ICv2 has the skinny on the latest from Hill & Wang’s Novel Graphics line of non-fiction graphic novels, whew, including, two projects from Harvey Pekar and, most thrillingly, a biography of J. Edgar Hoover by Andy Helfer and Rick Geary.:
The titles include a history of the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) written by Harvey Pekar (American Splendor) and Paul Buhle (Wobblies: A Graphic History of the IWW), which will be illustrated by Gary Dumm (American Splendor); plus another Pekar penned volume, a history of the Beats (Kerouac, Ginsberg, et al) with illustrations by an as-yet-unannounced, but sure to be stellar, group of artists.
Also due out in 2008 is a biography of J. Edgar Hoover written by Andy Helfer (editor of the “Big Books” for DC’s Paradox Press and writer of the Malcolm X and Ronald Reagan biographies that are coming out this fall from Hill and Wang) and illustrated by Rick Geary (the artist behind the quirky and brilliant Treasury of Victorian Murder graphic novels published by NBM).
Two other Novel Graphics projects deserve special mention. Dwight Zimmerman, who wrote a number of Marvel comics and edited Topps’ Xena comics, is writing a history of the Vietnam War, and Mark Schultz is writing Novel Graphics’ first science title, an Introduction to Genetics (Larry Gonick’s Cartoon Guide to Genetics came out in 1983, and the advances in the field since then are truly mind-boggling).
More in link.
The Novel Graphics line launches soon with the Sid Jacobsen/Ernie Colon adaptation of the 9/11 Commission Report.
Harvey’s doing a book on the Beats? Now that’s something to look forward to!