Ronald Reagan: A Graphic Biography [Hardcover]

Andrew Helfer (Author), Steve Buccellato (Illustrator), Joe Staton (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 4, 2007

Some Presidents Were Just Meant To Be In Pictures
 
It confronted evil empires, planned Star Wars missile defense systems, and advocated supply-side economics. Let's face it: Ronald Reagan's presidency is tailor-made for comic-book art. Whether explaining how the onetime Franklin Roosevelt New Dealer became the conservative right's standard-bearer, how a B-list actor became General Motors's pitchman then governor of California, or how a union president became an anti-union President, this graphic biography does what no other biography can: visually narrate the life of a man who relied on stage directions and political theater to become America's "Great Communicator." The blended genius of Andrew Helfer (onetime group editor at DC Comics), Steve Buccellato (whose artwork has been published by Epic, Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse), and Joe Staton (artist for E-Man, Green Lantern, and most recently Scooby-Doo) makes Ronald Reagan: A Graphic Biography an absolutely original, absolutely factual, and absolutely unforgettable history of America's fortieth president.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ronald Reagan was a controversial president, no question. Revered by some, reviled by others, he was acknowledged to be an orator of the highest order. This graphic biography sets out to explore Reagan's life, but the creative team seems unsure which side they're on, so they veer between gauzy hagiography and hard-fact criticism without ever offering a coherent thesis about Reagan's appeal or legacy. Helfer (Batman: Journey into Night) is strongest when he lets Reagan speak for himself (the dialogue on the page when Reagan is shot is particularly effective). Buccellato (Battle of the Bands) and Staton (Green Lantern) provide interesting graphics—showing the rapid successive deaths of the hardliners who preceded Gorbachev as a series of X-ed out portraits, or unraveling the complicated self-dealing behind Reagan's GE Theater job with a cleverly modified organization chart. Overall, the cartoony art fits Reagan's aw-shucks persona, but undercuts Helfer's discussion of Reagan-era scandals. Helfer also crowds more powerful images (like the Challenger explosion) with wordy caption boxes. This book makes an adequate primer of the Reagan era, but the lack of coherence limits its appeal. There are too many jabs for Reagan's disciples, and not enough bite for his critics. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

Grade 10 Up–The facts of Reagan's life and times are entertainingly presented. Illustrated in a breezy, Mad Magazine style, this slyly witty book can be enjoyed both by detractors, who could read it as a tongue-in-cheek work, and by staunch admirers of the late ex-president. Sharing some of the clever-but-realistic illustrations (Fawn Hall, Oliver North's secretary, has a hairdo that fills each panel she's in to bursting) or reading parts aloud is irresistible enough that there's potential here for viral handselling.–Dana Cobern-Kullman, Luther Burbank Middle School, Burbank, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Hill and Wang; First Edition edition (September 4, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809095076
• ISBN-13: 978-0809095070
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,413,723 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Gipper Joins Dick Tracy!, October 21, 2008

By 

Phil S. (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ronald Reagan: A Graphic Biography (Hardcover)

The tone is satiric, never sarcastic. The artwork is tasteful, never exaggerated, even in this "Comic Strip" format. The beautifully written narrative carefully outlines the many "fumbles" of the guy whose image is associated with Football as much as The Presidency?

Ultimately, the big question is, did his "Vision" outweigh all the dramatic, critical blunders, which cost lives; which cost the American people in ways far beyond galactic deficits and debt? Is the President primarily aa Visionary? Or the *most accountable* Public Servant?

For those who feel that the book contains too many secondary mistakes of a great leader, I submit that they were kind in omitting plenty of stuff: his failed Immigartion Policy; 1986 Payroll Tax; his Military Budget increase on top of Carter's Military Budget increase; the Graham-Rudman "March To The Sea" on presumptive cost-effective, necessary programs; unnecessary tax breaks for the super rich who have 11 Accountants to brainstorm on the issue. George Will pointed out many years ago that his man gave us "93 months of growth". I say, based upon four trillion dollars worth of debt dropped at the front door of the "workin' man" that Reagan thought he was fighting for.

4.0 out of 5 stars The right path for a short biography is followed, February 13, 2011

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ronald Reagan: A Graphic Biography (Hardcover)

This brief description of the life and career of Ronald Reagan will most likely irritate liberals for being too soft on Reagan and conservatives for pointing out his weaknesses. Which means it is probably just right.

I was very politically aware during Reagan's presidency and remember his misstatements and ability to speak to issues by not talking about them directly. At times, he seemed lost and it has recently been reported that he was suffering from the onset of Alzheimer's disease in the last years of the presidency. These problems are not glossed over; they are mentioned along with his questionable actions as president of the Screen Actor's Guild. Yet, these points never go beyond the statements of facts, there is nothing approaching what could be considered mean are nasty.

The main positive note in the book about the career of Ronald Reagan was his greatest strength, which was his ability to speak about difficult topics and deftly deflect criticism. When things went wrong he was always able to find a way to recover, even when he raised taxes he managed to make it appear as if he was doing something else.

Reagan is now treated as a sainted icon among conservatives; his name is spoken with awe every time it is uttered. That makes books like this so important, in that it presents Reagan as he was, a political star that made mistakes, recovered from them, kept some core beliefs and always managed to sound the proper form of optimistic tone that worked when he needed it.

6 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Graphic Biography on Reagan, September 14, 2007

By 

Erin Esposito "esposito" (Rochester, New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ronald Reagan: A Graphic Biography (Hardcover)

What makes this book fascinating is that it is an illustrated biography, with a comic strip format, and covers the span of Reagan's political career.

The book is very clear and easy to follow. The details in the book are very educational.

This would be a great book to use for High School students studing Government or History.