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358th out of 1,496 books
—
3,009 voters
Nat Turner (Nat Turner #1-2)
by
Kyle Baker,
Nat Turner
The story of Nat Turner and his slave rebellion—which began on August 21, 1831, in Southampton County, Virginia—is known among school children and adults. To some he is a hero, a symbol of Black resistance and a precursor to the civil rights movement; to others he is monster—a murderer whose name is never uttered.
In Nat Turner, acclaimed author and illustrator Kyle Baker d...more
In Nat Turner, acclaimed author and illustrator Kyle Baker d...more
Paperback, 208 pages
Published
July 1st 2008
by Harry N. Abrams
(first published June 1st 2008)
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I bought and read this book because of three reasons: (1) it’s graphics and oh the illustrations are so exquisite looking; (2) the book looks a real bargain at P180 with the 280 thick glossy pages and (3) I have been vacillating in finally cracking my copy of 1967 Pulitzer Price-winning and Time 100 book, William Styron’s The Confessions of Nat Turner open. Why? It seems like a daunting book to read: thick, historical and it has a picture of a black man looking over a horizon in a pensive mood t...more
It is said the great masters of the comic book art form can tell a complete story without the use of any dialogue and instead rely solely upon their visual storytelling skills. In his self-published graphic novel, Kyle Baker approaches such rarefied strata by using his powerfully expressive visuals to tell the story of Nat Turner, a once and former American slave, who achieved folk hero status since much of his story has been suppressed. One side sees him as a messiah figure and another as a mon...more
Started VERY strong, very reminiscent of the old wordless books from Lynd Ward, etc. (The only words being small excerpts written by Turner himself.) If the book continued like that, this would be a real masterpiece, but when the big events start happening, we get panels and panels of violence and lists of who went where and killed whom. The interesting parts of the story got snowed under by the facts (although there are a few poignant moments even in the midst of the chaos.) So the brilliance o...more
Jan 13, 2010
Joe
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Everyone
Recommended to Joe by:
Marc Reiner
Shelves:
graphic-novel
Oh man, can we talk?
This graphic novel was a very intense and worthwhile read. I was into comics as a kid, but graphic novels in the 21st century are of an entirely different make and model. Kyle Baker is a phenomenal artist in his own right, but the combination of just enough writing and his rich renderings still has me riveted. What a history lesson! And I can see why historians would have tried to squash this one. Given the time period, the last thing they would have wanted was a continual sl...more
This graphic novel was a very intense and worthwhile read. I was into comics as a kid, but graphic novels in the 21st century are of an entirely different make and model. Kyle Baker is a phenomenal artist in his own right, but the combination of just enough writing and his rich renderings still has me riveted. What a history lesson! And I can see why historians would have tried to squash this one. Given the time period, the last thing they would have wanted was a continual sl...more
A brutal, unflinching look at Nat Turner. Mike Wallace may have used the title "The Hate that Hate Produced" when discussing the Nation of Islam, but it perfectly fits the story of Nat Turner, and this book captures the violence and bitterness of slavery and Turner's seething revenge. The illustrations are perfect, and the fact that 90 percent of the comic is wordless, with only a few quotes taken directly from "Confessions" makes it starkly haunting.
A dramatic, compelling, and very subjective adaptation/illustration of the Nat Turner rebellion. Fans of historical fiction, graphic novels, and the like should read Baker's book. The interweaving of Gray's account with the illustrations makes for effective, dramatic story-telling.
My gripe:
Baker clearly states in his preface that Tuner is "my hero." This early admission ultimately taints the adaptation/illustrations. I recognize that it's his statement, his work of artistic expression. But it ad...more
My gripe:
Baker clearly states in his preface that Tuner is "my hero." This early admission ultimately taints the adaptation/illustrations. I recognize that it's his statement, his work of artistic expression. But it ad...more
This book is gorgeous. The design of the panels and the entire aesthetic is so well executed. The sepia coloring and art drive the narrative so efficiently that there isn't any need for text. Much of the text is derived straight from the Confessions of Nat Turner, which was dictated from a prison cell. It really makes me want to read the entire account. Nat Turner combined a meticulous plan with a prophetic/messianic aura that created an relatively effective strike force for people with no milit...more
Kyle Baker's artwork never disappoints, but his grasp of the inherent humanity of an event so fraught with turmoil and bloodshed betrays a deftness of writing that is, while not exactly new, note-worthy.
The real gift of this work is two-fold: the use of Turner's own words to narrate events, rather than the fabricated dialogue of traditional comic story-telling, and the almost silent telling of the story. In fact, I think there are only a handful of places where word balloons are utilized, and on...more
The real gift of this work is two-fold: the use of Turner's own words to narrate events, rather than the fabricated dialogue of traditional comic story-telling, and the almost silent telling of the story. In fact, I think there are only a handful of places where word balloons are utilized, and on...more
This is an incredible graphic novel about Nat Turner, who led a slave rebellion in Virginia in 1831. The artwork is amazing -- it is the most haunting expression of slavery I've ever seen.
There are very few words, only some scattered quotes from Nat Turner's jailhouse interview and from a man who worked on slave ships, but the images are so arresting that I would often pause on a drawing for several minutes, spending more time on a single page with no words than if that page had been filled wit...more
There are very few words, only some scattered quotes from Nat Turner's jailhouse interview and from a man who worked on slave ships, but the images are so arresting that I would often pause on a drawing for several minutes, spending more time on a single page with no words than if that page had been filled wit...more
For me, there's 2 ways to look at this book. As a graphic adaptation of the story of Nat Turner, it's fairly effective, and pretty powerful stuff. But as a Kyle Baker book, it's far from my favorite. He works in a lot of different styles which, I guess, suit differing subject matter in different ways. But I prefer his older, clean-line, funny stuff. Don't get me wrong - this is good, but it's no Cowboy Wally.
I don't mean to dismiss this work's merits, though - I'm a huge fan of graphic storytel...more
I don't mean to dismiss this work's merits, though - I'm a huge fan of graphic storytel...more
This book is one of those interesting graphic novels that somewhat stretches the genre. The story is mostly wordless and told in pictures, interspersed with excerpts from Turner's actual confession. As Baker states in the preface, he partially chose this story because it offers opportunities for very dramatic storytelling through pictures, which he highlights with very strong composition. The sepia-toned art is an interesting hybrid, with some echoes of 19th-century drawing but a strong comics l...more
Nat Turner's 1831 insurrection happened not very long after the Java War led by a childhood hero of mine, Prince Diponegoro. I thought about that while reading Kyle Baker's graphic novel (originally published in four issues in 2006). As well, I recalled stories of my (Filipino) mother's cousin Jesus Casianan avenging my aunt Angelica's murder at the hands of the Japanese during the Occupation; and the members of my father's (Indonesian) family who were active in the resistance movements against...more
The story of Nat Turner and his slave rebellion—which began on August 21, 1831, in Southampton County, Virginia—is known among school children and adults. To some he is a hero, a symbol of Black resistance and a precursor to the civil rights movement; to others he is monster—a murderer whose name is never uttered.
In Nat Turner, acclaimed author and illustrator Kyle Baker depicts the evils of slavery in this moving and historically accurate story of Nat Turner’s slave rebellion. Told nearly wordl...more
In Nat Turner, acclaimed author and illustrator Kyle Baker depicts the evils of slavery in this moving and historically accurate story of Nat Turner’s slave rebellion. Told nearly wordl...more
This book is thoroughly disturbing. Kyle Baker uses his talent for facial and bodily expressions to make funny things like Plastic Man and Do These Toys Belong Somewhere? And here he takes that talent and makes all the disgust of slavery brutally apparent in a few images.
There's a lot of historical facts that seem bewildering compared to today's culture: using drums and books was punishable by whipping or dismemberment? I prob. knew that already, but Baker's good at making it seem shocking.
Nat...more
There's a lot of historical facts that seem bewildering compared to today's culture: using drums and books was punishable by whipping or dismemberment? I prob. knew that already, but Baker's good at making it seem shocking.
Nat...more
The artwork is nearly perfect; grungy and gritty at times, but precise and even at others. It is at its best when Baker allows it to serve as the sole storytelling device.
Unfortunately, Baker also includes passages from "The Confessions of Nat Turner" without marrying them to the artwork in the usual comic book style of lettering on top of the art. This allows the passages to become a significant distraction from the artwork, which is already telling most of the story anyway.
That weakness aside,...more
Unfortunately, Baker also includes passages from "The Confessions of Nat Turner" without marrying them to the artwork in the usual comic book style of lettering on top of the art. This allows the passages to become a significant distraction from the artwork, which is already telling most of the story anyway.
That weakness aside,...more
The story of Nat Turner's Rebellion naturally lends itself to this sort of graphic representation, what with its numerous scenes of mass killing and backdrop of torture and subjugation in the tidewater of Virginia. However, Baker fails to realize the importance of landscape in a retelling of such a haunting tale. This is not just a political action, its a strong show of spirit, and for anyone living at the time in rural America, the landscape held such strong powers of mystery that it can not be...more
The charcoals drawings are strong but the narrative breaks down midway and never fully recovers the harrowing momentum established in the first 50 or so pages. Part of this is due to Turner’s own verbose style in his memoir is and part is the result of artwork often at odds with the imagery. For images this strong, the text disappoints. Still, this is one to read if only to expose yourself to someone history in exploring the fascinating man who was Nat Turner should check out Greenberg’s A Slave...more
Nat Turner is a graphic novel that tells the story of an 1831 slave rebellion in Virginia. The narrative is well organized and compelling while it is also extremely horrifying and disturbing at times. It is not difficult for me to feel compassion for the slaves and feel disgust toward those that enslave them; however, I will be honest and confess that it makes me severely uncomfortable to cheer for a man who leads a group of people to do the things that the people in Turner's rebellion did. I am...more
I loved this. It reminded me of Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography by Chester Brown, not least because of Riel and Turner's religiosity. They'd make an excellent pairing for an American Rebels course - although that sounds a little cheap. (Please suggest a better framing!)
In addition to his storytelling, Baker's Preface is cool, too.
Highly recommended.
In addition to his storytelling, Baker's Preface is cool, too.
Highly recommended.
I've been thinking about this book, off and on, since I finished it. It's rare that a comic has this kind of effect on me. I love me some Batman, but most of his stories are popcorn. This was a steak dinner, with A1 sauce...and a hot towel.
The story of Nat Turner isn't one that is told, really told, in school. As Baker mentions in his introduction Turner is usually relegated to a paragraph in most history books,if that, but most all of us know his name and know he was important.
Well, Nat Turne...more
The story of Nat Turner isn't one that is told, really told, in school. As Baker mentions in his introduction Turner is usually relegated to a paragraph in most history books,if that, but most all of us know his name and know he was important.
Well, Nat Turne...more
Almost the whole story is told through some very impressive artwork, and it is an important story to know from American history that might generally get ignored.. maybe a serious response to Django Unchained for a curious reader wondering about slave rebellions/revolts... and Styron's book The Confessions of Nat Turner would also be a good one to read here... I liked it. Includes, later on, some of Turner's own words, some analysis and commentary for those that might want to know more...
This book kicked my butt into next year when I read it for the first time in 2008. I own an autographed copy and got so sucked into it on my way home from the author talk/signing at the Barnes & Noble down by NYU that I missed my subway stop on the ride home and had to pull myself out of the reading (THERE ARE almost NO WORDS YET I WAS READING AS HARD AS I COULD THAT IS AMAZING DUDES) to get off the train and back on one in the other direction.
(7/10) An evocative work of nonfiction comics that adapts the short "confession" of Nat Turner into a full-length, largely silent graphic novel. There's an undeniable power to the images, accented by Baker's sketchy but photorealistic art, that manages to capture both the horrors of slavery and the brutal violence of Turner's rebellion. However, as a whole this didn't make too big of an impression on me -- silent comics can work great (see The Arrival) but here it just seemed like something was...more
Well written. The illustrations are breath taking. I've never even heard of Kyle Baker's Nat Turner...it slipped right under my radar. This graphic novel was fabulous. I do not know that the novel does what it sets out to accomplish, but I feel like the account from Baker is well needed and provides a foundation for other research/work on Nat Turner's life.
This was my first graphic novel, so it took some getting used to. The artwork is amazing and, though my brain screamed for more words, a careful examination of the panels gave me those words, though I'm not used to listening to my own imagination tell the story. All in all, I don't think this will be my last graphic novel. Kyle Baker has converted me!
Aug 06, 2012
Victoria Wheeler
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Victoria by:
anthony e.
Shelves:
comics-graphic-novels
I really appreciated this graphic novel, both for its art and for the fact that the entirety of the text is drawn from historical sources. I, like Baker, actually knew very little of the actual events of the Nat Turner rebellion, and his book really drove home the entirety of both the historical context and the actual events of the rebellion.
A striking, unsettling, and absolutely brilliant (and largely wordless) graphic novel about a man whom, sadly, there is a woeful shortage of literature. True, his campaign was bloody, and many people died because of him, but as this book so perfectly illustrates, the old saying is true. "We reap what we sow."
This graphic novel is amazing. So sad that many still harbor this much hate and ignorance for people of another race. This book could easily be used in a history class. I'm going to pair it with Deadline and American Born Chinese and spend some class time highlighting a few scenes. Wow.
Intense Illustrations carry readers through this nearly wordless graphic novel of the story of Nat Turner. Baker's work will appeal to reluctant readers and art lovers alike. I would challenge students to make predictions and inferences based on the illustrations and sparse text, then do some research to confirm, support, or change their beliefs.
A concise biography of Turner that uses his recorded testimony in place of dialogue/ speech bubbles, and which uses pictorial story-telling to great effect both in terms of the brutality of slavery and the bloody nature of his 1831 rebellion.
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16 de Oct 20:37