader’s appetite for more of a subject.
Two strong examples of graphic novels in the biography or history genre focus on former immigrants whose fame peaked and tragically ended in the 1920s. Harry Houdini’s life exemplified the rewards of pursuing the American Dream, while Bartolomeo Vanzetti and Nicola Sacco felt the brunt of xenophobia and a rigged courtroom out for blood rather than justice.
Houdini: The Handcuff King by writer Jason Lutes (Berlin, Jar of Fools) and illustrator Nick Bertozzi (Shackleton: Antarctic Odyssey, The Salon) was published by The Center for Cartoon Studies in 2007.
Aside from a interesting introduction by Glen David Gold and a well-sourced and insightful ‘panel discussions’ section, the 80-page work offers little beyond a typical day for the Hungarian-born, Wisconsin-raised legendary escape artist in 1908.
The story is based around a death defying escape involving the Havard Bridge in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The book showcases Houdini’s fierce work ethic, knowledge of locks, demand of loyalty, eye for promotion and showmanship, as well as his touching devotion to his wife, Bess. Unfortunately, Houdini’s childhood, brush with antisemitism on tour in Europe (although a cop does make ugly statements regarding Houdini’s Jewish faith), and his dedication late in his life to exposing ‘mediums’ claiming to speak to the dead are not touched upon. Sometimes it’s best to take a snippet from someone’s life instead of trying to tackle the whole thing.
Readers quickly get a sense of the adulation Houdini received as the top (and lone) rock star entertainer with no one close as a competitor in the public’s consciousness until Babe Ruth popularizes the home run in baseball. While a theory about the secret to Houdini’s tricks is depicted, its not presented as fact, keeping some mystery to the great showman.
The writing is solid, working well with the clean and distinct artwork to create a surprising amount of tension and suspense for a historical event. The drab light blue/greyish color is a good choice to break up the black and white artwork as well as add depth to scenes. Bertozzi obviously used photo references for Houdini and the city residents. The panel layout is varied with several sized boxes to keep things fresh. Backgrounds tend to be rather plain, but this emphasizes the expressions of the characters.
While the story itself is short on biographical insight into Houdini, it is a quick and enjoyable introduction to one of the most fascinating men of the 20th century.
The other graphic novel to highlight life nearly 100 years ago is The Lives of Sacco and Vanzetti by Rick Geary, who handled the writing and artwork for the book, which was published by NBM in 2011. Geary is no stranger to depicting historical figures in comic books and graphic novels.
I approached this material with admittedly very little knowledge outside of the fact that their names are associated with a famous trial from the first half of the 20th century. That’s it.
Thankfully I can no longer make that claim after reading the engrossing tale of immigration, the closeness of ethnic communities, anarchistic aspirations, robbery, murder, shoddy police investigations, a judge with an axe to grind, a prosecution case built on circumstance and shaky evidence, and the global devotion to giving Sacco and Vanzetti a shot at justice.
Sacco and Vanzetti were Italian-born anarchists who both incidentally immigrated to the U.S. in 1908, the same year Houdini was wowing crowds along the Charles River. They were convicted of murdering two men during a robbery in South Braintree, Massachusetts in 1920. As details of the trial and the men’s suspected innocence became known, Sacco and Vanzetti became the center of one of the largest celebrated causes in modern history.
Geary takes readers through the crime and ensuing trial with precise details. The story moves at a methodical, but logical pace. Details are highlighted and delivered slow enough to grasp the significance. Panels are filled with images and facts about the case. While the story is grounded in reality, Geary delivers new characters and information in unique ways. The black and white line-heavy artwork is not flashy, but the clean style is detail heavy.
The cast is large: several witnesses, family, community associates, as well as court and police figures. When trying to portray history accurately, its important to nail the renderings of the key players. Geary gives everyone in the book (even those minor players mentioned once in passing) a distinct look that its apparent he used photographs to bring the numerous names to life.
Geary focuses on the facts of the case and doesn’t over dramatize scenes. The story still carries much weight with the stoic defendants.
The story of Sacco and Vanzetti is so compelling and important not to forget: Like-minded immigrants with ties to revolutionary ideas are railroaded at trial with questionable evidence for a violent crime most of the world thinks they didn’t commit. Geary’s take is highly recommended if you have a limited knowledge of the case or a passing interest in politics, crime, history and the law.
