Register! by Andrew Aydin and Valentine De Landro is a captivating journey through American constitutional amendments, focusing on the 26th and 15th. It blends history with contemporary narratives, offering an inspiring read for all ages.
The use of comics to educate individuals has been a growing movement that has really picked up momentum in recent years. Register! is a comic series from Good Trouble Productions working with the New York City Department of Education to teach American history, specifically the history of the right to vote.
Often when you see a comic on the topic, it’s focused more on why one should vote and how sacred of a right and responsibility it is. It’s goal is action, not education. Register! #1 is interesting in that its focus is the history of the right to vote but at the same time, it reminds readers why voting is so special and how powerful it can be.
Aydin is part of the team behind the graphic novel series March and Run, each telling the story of Cong. John Lewis and the Civil Rights Movement. He’s shown he can both entertain and educate and that shines with Register! #1. The issue gives the basics of lowering the voting age to 18 and also expanding the right to vote to Black men after the Civil War. It takes readers through the history, and more importantly the pushback and fight to deny those rights.
Where Aydin’s focus is really interesting is the fight against expanding voting rights. He highlights how lowering the voting age took years to get done and that while the country was willing to let 18 to 20 year olds die on the battlefield after being drafted, they couldn’t exercise their voice by voting. When it comes to 15th Amendment, its the language used that’s interesting as the expansion of those rights were also steeped deeply in racism. Aydin does an excellent job of making the history interesting, dramatic, and entertaining, easing the ability to get sucked into it and learn.
The art by Valentine De Landro is solid. With color by Marissa Louise and lettering by Clayton Cowles and Josh Reed, the comic takes you into the time period for each Amendment. I can’t say if the details are right, but it feels right and helps add to the immersion to the educational experience.
Register! #1 is a solid comic teaching about two Amendments and debates that feel like they reverberate today in other ways. There’s discussion of further lowering the voting age and there’s battles to make it more difficult for individuals to vote. It’s a comic that does a great job in both entertaining and educating readers.
Story: Andrew Aydin Art: Valentine De Landro
Color: Marissa Louise Letterer: Clayton Cowles, Josh Reed
Research by: Joshua Rogin, Andrew Aydin
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy
Good Trouble Productions provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: TFAW
