Bluesman: Book 2 (v. 2) [Paperback]

Rob Vollmar (Author), Pablo G. Callejo (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Bluesman | Publication Date: March 1, 2006

Reeling from the tragedy that engulfed him at the end of Book One, traveling bluesman musician Lem flees the scene of the crime even as he copes with his loss of his best friend and musician partner. Unfortunately for him, the powers-that-be aren't about to let the murder of a white bootlegger's son go without extracting a pound of flesh from someone. Can Lem escape before his pursuers discover his involvement? This thriller, set in the early days of the blues, follows the life of traveling musicians who would roam from one juke joint to another in the South.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The final installment of this graphic novel trilogy leads up to an explosive and emotional climax. Guitar player Lem Taylor is left without the piano-playing Ironwood and is now on the run from the law and a racist mob. He seeks out Little Rock businessman J.L. Dougherty as his only hope for the future. The 80 pages read fast with only a few situations out of the way before the book's centerpiece, Lem's confrontation with his pursuers in the dark rainy swamps. The climax is grand and surprising, but fits the tone of his character. Callejo draws this world with thick lines and gray tones, continuing the dark feeling of blues clubs and rural Southern land lying under midnight skies. He's equally skilled at contemplative moments and visceral scenes of chase and violence. All the characters are expressive and deep. Lem's depiction benefits from this greatly, so you not only see his stress and suffering, but with only a few closeups, the pain behind the eyes is also clear. Bluesman mixes the mythic and dramatic with the nitty-gritty reality of the hard parts of life, just like a good blues song does. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 10 Up–An example of the potential of the graphic-novel form, Bluesman combines a spellbinding narrative with compelling imagery. Set in the Deep South sometime in the last few decades, it tells of murders in an outlying cabin. The tough-talking, fair-minded sheriff sees right away how serious the case is, but the powers that be step in and proclaim that only they know whats best. Meanwhile, a lone bluesman, haunted by weird dreams and traveling an endless countryside populated by uniquely American archetypes, comes to town. Even though they draw on every possible stereotype of the Deep South, the authors present a fresh and evocative story. The artwork, heavily drawn with near-grotesque portraiture and thickly done backgrounds, fits the mood. The color scheme ranges from midnight blue to gray, and it works. Its simplicity highlights the drama of the story.–John Leighton, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: NBM Publishing (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561634565
• ISBN-13: 978-1561634569
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,974,116 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bluesman Series, January 5, 2007

By 

Thomas M. Dale "T3" (Fairbanks, Alaska United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bluesman: Book 2 (v. 2) (Paperback)

I read a fair number of comics or graphic novels if you prefer that classification. I don't consider myself to be a geek, in that I have no fetish for artwork. I appreciate a good story. The Bluesman series is well written, with a lot of historical information, and illustrated in a realistic way that adds to the story and helps set the mood and establish the truth of the times. Highly recommended. I understand that the compilation will be out soon. Might be worth waiting for to be able to read the whole series at once.

4.0 out of 5 stars Last in series moody and dark, terrific story, August 29, 2008

By 

Christina Lockstein "Christy's Book Blog" (Oconto Falls, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Bluesman: Book 3 (v. 3) (Paperback)

Bluesman 3 by Rob Vollmar & Pablo Callejo is the last installment in their trilogy about blues guitarist Lem Taylor. It picks up immediately after 2 with Lem on the run for his life and accused of murder. He's pursued through the swamp by an upright police officer who seeks to save his life, and the bigoted father of the murder victim intent upon taking Lem's life. Callejo's artwork is outstanding in evoking mood. His dark colors bring suspicion and fear to every panel. The story wanders a little bit off in this last book. It didn't have the power of the first two books, but it's still a terrific story. The epilogue is a surprising note of hope in such a dark story.