3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man [Hardcover]

Matt Kindt (Author, Artist)

Book Description

Series: 3 Story | Publication Date: September 29, 2009

What would it be like to stand head and shoulders above everyone else - and to keep growing? Unable to interact with a fragile world that isn't built to withstand your size? To live in a house that doesn't fit you anymore - with a wife who doesn't either? Craig Pressgang's life is well documented in his official CIA biography, "Giant Man: Pillar of America," but the heroic picture it paints is only half the story. The continuous growth caused by Craig's strange medical condition brings a variety of problems as he becomes more isolated and unknowable. Told in three eras by three women with unique relationships with Craig, 3 Story follows his sad life from his birth to the present. Harvey Award winner Matt Kindt (Super Spy, Pistolwhip) brings his innovative design and storytelling sensibility to this poignant look at what it really means to be different, alienated from the rest of the world.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

3 Story is a modern fable, exploring the life of the giant man, Craig Pressgang, through the experiences of three women—his mother, wife and daughter. The promotional material claims that Pressgang's life is well documented in his official CIA biography, Giant Man: Pillar of America, and the opening pages present his early life in such a straightforward manner that it is easy to believe it is a real story. As Pressgang reaches extraordinary heights, however, the story takes off into the realms of fantasy. Born during WWII, Pressgang's life serves as metaphor for the American mood over the past 60 years, from the flush optimism of the 1950s to the confusion about the country's place in the world as the 21st century dawns. Throughout, the tale retains an emotional honesty, as Kindt meditates on the nature of love and belonging, the changes one makes in a relationship and the exploitation of anyone identified as different. Kindt's washed-out, watercolor palate helps establish the lugubrious tone; his lovely, deceptively simple style reveals the characters' pain—and occasional moments of joy. The special enhanced die-cut cover is an appropriately elegant detail for this moving graphic novel. (Oct.)
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse (September 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595823565
• ISBN-13: 978-1595823564
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #411,768 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly Moving, October 19, 2009

By 

The Mad Hatter "booktionary.blogspot.com" (NY State, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: 3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man (Hardcover)

3 Story is the very lonely story of Craig Pressgang growing up with gigantism and how it affects his life and those around him. Kindt's style of art is a bit austere, but it works well given the story and setting. His text is also very sparse, but what little there is leaves a deep impact. The packaging is well done with a die-cut hardcover.

3 Story is split into 3 sections from the points of view of the women in Craig's life with the first told from his mother, which is surprisingly emotional given many pages have little to no text. Craig's mother comes off lamentable, yet very cold especially once Craig leaves home for college. The detachment of Craig is already present at a young age.

The second story is told from Craig's love interest Jo. This section gives you a good feeling on how living with someone so large can be hard on not just the giant. Craig continues to become more and more remote with his affections and humanity. One of the most interesting aspects is that as Craig grows his hearing and eye sight change with him. Especially, when he has delayed responses to touch and pain as his pain receptors are further removed from his brain. During this time we're also treated to Craig's involvement with the CIA as a supposed secret agent. Keep in mind most of this section takes place during the cold war times of the 1950s and 60s.

The 3rd part tells of Craig's time out in the wilderness as he faces his imminent demise from the point of view of the daughter he never really knew. This section is the shortest, which could have been longer, but that was my desire for more. The melancholy ending is more than fitting to this sad life story.

Overall, Craig is a very difficult character to understand, but Kindt gives you a view from the outside instead of the inside on what it could be like living with a giant. Surprisingly moving, 3 Story is one of the better liteary graphic novels I've had the pleasure of reading. I give 3 Story 9 out of 10 Hats. Kindt is best known for Super Spy, which has been lauded by most as one of the best graphic novel in recent years that I'll now have to check out. If 3 Story is any indication of Kindt's talent he'll be here for a long time.

5.0 out of 5 stars 3 Story: A testament to the Comics medium., August 9, 2010

By 

Jerel Dye (Bridgewater, MA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man (Hardcover)

A fantastic book, truly moving graphic novel. Kindt's style dovetails beautifully with the melancholy tone of this very odd but also very universal story. I haven't been this moved by a comic in a long time!

5.0 out of 5 stars 3 Story, July 28, 2010

By 

Abraham Jeyakumar (MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man (Hardcover)

I'm not sure why I bought the book, but I'm glad I did. It is very surreal, but it does keep very closely in touch with humanity. It is a very unique story and I have read it several times. I still get new things from it here and there. The art work is very well done, but that's an opinion. It is ink and water color. At first glance, I really didn't like the art work, but the story style fits so well with the art that now, I wouldn't want it to change. I'm looking forward to getting to know more about Matt Kindt's work.