Ronald Reagan: A Graphic Biography
by Audrey FerenceArticle Tools
Andrew Helfer, Steve Buccellato, Joe Stato
Hill & Wan
Available now
The one thing you can say about Ronald Reagan: A Graphic Biography is that it is exactly what it claims to be. It is indeed a graphic biography of Ronald Reagan. And it’s good: the art is good, the writing is good — it’s perfectly good. But maybe not everything needs to be made into a graphic novel. One can’t help but wonder why this book exists.
The graphic portion, while well rendered, doesn’t really add enough to the story of Reagan’s life to justify its existence — there aren’t many, if any, moments heightened emotionally by the art. But it’s not a very emotional book. Considering the adulation and hatred people still feel for Ronnie, the editorial stance is incredibly even-handed. It’s neither a hagiography nor a screed; it doesn’t skirt around his faults but doesn’t exaggerate them either.
Like I said, it is what it is. If you are, for some reason, in the market for an illustrated biography of Reagan, you’re in luck. Otherwise, you can probably sit this one out.
Hill & Wan
Available now
The one thing you can say about Ronald Reagan: A Graphic Biography is that it is exactly what it claims to be. It is indeed a graphic biography of Ronald Reagan. And it’s good: the art is good, the writing is good — it’s perfectly good. But maybe not everything needs to be made into a graphic novel. One can’t help but wonder why this book exists.
The graphic portion, while well rendered, doesn’t really add enough to the story of Reagan’s life to justify its existence — there aren’t many, if any, moments heightened emotionally by the art. But it’s not a very emotional book. Considering the adulation and hatred people still feel for Ronnie, the editorial stance is incredibly even-handed. It’s neither a hagiography nor a screed; it doesn’t skirt around his faults but doesn’t exaggerate them either.
Like I said, it is what it is. If you are, for some reason, in the market for an illustrated biography of Reagan, you’re in luck. Otherwise, you can probably sit this one out.
Comments (0)