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SelfMadeHero will publish The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists graphic novel in December

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Since its original publication in 1914, Robert Tressell’s The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists has been a secret weapon of the grass-roots Left in Britain. Perhaps the first novel written by a working man about his working life, the utterly human story it tells scrutinizes the capitalist system with clarity and sharp wit. This beautiful, accessible, and engaging new graphic novel adaptation, by Scarlett and Sophie Rickard, has brought the message to a new generation of readers in the UK and is now available in North America.

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists traces the political awakening of Frank Owen, and the team of painter-decorators with whom he works, and whose stories are intertwined with his. Exploited by profiteering employers, abandoned by a hypocritical church, and oppressed by corrupt politicians, Owen confronts head-on the greed and dishonesty of the pre-War capitalist system. As profoundly relevant as it is today, however, this is no dry political tract. Instead, the 350 full-colour pages of Scarlett and Sophie Rickard’s sumptuous adaptation celebrate the joys of fellowship and creative endeavour as beautifully as they convey the ugliness of its exploitation.

An inspiration to successive generations of political thinkers for over 100 years, Robert Tressell’s paean to the working man and woman here finds its perfect medium. Orwell called Tressell’s novel “a book that everyone should read”; the Rickards’ adaptation is a work of art that everyone should see.

The graphic novel is out December 14th.

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

Cartoonist Stephan Franck Launches Palomino on Kickstarter

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Palomino

The year is 1981. The American Century is running on fumes, but the end isn’t anywhere in sight. The cowboy is still America’s most central symbol—and from movies, to music, to the President himself, it all hails from Southern California. Welcome to Palomino, cartoonist Stephan Franck’s all new neo noir graphic novel series, set in the lost culture of Los Angeles’ country music clubs. 

The age of urban cowboys is in full swing. Cowboy hats and rhinestone suits are all the rage. Kenny Rogers “Lady” is Billboard’s number three song of the year. Dolly Parton is a national icon. And across LA, six nights a week, working musicians, TV actors, stuntmen, cops, hustlers, and broken souls all play their part in the cultural myth making. Most of them are just trying to survive—on the B-side of the City of Angels. 

Franck and his company, Dark Planet Comics, are launching a Kickstarter campaign to fund Palomino, the first part of a planned four-part graphic novel series. Palomino captures Los Angeles’ spirit, with hardboiled dialogue, honkytonk music, and details from the city’s weird and forgotten history. 

At the center of Palomino is a unique father-daughter relationship. Eddie Lang’s an ex-cop turned working musician with big dreams, but dreams don’t pay the rent. So Eddie reluctantly works as a private investigator to provide for his teenage daughter, Lisette. Eddie and Lisette share an unbreakable bond and a dry sense of humor. But they’re stuck. They’re haunted by a terrible loss and an unsolved crime that looms large over their lives. They’re running out of time to fix their family.  And just as things seem at a stalemate, a new murder case upends their lives.  

This is Palomino — where Farrah Fawcett hair reigns supreme, where Ronald Reagan is beginning his first term as President, and where LA’s hottest music spot is North Hollywood’s historic Palomino Club.

Review: Young Frances

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In the immortal words of Whodini “Friends, how many of us have them?”  It is considered one of the all time hip hop classics, but as with all songs back then, they sought to teach their listeners. As I heard the song play in my car, the other day, I paid attention to the lyrics, and the second line in the bridge caught” How many of them(friends) can you depend on?” That line actually gave me pause, as  it made me consider those people who I consider “friends.”

There are people who I have not talked to in years, but when we see each other, it was like we never stopped talking. Then there are users in your life, and only seek you when they need something, but when you need them, they are nowhere to be found.  Of course, when you are young, it takes time, sometimes years, before you see people for who they really are. In Hartley Lin’s brilliant Young Frances, the reader gets a front row seat of two friends on wholly different paths but can’t do without the other.

We meet Frances, a hot upstart lawyer who seems to be on the fast track, as her firm is in disarray, much like her personal life. We meet her friend, Vickie, an aspiring actress and the one-person Frances mostly can’t say no to. As both friends navigate their respective professions, Frances begins to feel overworked, swimming around office politics but climbs regardless while Vickie, steadily rises to fame, which takes her to Los Angeles, which has all the pitfalls. By book’s end, though Frances seemed like she would not be anymore than her station, she became a shining light for all her peers to follow.

Overall, an excellent book that captures the downsides of friendship, the overzealous politics of the workplace and the value of hard work. The story by Lin captures the complexities of life, the absurdity of self-importance, and the need for self-worth. The art by Lin is vivid, elegant, and warm. Altogether, an excellent book which shows Lin is a force to be reckoned with. His deft touch to characters and portrayal of slice of life is what makes him exceptional.

Story: Hartley Lin Art: Hartley Lin
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Review: TEOTFW

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The Secret life of Walter Mitty is one of those movies that no matter what walk of life you come form, you can relate to. His fantasies throughout the movie speaks to anyone and everyone who felt something towards someone. His fantasies with his object of desire is any boy who falls in love with a girl. His fights with the new boss, is anyone who has had a bad relationship with their supervisor. The movie made the viewer assured that every fantasy was too fantastical to be true.

Eventually, Mitty goes on his own real-life adventures, in the movie, ones which if you had a bucket list, these would be the places you ventured. Not once did he get the girl or hit his boss in the face, as his justice was assuredly passive aggressive. Therefore, when these impossible feats happen in real life, we all wish we could be in their shoes. So, when I heard about TEOTFW (The End of the F*$king World), where one of the main characters becomes nihilistic, and act upon these fantasies.

We meet James, a young adult, who goes through life, not caring about himself and is nonchalant about hi relationships and surroundings. This change when he meets Alyssa, his girlfriend, who despite his abuses, and violent behavior, is like a puppy dog in love. Eventually, James starts killing people, leaving a ton of bodies in his wake, and with the police on his trial, but James and Alyssa’s bond becomes even stronger. By book’s end, James and Alyssa got caught, but everyone who they across including the police officer hunting them, becomes affected this murderous duo.

Overall, a hard-hitting, frightening look at inhumanity and the darkness that occupies all of us, as it this is an exercise in restraint, and those without it. The story By Charles Forsman was scary, suspenseful, and disturbing. The art by Forsman reminds of Garry Trudeau’s work on Doonesbury. Altogether, a crazy ride, which will make the reader understand, that everyone is one bad choice from ruining their lives.

Story: Charles Forsman Art: Charles Forsman
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy