Monday, August 17, 2009

Bluesman by Rob Vollmar and Pablo Callejo


A graphic novel about a pair of travelling blues musicians in Arkansas in the 1920s. The evocative, dark artwork suits the themes of poverty, hardship, jealousy, murder and lynch mobs. As sorrow-filled and mesmerizing as the Delta blues, this is a tale for adults rather than teens.

For similar stories, see Stagger Lee by Derek McCulloch and Shep Hendrix (events that led to the popular blues song); Incognegro by Mat Johnson and Warren Pleece (murder, suspense and lynch mobs in the early 20th century); Stuck Rubber Baby by Howard Cruse (race relations in the southern states in 1960s); Contract with God by Will Eisner (darker side of human nature in 1930s New York City); and Deogratias by J.P. Stassen (tragic tale of modern Rwanda).

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