Customer Reviews

The New Adventures of Abraham Lincoln

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The New Adventures of Abraham Lincoln, Original Graphic Novel. Scott McCloud (best know for his Understanding Comics), took an unexpected turn by writing and illustrating a graphic novel about the "new adventures" of Abraham Lincoln. I thought I would hate this book, but I actually found myself enjoying it, albeit on a superficial level. There is a lot lacking with the art. Published back in 1998, McCloud was toying with 3D effects and digital coloring, and combining that with hand drawn characters. His experimentation is grossly amateurish by today's standards, but the story is decent enough. Using an absurd plot of aliens and time-travel as a vehicle for a thoughtful commentary on modern-day politics and culture, the story is engaging and sometimes funny. And while the art is dated, the ideas presented are actually truer today than they were when the book was written. The New Adventures of Abraham Lincoln is not an essential part of your graphic novel collection, but if you find it in the bargain bin you might want to give it a look. Story 3/5 stars. Art 2/5 stars.

Actually, Abe literally rules in this hysterically funny but also thought provoking look at modern and historical America. Not one but two Abes show up to turn teenager Byron's life upside down. One of them, in the course of becoming president again, may remind readers of recent less than stellar leaders. There's plenty of action, laughs, and even a smidge of romance. Byron and his friends and father race to save the day, with a little help from the real Abe, and no help from moronic teachers and the less than deserving American people. Cynical, but not heartless.

As a 45-year-old fan of graphic novels, I feel I must break a lance here for Scott McCloud. Generally, the graphic art is the first thing about a comic that grabs my attention, and if I don't find it appealing in some way, I don't even bother to explore elements like plot, dialogue and narration. Although I wasn't really sold by the art (I must admit it grew on me, though), the humorous, intelligent story really hooked me.
In spite of the way-out premise about an alien Lincoln doppelganger and his real counterpart who returns from the grave to save America once again, this book realistically assesses the dangers of an uninformed public response to demagogues. When political distance gives way to adoration, the (almost militant) desire to silence critical voices soon dominates the tone of public dialogue (or the lack thereof). This makes New Adventures of Abraham Lincoln eerily relevant for the current state of democracy in America. McCloud's ironic humor and the whacky plot saves the story from ever degenerating into heavy-handed preaching. (He leaves that to me.)
Entertaining, thought-provoking reading for juveniles and adults.

I generally expect certain things from a graphic novel. First of all, I expect gripping art. This book does not have gripping art. It is primarily computer generated art, with sketched characters.

Secondly, I expect a graphic novel to be sufficiently complex that it needs pictures to fully convey what it is trying to say. I think that it only marginally qualifies on this count. There are some sequences that fully exploit the artform, but they are only a tiny portion of the book.

Third, the plotline should make sense, even if it only makes sense in the alternate reality in which the story occurs. This book had me up until the aliens from outer space entered the plot. It was too cheesy a plot device.

My seven year old found the book greatly amusing. My twelve year old thought it was very educational and thought-provoking. My fifteen year old shrugged like he just didn't get it, and my husband, a great fan of president Lincoln, couldn't make himself finish the book (I bought it for him).

This is a good book for middle schoolers and below. It does possess some educational value, and has some amusing sequences. Older fans of the comic book format will probably be disappointed.

The book, as i remember from a decade ago, was excellent. The merchant that sold it to me is another story, however. They refunded the money quickly, but i cannot get over their shoddy packing job: the comic fell out in transit and i never received it. Some postal employee is reading it in some bathroom right now.