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Review: The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story

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The Fifth BeatleThe Fifth Beatle is the untold true story of Brian Epstein, the visionary manager who discovered and guided the Beatles—from their gigs in a tiny cellar in Liverpool to unprecedented international stardom. Yet more than merely the story of “The Man Who Made The Beatles,” The Fifth Beatle is an uplifting, tragic, and ultimately inspirational human story about the struggle to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Brian Epstein was homosexual when it was a felony to be so in the United Kingdom, Jewish at a time of anti-Semitism, and from Liverpool when it was considered just a dingy port town. He helped spread the Beatles’ message of love to the entire world, yet died painfully lonely at the young age of thirty-two, consumed by staggering ambition and the endless struggles that came with it.

I should start off to say I became a fan of the Beatles later in life and didn’t know at all who Brian Epstein was, so I went into the graphic novel pretty blank in what I could expect and what the story would be about. Writer Vivek Tiwary has put together a masterful and touching story that takes us through history with a narrative that’s not completely shackled by it. And by doing so, he gives us a graphic novel that’s a lesson in business, perseverance and an amazing human interest story that’s tragic and uplifting at the same time. It’s a story of what one person can make happen when they’re determined to do so and that anyone can dream big.

Tiwary pulls off an amazing balance that digs into Epstein’s personal life, mixing it with his experience managing the Beatles. Throughout it tugs at your heart strings while also showing off the excitement of the time and how amazing the Beatles were. While the story makes sure to point out the outsider status Epstein was in his personal life, it at no point becomes preachy, instead it fills you with a sadness over what he must have gone through. It’s a fantastic mix creating an entertaining and insightful historical account.

Joining Tiwary for the graphic novel is Andrew C. Robinson and Kyle Baker on art and both just add to the package contributing amazing art to a story that’s taken too long to tell. The combination of it all is mesmerizing and creates one of the best graphic novels of the year. The choices in color and art style is well thought out adding to the understanding of the time and narrative. It’s truly an amazing thing that’ll have you linger on each page staring at the art long after you’ve finished reading the words.

Both heartbreaking and uplifting, The Fifth Beatle not only reveals an important, unsung chapter in the history of the Beatles—but it will inspire anyone who’s ever dared to believe in a dream. Brian Epstein’s story has been a long time coming, but this is so good, it’s been well worth the wait. This will go down as a must read graphic novel for it’s style and narrative, but also as a must read for Beatles history.

Story: Vivek J. Tiwary Art: Andrew C. Robinson, Kyle Baker
Story: 9.75 Art: 9.75 Overall: 9.75 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

The Fifth Beatle To Be Published In Three Stunning Editions!

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Ever since its announcement last fall, there has been buzz about The Fifth Beatle. Written by multiple Tony Award–winning producer Vivek J. Tiwary, The Fifth Beatle, chronicling the life of the Beatles’ manager, Brian Epstein, will officially be released on November 19.

The Fifth Beatle, from M Press Books, a division of Dark Horse Comics, recounts the untold true story of Epstein, the visionary manager who discovered and guided the Beatles to unprecedented international stardom—yet died painfully lonely at the young age of thirty-two. More than merely the story of “The Man Who Made the Beatles,” The Fifth Beatle is an uplifting, tragic, and ultimately inspirational human story about the desire to leave behind a legacy, amidst the struggle to overcome crushing personal obstacles and insurmountable odds.

This marks the first full-length graphic novel painted by Andrew C. Robinson. The book also features a special section paying homage to the 1960s Beatles cartoons, lovingly drawn by multiple Eisner and Harvey Award–winning cartoonist Kyle Baker.

Tiwary is also set to write and produce a feature-film adaptation of his graphic novel. Tiwary has signed a deal with Sony/ATV (who control the Lennon/McCartney music catalog) which gives him unprecedented access to Beatles songs for the film.

There will be three editions of the graphic novel.

The standard hardcover edition will be available for $19.99 in an oversized library format. A collector’s-edition hardcover of this groundbreaking graphic novel will also be available, featuring a wraparound, textured cover and a section of bonus materials including Beatles and Brian Epstein memorabilia, artist sketches, and alternate covers, for $49.99.

The limited edition (1,500 copies) features a tip-in sheet signed by creators Vivek J. Tiwary, Andrew C. Robinson, and Kyle Baker, along with a twenty-four-page bonus section including rare Beatles and Brian Epstein memorabilia and behind-the-scenes sketches, a unique, textured cover, and a special slipcase, for $99.99.

Tiwary will be signing limited prints of The Fifth Beatle at BookExpo America in New York City this Saturday, June 8th at the Dark Horse booth #1003 at 11 a.m.

Additionally both Tiwary and artist Andrew Robinson will be delivering a panel presentation at HeroesCon in Charlotte, NC on June 9th titled: Comics of the Fab Four: The Fifth Beatle and Beyond. The panel begins promptly at 11:30 a.m.

“The Beatles will be bigger than Elvis!”—Brian Epstein, 1961

The Fifth Beatle © 2012 Tiwary Entertainment Group Ltd.

NYCC 2012 – Vivek J. Tiwary To Write & Produce Feature Film Adaptation of the Graphic Novel The Fifth Beatle

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Award-winning producer and writer, Vivek J. Tiwary, is set to write and produce a feature film adaptation of his upcoming graphic novel, The Fifth Beatle, which chronicles the life of The Beatles little-known manager, Brian Epstein. As Paul McCartney said, “If anyone was the Fifth Beatle, it was Brian.” This groundbreaking project also marks the first time a feature film about the band has ever secured rights to include Beatles songs.

Tiwary has signed a deal with Sony/ATV (who control the Lennon/McCartney music catalog) which gives him unprecedented access to Beatles songs for the film.

The graphic novel, The Fifth Beatle, is being written by Tiwary and drawn by artist Andrew Robinson with additional contributions by multiple Eisner and Harvey award-winning artist Kyle Baker. It is slated to be published in 2013. Both Robinson and Tiwary will attend the upcoming New York Comic Con from October 10th-14th to present the graphic novel and meet fans. Artwork from the novel will be exclusively displayed online.

On Wednesday, October 10 at 7pm, Tiwary and Robinson will appear on the panel “A Celebration of Pop Music Comics” at Jim Hanley’s Universe store. They will then sign exclusive artwork from THE FIFTH BEATLE at New York Comic Con’s Dark Horse booth at the Javitz Center on Friday, October 12th at 5pm.

The Fifth Beatle from M Press Books, a division of Dark Horse Comics, recounts the untold true story of Epstein, the brilliant visionary who discovered The Beatles and helped guide the band to international stardom as their manager, securing their first record deal at a time when no one else was interested, and successfully bringing them to the world stage with a scale and scope no music impresario had ever attempted.

Epstein’s boast—“The Beatles will be bigger than Elvis!”— seemed absurd in 1961, but proved humbly prophetic by 1967. When he died at the age of 32, he was an extremely successful artist manager and entertainment impresario, but a painfully lonely young man.  The film will deal with Epstein’s struggles with his sexuality and religion, while desperately trying to fit into the “Fab Four’s” world.