On November 22, 1963, the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy plunged America into mourning and forever etched the charismatic smile of its leader into the collective memory. The myth was born, and with it, all the conspiracy theories. For despite numerous investigations and declassified documents, it remains impossible to know what really happened in Dallas that day. To understand what led to this tragedy, it may be necessary to go back to the origins of the Kennedy clan, to grasp its shadowy aspects and its major influence on the history of the United States. It is necessary to understand the father’s boundless ambition, the image of the war hero enjoyed by the young JFK, and the personal dramas. For how can one truly understand the politician without grasping his family origins? The “Kennedy legend” begins on Irish farms and continues in the seedy streets of Boston. First, there is the rise of the grandfather, Patrick Kennedy; The irresistible yet troubling influence of the father, Joseph; then the political ambitions he passed on to his sons, particularly his eldest, Joe Jr., who died too soon on a mission in 1944, before dedicating himself to John’s career. And what about the women in the family, the sisters and wives? How can one reconcile oneself with Kathleen’s life and her accidental death, with the tragic fate of Rosemary Kennedy, not to mention the marital indiscretions of the men in the clan?

The Kennedys remain a controversial dynasty that stands out in the American political landscape and has continued to generate a great deal of discussion, with more than 40,000 books dedicated to John F. Kennedy since his death. Without claiming to provide the key to an enigma, Philippe Pelaez and Bernard Khattou deliver a magnificent black & white graphic novel, based on exceptional documentation of more than 500 pages which goes back to the sources of a national trauma and focuses on explaining “the why rather than the how” for an unprecedented plunge into the throes of History.

Kennedy(s) written by Philippe Pelaez and illustrated by Bernard Khattou arrives February 16, 2027.