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The Twilight Man: Rod Serling and the Birth of Television
A illustrated biographical tale that follows Hollywood revolutionary Rod Serling's rise to fame in the Golden Age of Television, and his descent into his personal Twilight Zone.
We recognize Rod Serling as our sharply dressed, cigarette-smoking tour guide of The Twilight Zone, but the entertainment business once regarded him as the "Angry Young Man" of Hollywood. Before he became the revered master of science fiction, Rod Serling was just a writer who had to fight to make his voice heard. He vehemently challenged the networks and viewership alike to expand their minds and standards―rejecting notions of censorship, racism and war. But it wasn’t until he began to write about real world enemies in the guise of aliens and monsters that people lent their ears. In doing so, he pushed the television industry to the edge of glory and himself to the edge of sanity. Rod operated in a dimension beyond that of contemporary society, making him both a revolutionary and an outsider.
We recognize Rod Serling as our sharply dressed, cigarette-smoking tour guide of The Twilight Zone, but the entertainment business once regarded him as the "Angry Young Man" of Hollywood. Before he became the revered master of science fiction, Rod Serling was just a writer who had to fight to make his voice heard. He vehemently challenged the networks and viewership alike to expand their minds and standards―rejecting notions of censorship, racism and war. But it wasn’t until he began to write about real world enemies in the guise of aliens and monsters that people lent their ears. In doing so, he pushed the television industry to the edge of glory and himself to the edge of sanity. Rod operated in a dimension beyond that of contemporary society, making him both a revolutionary and an outsider.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published October 8, 2019
38 people are currently reading
2838 people want to read
About the author
Koren Shadmi
28 books86 followersKoren Shadmi is a Brooklyn Based illustrator and Cartoonist; he earned his degree in Illustration in 2006 from the School of Visual Arts in New York. His graphic novels have been published in France, Italy, Spain, Israel, and the US.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 340 reviews
November 8, 2019
The Twilight Man by Koren Shadmi is a 2019 Life Drawn publication.
An imaginative biographical novel Rod Serling would approve of!
Well, how cool is this? The second I saw this book I knew I had to read it! Why? Because I love, love, love The Twilight Zone! I was also a fan of ‘Night Gallery’ and loved Serling’s narration of both anthology series.
But, once I started reading the book, I realized I didn’t really know anything at all about Rod Serling. As his story unfolds, I learned about his military service and some daredevil stunts he participated in. But, before he found success, he went through more than his fair share of rejections. He was just too far ahead of his time, unafraid of addressing uncomfortable subject matter.
His journey to success is fascinating. He was indeed a revolutionary, challenging the television establishment- which earned him the moniker of “Angry Young Man”. I think we owe Serling more than we realized!
This is a must for fans of the Twilight Zone and Rod Serling, but anyone who likes entertainment history will find this book very interesting. Rod packed a lot of living in his short life and his legacy is one that has far surpassed his wildest imagination. The deep meanings of some of the Twilight Zone episodes go far beyond mere science fiction and unexplained phenomena.
While I do believe I have watched every episode at least twice, I sometimes find myself in the mood to watch the series over again. Each time I am struck by the imagination and genius of the show- now I’m struck by imagination and genius behind the show!
5 stars!
An imaginative biographical novel Rod Serling would approve of!
Well, how cool is this? The second I saw this book I knew I had to read it! Why? Because I love, love, love The Twilight Zone! I was also a fan of ‘Night Gallery’ and loved Serling’s narration of both anthology series.
But, once I started reading the book, I realized I didn’t really know anything at all about Rod Serling. As his story unfolds, I learned about his military service and some daredevil stunts he participated in. But, before he found success, he went through more than his fair share of rejections. He was just too far ahead of his time, unafraid of addressing uncomfortable subject matter.
His journey to success is fascinating. He was indeed a revolutionary, challenging the television establishment- which earned him the moniker of “Angry Young Man”. I think we owe Serling more than we realized!
This is a must for fans of the Twilight Zone and Rod Serling, but anyone who likes entertainment history will find this book very interesting. Rod packed a lot of living in his short life and his legacy is one that has far surpassed his wildest imagination. The deep meanings of some of the Twilight Zone episodes go far beyond mere science fiction and unexplained phenomena.
While I do believe I have watched every episode at least twice, I sometimes find myself in the mood to watch the series over again. Each time I am struck by the imagination and genius of the show- now I’m struck by imagination and genius behind the show!
5 stars!
November 1, 2025
I am a big Rod Serling fan - so it is hard for me not to like anything about him. This GN is a balanced and reflective examination of one of our great playwrights (yes, I said great playwrights) and looks past the 'dimensional trap' that the Twilight Zone (TZ) so often confines Rod's legacy into: almost as if he became a character in one of the TZ episodes. His constant fear of having everything he worked so hard for taken away is palpable; his fear of rejection understood by anyone who has ever tried to create. The art is perfect - evocative of the series - but very original. Highly recommended.
July 21, 2019
It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone.
The Lonely
Rod Serling's life narrated by himself and told- not only is it disguised as a criticism of censorship, but it's told as if it's an episode of the Twilight Zone with a signature and shocking twist. that had me slack-jawed at the author/artist's creativity.
One for the angels
I've always felt that The Twilight Zone was different, so ludicrous and wonderful that the show
is still relevant today. It proves to be cheesy, but the dialogue, character acting and stories
have aged so well that the show is well-worth watching. God damn it, it's definitely a work of art you need to scratch off your bucket list!
Time Enough at Last: Part I
Rod Serling is on a plane with a mysterious but alluring woman who recognises him and asks him all about his life.
"I'm sure I've seen your face before...give me a clue, will you she smiled. Alright mystery man. Are you traveling for business or pleasure. A little bit of both, you could say. He took a drag of his half-bent cigarette
It feels as though this flight might last forever.Time can be deceitful when you're up in the stratosphere
The Four of Us Are Dying: Part II
Rod feels like an old friend at this point - an amiable uncle who pats you on the shoulder and reminds you of your inherent human greatness. But he's also that uncle whose PTSD was labelled "shell-shock" and thrown aside.
Shell-shock was always thought to be a temporary consequence of war. Rod shows exactly how war will taint your psyche for life, but influence your art too.
Rod's experiences in the war are not only evil, but so well crafted - the writing and art are so well integrated that your very own reality feels augmented into that of Rod's. And let me tell you, it's not a fun experience. Rod joins the Paratroopers, a lifelong wish of his.
Where is Everybody?
During his twelve year struggle of fighting censorship, shameless advertising, anti-antisemitism against his people Rod finally knew that stories about current politicians, corruption and wordly problems could only be criticised through a lens of science-fiction and fantasy.
But like all great artists, Rod produced the labour of his love almost entirely on his own, barring Ray Bradbury and Richard Matheson (whose character's are wonderfully fleshed out despite them only being in ten or so pages each). Rod gives in to the stress of his work.
One cigarette.
Another?
Bring me a pack.
Bring me four packs.
Mr Denton on Doomsday: The demise of a cultural icon, who's just a damn human.
The latter part of the comic was drawn out painfully - and that's a compliment. After the Twilight Zone was cancelled, Rod caved inwards. He attempted writing for television shows. He succeeded, but everything he wrote was censored, just as he hated. To make money he appeared in advertisements - the very thing he loathed.
Go ahead and learn of his death yourself. This comic is the Magnum Opus of Rod Serling biographies.
I laud any biography that finds a wonderful way to portray the person at hand. The brilliance of conveying Rod's life in black and white makes you feel that you are a character lost in the Zone itself. Rod, his family, colleagues, friends and foes have such raw emotion and relatable dialogue that I found myself in tears. The author made an audacious attempt at telling a man's story in first person (!) Well hell, the risk paid of and I'm impressed by Koren Shadmi all round.
Not only that, but the comic itself is an episode of the Twilight Zone!
This was absolutely brilliant and the best comic I've read all year. To discuss Serling's life in a comic format with black and white, is the perfect homage to the man himself. I feel that Rod would approve of the lack of censorship in his book.
I'm always in awe of the tenacity of writers who change the world. Serling goes on with his writing
despite being told his writing isn't meant for radio. Rod was different - he didn't want to write
what people liked - he wanted to write what challenged people and their beliefs. This wasn't an easy task for a country fueled by the nuclear family and American Dream.
I Am The Night: Colour Me Black: an addendum of fascinating aspects of Rod's life
The Emmett Till case, where a black boy was beaten up by two men for allegely wolf whistling at their sister, died from the injuries sustained. The all white jury declared Till guilty and he was sentenced to death. Rod was outraged and wanted to film a half-an-hour piece about it. In the adaptation, Rod's script went from meaningful to "American Dream" Till was turned white, the word "lynch" was censored because of the sensitivity and association with The South,which we know is still prevalent, since Georgia banned an episode of Arthur where two male rats get married. This fueled Rod to fight censorship against minorities such as himself.
Rod helped forward Richard Matheson's (Born Charles Leroy Nutt) career, annoyed Ray Bradbury and finally mentioned Spielberg in passing as a famous actress refuses to be in a film directed by a twenty year old. If only she knew.
The "surprise motherf*cker" ending of Planet of the Apes was largely due to Matheson's input. He wanted to make the movie darker so they scrapped his script, but kept the ending.
Every writer is a frustrated actor who recites his lines in the hidden auditorium of his skull. - Rod Serling
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. A big thanks to the publishers and author for giving me the chance to read this.
The Lonely
Rod Serling's life narrated by himself and told- not only is it disguised as a criticism of censorship, but it's told as if it's an episode of the Twilight Zone with a signature and shocking twist. that had me slack-jawed at the author/artist's creativity.
One for the angels
I've always felt that The Twilight Zone was different, so ludicrous and wonderful that the show
is still relevant today. It proves to be cheesy, but the dialogue, character acting and stories
have aged so well that the show is well-worth watching. God damn it, it's definitely a work of art you need to scratch off your bucket list!
Time Enough at Last: Part I
Rod Serling is on a plane with a mysterious but alluring woman who recognises him and asks him all about his life.
"I'm sure I've seen your face before...give me a clue, will you she smiled. Alright mystery man. Are you traveling for business or pleasure. A little bit of both, you could say. He took a drag of his half-bent cigarette
It feels as though this flight might last forever.Time can be deceitful when you're up in the stratosphere
The Four of Us Are Dying: Part II
Rod feels like an old friend at this point - an amiable uncle who pats you on the shoulder and reminds you of your inherent human greatness. But he's also that uncle whose PTSD was labelled "shell-shock" and thrown aside.
Shell-shock was always thought to be a temporary consequence of war. Rod shows exactly how war will taint your psyche for life, but influence your art too.
Rod's experiences in the war are not only evil, but so well crafted - the writing and art are so well integrated that your very own reality feels augmented into that of Rod's. And let me tell you, it's not a fun experience. Rod joins the Paratroopers, a lifelong wish of his.
Where is Everybody?
During his twelve year struggle of fighting censorship, shameless advertising, anti-antisemitism against his people Rod finally knew that stories about current politicians, corruption and wordly problems could only be criticised through a lens of science-fiction and fantasy.
But like all great artists, Rod produced the labour of his love almost entirely on his own, barring Ray Bradbury and Richard Matheson (whose character's are wonderfully fleshed out despite them only being in ten or so pages each). Rod gives in to the stress of his work.
One cigarette.
Another?
Bring me a pack.
Bring me four packs.
Mr Denton on Doomsday: The demise of a cultural icon, who's just a damn human.
The latter part of the comic was drawn out painfully - and that's a compliment. After the Twilight Zone was cancelled, Rod caved inwards. He attempted writing for television shows. He succeeded, but everything he wrote was censored, just as he hated. To make money he appeared in advertisements - the very thing he loathed.
Go ahead and learn of his death yourself. This comic is the Magnum Opus of Rod Serling biographies.
I laud any biography that finds a wonderful way to portray the person at hand. The brilliance of conveying Rod's life in black and white makes you feel that you are a character lost in the Zone itself. Rod, his family, colleagues, friends and foes have such raw emotion and relatable dialogue that I found myself in tears. The author made an audacious attempt at telling a man's story in first person (!) Well hell, the risk paid of and I'm impressed by Koren Shadmi all round.
Not only that, but the comic itself is an episode of the Twilight Zone!
This was absolutely brilliant and the best comic I've read all year. To discuss Serling's life in a comic format with black and white, is the perfect homage to the man himself. I feel that Rod would approve of the lack of censorship in his book.
I'm always in awe of the tenacity of writers who change the world. Serling goes on with his writing
despite being told his writing isn't meant for radio. Rod was different - he didn't want to write
what people liked - he wanted to write what challenged people and their beliefs. This wasn't an easy task for a country fueled by the nuclear family and American Dream.
I Am The Night: Colour Me Black: an addendum of fascinating aspects of Rod's life
The Emmett Till case, where a black boy was beaten up by two men for allegely wolf whistling at their sister, died from the injuries sustained. The all white jury declared Till guilty and he was sentenced to death. Rod was outraged and wanted to film a half-an-hour piece about it. In the adaptation, Rod's script went from meaningful to "American Dream" Till was turned white, the word "lynch" was censored because of the sensitivity and association with The South,
Rod helped forward Richard Matheson's (Born Charles Leroy Nutt) career, annoyed Ray Bradbury and finally mentioned Spielberg in passing as a famous actress refuses to be in a film directed by a twenty year old. If only she knew.
The "surprise motherf*cker" ending of Planet of the Apes was largely due to Matheson's input. He wanted to make the movie darker so they scrapped his script, but kept the ending.
Every writer is a frustrated actor who recites his lines in the hidden auditorium of his skull. - Rod Serling
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. A big thanks to the publishers and author for giving me the chance to read this.
January 29, 2020
I wasn't inclined to like this book, as I have mixed-feelings memories of the one book I had read from Shadmi, his kind of shallow story of his year as a Love (Sex) Addict, going on dating sites obsessively. And then, when I pick up The Twilight Man he admits the topic was kind of random for him, he was trying to figure out another project to do, and oh, yeah, I once had this passing interest in Serling, I had bought some biographies, ho hum, guess I'll do this. And he's young, Twilight Zone was a later discovery for him, he's not passionate about it, it's a research project, the next book, eh. You see, I grew up with Twilight Zone, and I wanted to discover this book to be more than a passing fancy from the author. I wanted Twilight Zone Addict, because I had once been one and was hoping it would make me one again.
When I finally started it I saw it as a pretty conventional and straightforward biography, culled from the various dusty conventional and straightforward biographies he had on his shelf. Well, to be fair there's a slight surprise, it's first person, he's telling his life story to a woman on a plane, okay fine. And I knew a bunch about Serling, had been traumatized by his experiences in the war, that he had been one of the early pioneers of tv, had written the very fine Requiem of a Heavyweight, had been in on Planet of the Apes in addition to Twilight Zone. I knew he was almost inseparable from a cigarette, sometimes four packs a day (which was probably part of what led to the heart attacks that killed him). I did not know he was, like Shadmi, a "love" addict, but hey, good for you, there's a connection, Koren, shared shame!
And I did not recall that he had deep social justice commitments that were undermined by the tv industry, leading him to write these issues into sci/fi stories. So I have to say, I began to like it more and more as I read, and it is cartooned so well I had to admit his admission of half-heartedness kind of melted away. It's good! And what cinched it for me, something I love, is that we discover the tale is actually a kind of Twilight Zone episode. At that point my 3.5 rating eased up to 4, stars for that finish. If you like Twilight Zone or liked it, you should check this out.
When I finally started it I saw it as a pretty conventional and straightforward biography, culled from the various dusty conventional and straightforward biographies he had on his shelf. Well, to be fair there's a slight surprise, it's first person, he's telling his life story to a woman on a plane, okay fine. And I knew a bunch about Serling, had been traumatized by his experiences in the war, that he had been one of the early pioneers of tv, had written the very fine Requiem of a Heavyweight, had been in on Planet of the Apes in addition to Twilight Zone. I knew he was almost inseparable from a cigarette, sometimes four packs a day (which was probably part of what led to the heart attacks that killed him). I did not know he was, like Shadmi, a "love" addict, but hey, good for you, there's a connection, Koren, shared shame!
And I did not recall that he had deep social justice commitments that were undermined by the tv industry, leading him to write these issues into sci/fi stories. So I have to say, I began to like it more and more as I read, and it is cartooned so well I had to admit his admission of half-heartedness kind of melted away. It's good! And what cinched it for me, something I love, is that we discover the tale is actually a kind of Twilight Zone episode. At that point my 3.5 rating eased up to 4, stars for that finish. If you like Twilight Zone or liked it, you should check this out.
June 10, 2019
This graphic novelized bio of The Twilight Zone creator offers a sensitive, creative take on Serling and is sure to be coveted by the many rabid fans of the show.
It captures the essence of the genius once known as the “angry young man” of Hollywood, who often clashed with TV execs and sponsors over such issues as war, racism and censorship.
Serling spoke at my hubs’ fifth grade English class, smoking cig after cig the whole time. He started his professional career in Cincinnati as a continuity writer for WLW, going on to write for TV on WKRC. We claim him as our own, so I know many in the Queen City will also really dig this fine book with its TZ-vibed illustrations and story. 5/5
Pub Date 08 Oct 2019.
Thanks to the author, Humanoids and NetGalley. Opinions are mine.
#TheTwilightMan #NetGalley
It captures the essence of the genius once known as the “angry young man” of Hollywood, who often clashed with TV execs and sponsors over such issues as war, racism and censorship.
Serling spoke at my hubs’ fifth grade English class, smoking cig after cig the whole time. He started his professional career in Cincinnati as a continuity writer for WLW, going on to write for TV on WKRC. We claim him as our own, so I know many in the Queen City will also really dig this fine book with its TZ-vibed illustrations and story. 5/5
Pub Date 08 Oct 2019.
Thanks to the author, Humanoids and NetGalley. Opinions are mine.
#TheTwilightMan #NetGalley
October 7, 2019
This was excellent. Shadmi uses a framing device where Serling tells his life story to an airplane passenger sitting next to him. It has the feeling of an episode of The Twilight Zone. Not only do we see Serling's life from the time he entered the Pacific Theater during World War II, but his his rise as a TV writer. Serling lived a complicated life. One that I was instantly enthralled in while reading this.
The Twilight Zone is a show that I feel still plays today. Maybe today more than ever. It started during the Red Scare of the fifties, telling morality tales of social issues of the day disguised with a science fiction veneer. There's a lot of similarities between that time period and now with the rise of white nationalism since the election of Trump. It's amazing how one can still watch a show created in the fifties and find parallels in today's society.
The Twilight Zone is a show that I feel still plays today. Maybe today more than ever. It started during the Red Scare of the fifties, telling morality tales of social issues of the day disguised with a science fiction veneer. There's a lot of similarities between that time period and now with the rise of white nationalism since the election of Trump. It's amazing how one can still watch a show created in the fifties and find parallels in today's society.
December 30, 2022
Imagine if you will, the creator of one of the best anthology television series of all time, on a plane, relating to a passenger his life story. But an airplane ride is not just an airplane ride... in the Twilight Zone.
I'm a lifelong Twilight Zone fan so I was jazzed when my in-laws got me this for Christmas. It hooked me right away.
Drawn in a style evocative of the stark black and white of the Twilight Zone, The Twilight Man covers the life and times of Rod Serling, from his early years to his stint in the military to toiling as a teleplay writer for years before his big break finally came. It's mostly downhill after the Twilight Zone is canceled.
It's crazy how much work Serling put in during the Twilight Zone's three year run, working fourteen hours and smoking four packs of cigarettes a day, which undoubtedly lead to his downfall years later. As with most figures of this type, Serling's downhill slide after Twilight Zone was sad, the Night Gallery movie excepted.
That's about all I want to say for fear of spoiling my favorite parts of the book. Koren Shadmi did a great job capturing Serling's look and personality and also did a great job on other celebrity faces like Burgess Meredith and William Shatner. On a side note - isn't it crazy that we owe DesiLu studios for Twilight Zone AND Star Trek?
Five out of five stars.
I'm a lifelong Twilight Zone fan so I was jazzed when my in-laws got me this for Christmas. It hooked me right away.
Drawn in a style evocative of the stark black and white of the Twilight Zone, The Twilight Man covers the life and times of Rod Serling, from his early years to his stint in the military to toiling as a teleplay writer for years before his big break finally came. It's mostly downhill after the Twilight Zone is canceled.
It's crazy how much work Serling put in during the Twilight Zone's three year run, working fourteen hours and smoking four packs of cigarettes a day, which undoubtedly lead to his downfall years later. As with most figures of this type, Serling's downhill slide after Twilight Zone was sad, the Night Gallery movie excepted.
That's about all I want to say for fear of spoiling my favorite parts of the book. Koren Shadmi did a great job capturing Serling's look and personality and also did a great job on other celebrity faces like Burgess Meredith and William Shatner. On a side note - isn't it crazy that we owe DesiLu studios for Twilight Zone AND Star Trek?
Five out of five stars.
January 20, 2020
An informative and engaging biography of Rod Serling told as if it were an episode of "The Twilight Zone." It delves deeply into the influence that World War II, PTSD, and boxing had on Serling's writing, while touching more lightly on personal problems like infidelity, plagiarism, and the price of fame.
February 21, 2023
A biography of Rod Serling covering his service in World War II and then his work writing and producing for radio and, as technology evolved, working in the brand-new medium of television. Early scripted programs were rehearsed and then broadcast live, and many television pioneers speak fondly of the high-wire dramatic performances of those years.
Rod Serling is most famous for creating The Twilight Zone, and this show took a circuitous route. Commercial sponsors were afraid of the material. In fact, The Twilight Zone was created as a means of confronting uncomfortable themes (through science fiction and supernatural allegories) in a way that would not spook the powerful sponsors.
A follow up show, Night Gallery, is criticized in this book (seemingly repeating the words of Serling himself, but I'm not sure) but many viewers considered it compelling and extraordinary television when it first aired.
This graphic biography is interesting, but the topics covered are expansive and the result is necessarily superficial. The writing and art both get the job done and nothing more. There are decades of material here and our journey feels rushed, touching on all the main points but lacking intimacy and depth.
2 stars rounded up to Three, because, well, The Twilight Zone. Also, American slang for Germans in WWII was Jerry, not Gerry!
Rod Serling is most famous for creating The Twilight Zone, and this show took a circuitous route. Commercial sponsors were afraid of the material. In fact, The Twilight Zone was created as a means of confronting uncomfortable themes (through science fiction and supernatural allegories) in a way that would not spook the powerful sponsors.
A follow up show, Night Gallery, is criticized in this book (seemingly repeating the words of Serling himself, but I'm not sure) but many viewers considered it compelling and extraordinary television when it first aired.
This graphic biography is interesting, but the topics covered are expansive and the result is necessarily superficial. The writing and art both get the job done and nothing more. There are decades of material here and our journey feels rushed, touching on all the main points but lacking intimacy and depth.
2 stars rounded up to Three, because, well, The Twilight Zone. Also, American slang for Germans in WWII was Jerry, not Gerry!
February 22, 2020
Wonderful short biography of Rod Serling, done in a way that feels like an episode of The Twilight Zone.
I'd known basically nothing about him before. Turns out his life story is pretty interesting. And the story of the early days of TV, which he was a part of, is also very interesting. Serling wanted to do stories that dealt with serious contemporary social issues, but that was difficult due to interference from executives and advertisers. But by giving his stories in a SF/F he was able to bypass the censors. It is clear from this that he had natural talent, and worked very, very hard, but also had the luck to be in the right place at the right time to be successful.
I'd known basically nothing about him before. Turns out his life story is pretty interesting. And the story of the early days of TV, which he was a part of, is also very interesting. Serling wanted to do stories that dealt with serious contemporary social issues, but that was difficult due to interference from executives and advertisers. But by giving his stories in a SF/F he was able to bypass the censors. It is clear from this that he had natural talent, and worked very, very hard, but also had the luck to be in the right place at the right time to be successful.
October 16, 2019
Wer TWILIGHT ZONE geliebt hat, wird hochstwahrscheinlich auch diese Biographie Rod Serlings in Form einer Graphic Novel lieben, selbstverständlich in Schwarzweiß wie die Kultserie und mit einem finalen (!!) Plot=Twist.
April 10, 2022
A great look into the life of Rod Sterling easily one of the most creative minds in science fiction. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to watch my favorite Twilight Zone episode “Nightmare At 20,000 Feet”
June 12, 2021
Kind of weirdly paced as a good quarter of this book seemed to be full of war stories about Serling's time as a paratrooper, whereas his TV work and relationships with various sci-fi writers was very much skimmed over. They miss out anything about his childhood, you don't even get to see the birth of his kids, his wife is completely 2-Dimensional and doesn't do anything besides get on his case and tell him he's working too hard.... nobody in this seems to have much interior besides Serling himself, and he doesn't get much. There's a section where he's hanging about the Playboy Mansion and it's alluded that he cheats on his wife but there's no real consequences shown, and it doesn't really amount to anything in his wider life or the wider story. I suppose life is like that, not everything needs to mean anything, but then at the same time if you're telling a story; especially about someone who was so meaningful, you have to make the effort to make it resonate, otherwise it just comes across as one of those shallow made for TV biopic films... somehow I'm not sure if Serling would have appreciated his existence being reduced unintentionally via bad artistry... in fact, it's the opposite of what he's actually about.
January 1, 2023
My first five star read of 2023!
(I know there could be some mistakes in this review. I’m trying to improve my English, thanks)
Lately I've been interested in historical and biographical comics and this is a good example of what I like: a biography of the creator of the cult series Twilight Zone.
Contrary to the first thing that one might think, it is not a story with fantastic overtones, but rather focuses on the purely biographical aspect of Rod Serling, beginning long before he was known as the legendary television creator for which he is remembered today: his hard period as a paratrooper assigned to the Philippines in World War II until his difficult and long escalation on the radio and later in the new medium of television, until he managed to position himself as the media star thanks to this series... even though nothing lasts forever.
I think it is an excellent choice by the author that the drawings are in black and white, as was the television of his time, as well as his austere but also impressive when necessary style. As I have commented before, the script focuses on the purely biographical (in this aspect I understand that it is well documented) and for this reason it does not stop captivating the reader throughout all the reading.
(I know there could be some mistakes in this review. I’m trying to improve my English, thanks)
Lately I've been interested in historical and biographical comics and this is a good example of what I like: a biography of the creator of the cult series Twilight Zone.
Contrary to the first thing that one might think, it is not a story with fantastic overtones, but rather focuses on the purely biographical aspect of Rod Serling, beginning long before he was known as the legendary television creator for which he is remembered today: his hard period as a paratrooper assigned to the Philippines in World War II until his difficult and long escalation on the radio and later in the new medium of television, until he managed to position himself as the media star thanks to this series... even though nothing lasts forever.
I think it is an excellent choice by the author that the drawings are in black and white, as was the television of his time, as well as his austere but also impressive when necessary style. As I have commented before, the script focuses on the purely biographical (in this aspect I understand that it is well documented) and for this reason it does not stop captivating the reader throughout all the reading.
October 5, 2019
Before I say anything else, that ending, OOF! So good and a great hat-tip to The Twilight Zone.
It's amazing how so many things I read, even when not specifically about war, always show in some way, that war is hell, fighting and death are a waste and communication and connection could do so much to prevent the horrors of war.
I love the Twilight Zone. The episodes I've seen were all amazing, weird and some made me cry. (The one with the guy and the library and the clock and the glasses. You know which one I mean. YOU try not blubbering like an idiot every time you watch it!) But I didn't know much about it, or how hard it was to get on the air. I just took it for granted. I knew even less about the life of the person who created it.
This book filled in the gaps and made me acutely aware that we really shouldn't take anything for granted, not even good tv!
I don't want to go into spoiler territory, so I won't say much other than the story was amazing, the subject matter handled with tact and honesty and the artwork was quality.
There is war violence, lots of gruesome death as war tends to yield and some adultering, but just hinted at and no sex shown. Just be aware. Life isn't pretty and it doesn't always end the way one would like. But this ending was something else. I would recommend this book if only for that whole tie-together.
5, don't you want to enter The Twilight Zone, stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Humanoids/Life Drawn for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
It's amazing how so many things I read, even when not specifically about war, always show in some way, that war is hell, fighting and death are a waste and communication and connection could do so much to prevent the horrors of war.
I love the Twilight Zone. The episodes I've seen were all amazing, weird and some made me cry. (The one with the guy and the library and the clock and the glasses. You know which one I mean. YOU try not blubbering like an idiot every time you watch it!) But I didn't know much about it, or how hard it was to get on the air. I just took it for granted. I knew even less about the life of the person who created it.
This book filled in the gaps and made me acutely aware that we really shouldn't take anything for granted, not even good tv!
I don't want to go into spoiler territory, so I won't say much other than the story was amazing, the subject matter handled with tact and honesty and the artwork was quality.
There is war violence, lots of gruesome death as war tends to yield and some adultering, but just hinted at and no sex shown. Just be aware. Life isn't pretty and it doesn't always end the way one would like. But this ending was something else. I would recommend this book if only for that whole tie-together.
5, don't you want to enter The Twilight Zone, stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Humanoids/Life Drawn for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2023
Interesting tidbits on Rod Serling's life as a paratrooper in WWII and his later life as a screenwriter and creator of The Twilight Zone. The bio was a little tedious in its details (but that could just be the life of a screenwriter?) and could have played more on the novelty of the show, as groundbreaking and innovative as it was.
June 15, 2019
For those who are familiar with the Twilight Zone, this graphic novel version of Rod Serling's life reads like an extended twilight zone story.
It starts with Rod on board a flight, where he strikes up a conversation with his seat mate, who asks him about the story of his life, so he begins with the army.
It helps that we start there, because we get the essence of what shaped him.
I grew up watching the Twilight Zone, though it must have been in syndication, because it was over before I was old enough to have understood what was going on.
Nicely done. I wanted to go back and reread it once I was done, to see if I caught everything that was going on.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
It starts with Rod on board a flight, where he strikes up a conversation with his seat mate, who asks him about the story of his life, so he begins with the army.
It helps that we start there, because we get the essence of what shaped him.
I grew up watching the Twilight Zone, though it must have been in syndication, because it was over before I was old enough to have understood what was going on.
Nicely done. I wanted to go back and reread it once I was done, to see if I caught everything that was going on.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
May 9, 2020
Koren Shadmi’s The Twilight Man is a pretty decent effort to tell the story of Rod Serling. The media of graphic non-fiction imposes limitations on the ability to delve, fully explore or detail the larger context. The result is something like a Cliff Notes version of a full biography but with many more pictures. I finished it thinking I had a decent introduction to a man whose television show was in my house a must see. For many readers this book contains more than enough about Mr. Serling. I would have preferred more, but that thicker hypothetical book would not have been as well illustrated.
Mr. Shadmi has for us to consider the man who created The Twilight Zone as he arrives in the US Army a short Jewish, enlisted soldier who goes beyond the usual process to be accepted as a paratrooper. Serling would experience WW II as it was fought in the Pacific, at or in front of the battle lines. Seriously wounded in the body and ending the war with what is now called PTSD he was a man driven to write and found his place writing for television.
I had the benefit of seeing The Twilight Zone when black and white programming was the norm and when television special effects a matter of suggestion. Production values were barely more than simple sets. Twilight Zone specialized in the grey areas of humans. A fanatic reader given access to all of the books in the world, only to break his glasses. Can there be a hell worse than one where you always win? Or a frequently referred to episode of the question of beauty, in a world where ugly is the norm. These are episodes that call on the mind. Only rarely do things explode and sometimes death might be a preferred escape. For all of you fans of the stopping time with a stop watch plot; Serling broadcast it first.
Shadmi makes it clear that as the television business grew and The Suits took over, no one had ever understood what he intended and why it worked. Instead he was squeezed out from the budget side, even as he was over extending himself with outside projects.
This may be an oversimplification, but this is a graphic Bio and there is only so much time.
Mr. Shadmi has for us to consider the man who created The Twilight Zone as he arrives in the US Army a short Jewish, enlisted soldier who goes beyond the usual process to be accepted as a paratrooper. Serling would experience WW II as it was fought in the Pacific, at or in front of the battle lines. Seriously wounded in the body and ending the war with what is now called PTSD he was a man driven to write and found his place writing for television.
I had the benefit of seeing The Twilight Zone when black and white programming was the norm and when television special effects a matter of suggestion. Production values were barely more than simple sets. Twilight Zone specialized in the grey areas of humans. A fanatic reader given access to all of the books in the world, only to break his glasses. Can there be a hell worse than one where you always win? Or a frequently referred to episode of the question of beauty, in a world where ugly is the norm. These are episodes that call on the mind. Only rarely do things explode and sometimes death might be a preferred escape. For all of you fans of the stopping time with a stop watch plot; Serling broadcast it first.
Shadmi makes it clear that as the television business grew and The Suits took over, no one had ever understood what he intended and why it worked. Instead he was squeezed out from the budget side, even as he was over extending himself with outside projects.
This may be an oversimplification, but this is a graphic Bio and there is only so much time.
November 26, 2019
Well-paced biography of Rod Serling, that deftly avoids the stuffiness that tends to be a common problem of graphic biographies.
It even ends on a pretty solid plot twist.
It even ends on a pretty solid plot twist.
April 30, 2021
Imaginative biography of Rid Sterling written as though Sterling were speaking the text.Here we learned of the difficulties of Sterling's become famous and those of popularity.
October 2, 2019
An excellent biography of one of television’s pioneers. I knew pretty much nothing about Serling before reading this, but when I finished I came away with a greater appreciation for his works and what he did to try and break the mold of the radio & television industry.
The bio starts off in Serling’s teenage years in the military, showcasing his early attempts at creative writing as well as the horrors he witnessed that later inspired both his horror-based imagery as well as the social commentaries he wove into his scripts and stories.
Radio and TV were at the mercy of the advertisers who funded their shows and had plenty of say over what could and couldn’t be shown or scripted in a program. Serling disagreed with that–not only did it cause stunted creativity, but it inevitably didn’t allow certain observations and commentaries to be made in scripts. After all, something controversial would reflect badly on the brand(s) sponsoring the show! It took many scripts before Serling found the way to write what he wanted while making the commentaries he wanted, and when he did he created one of the most pioneering shows in TV history.
I loved the narrative style of the story and in itself it paid excellent homage to Serling’s style and works. The illustrations themselves I wouldn’t necessarily call amazing, but they deeply captured Serling’s looks and emotions throughout the story, which made it much more powerful.
Definitely a recommended read for anyone who likes television history!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!
(Cross posted on my blog.)
The bio starts off in Serling’s teenage years in the military, showcasing his early attempts at creative writing as well as the horrors he witnessed that later inspired both his horror-based imagery as well as the social commentaries he wove into his scripts and stories.
Radio and TV were at the mercy of the advertisers who funded their shows and had plenty of say over what could and couldn’t be shown or scripted in a program. Serling disagreed with that–not only did it cause stunted creativity, but it inevitably didn’t allow certain observations and commentaries to be made in scripts. After all, something controversial would reflect badly on the brand(s) sponsoring the show! It took many scripts before Serling found the way to write what he wanted while making the commentaries he wanted, and when he did he created one of the most pioneering shows in TV history.
I loved the narrative style of the story and in itself it paid excellent homage to Serling’s style and works. The illustrations themselves I wouldn’t necessarily call amazing, but they deeply captured Serling’s looks and emotions throughout the story, which made it much more powerful.
Definitely a recommended read for anyone who likes television history!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!
(Cross posted on my blog.)
July 25, 2019
I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley
I am not usually one for biography books, but I do really love The Twilight Zone and I figured a graphic novel was much less of a commitment than a prose book of the same length [I have a poor attention span, what can I say]. This was a pretty good story about Rod's early life and his work creating The Twilight Zone. I did like how the author framed it as Rod telling his own story in what was essentially an episode of The Twilight Zone complete with a twist ending.
On the other hand a lot of the information presented seemed very personal and came across as a bit off-putting knowing that this was written by someone after the person in question was already dead. I would hope much of this type of information came from interviews or people who knew Rod, because otherwise the author projected an awful lot of emotions onto him that we have no way of knowing whether he was actually feeling at the time.
Still, it was a pretty good read and it's interesting [and sad] to see how he had to fight censorship his whole life and even at times write for anti-Semitic people who did not want Jewish people in the scripts despite them literally being written by a Jewish man. It's sad that he had to use so much smoke and mirrors to talk about social issues, but ultimately a great show came out of it that people are still watching today.
I am not usually one for biography books, but I do really love The Twilight Zone and I figured a graphic novel was much less of a commitment than a prose book of the same length [I have a poor attention span, what can I say]. This was a pretty good story about Rod's early life and his work creating The Twilight Zone. I did like how the author framed it as Rod telling his own story in what was essentially an episode of The Twilight Zone complete with a twist ending.
On the other hand a lot of the information presented seemed very personal and came across as a bit off-putting knowing that this was written by someone after the person in question was already dead. I would hope much of this type of information came from interviews or people who knew Rod, because otherwise the author projected an awful lot of emotions onto him that we have no way of knowing whether he was actually feeling at the time.
Still, it was a pretty good read and it's interesting [and sad] to see how he had to fight censorship his whole life and even at times write for anti-Semitic people who did not want Jewish people in the scripts despite them literally being written by a Jewish man. It's sad that he had to use so much smoke and mirrors to talk about social issues, but ultimately a great show came out of it that people are still watching today.
January 22, 2023
Interesting, insightful, enjoyable - a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ graphic novel.
I had surface knowledge of Rod Serling, despite being a Twilight Zone fan. Parts of his life that were chosen to be included in the graphic novel were perfect for crafting a full life.
(Some pieces, though, were glossed over. Perhaps a younger readership was intended? Hints at alcoholism, or at least alcohol abuse, and not so subtle hints at extramarital affairs were dropped but not expanded on.)
Now I'm off to watch The Night Gallery movie and re-rewatch all the Twilight Zone episodes!
I had surface knowledge of Rod Serling, despite being a Twilight Zone fan. Parts of his life that were chosen to be included in the graphic novel were perfect for crafting a full life.
(Some pieces, though, were glossed over. Perhaps a younger readership was intended? Hints at alcoholism, or at least alcohol abuse, and not so subtle hints at extramarital affairs were dropped but not expanded on.)
Now I'm off to watch The Night Gallery movie and re-rewatch all the Twilight Zone episodes!
April 28, 2021
This is a beautifully drawn, well-written 2019 graphic novel format biography of ¨The Twilight Zone¨ great Rod Serling - discussing his meteoric rise in television script writing/production and subsequent crash, due to ill-health -- driving himself to an early death probably from overwork, smoking, and alcohol. The black and white color scheme of the book pays homage to the original ¨Twilight Zone¨ series, which was narrated by Serling and taped in B&W.
Throughout his life, Serling challenged the establishment - but in the end, the establishment defeated him as he over-extended himself, writing around the clock, barely meeting deadlines - the stress that smoking and working so hard must have placed on his heart probably led to his death at age 50 from a heart attack.
Serling initially struggled to have his scripts that critiqued social justice topics presented on television - but they were always censored, changed by the networks in accordance to the wishes of the sponsors, who did not want to rock the boat by ¨upsetting¨ the viewers. In ¨The Twilight Man,¨ the character of Serling says: ¨No dramatic art form should be dictated and controlled by men whose training and instincts are to sell consumer goods.¨ He abandoned that struggle once it was clear it was impossible to win against the network censors - and turned from dealing directly with social problems of the day to dealing with them indirectly through sci-fi or horror scripts and ¨The Twilight Zone¨ series. Since ¨The Twilight Zone¨ shows usually concluded with the narrator (Serling) pointing out the moral message of the story - Serling was still able to convey his ideas on some aspect of morality or social justice through the sci fi or horror stories of The Twilight Zone TV series.
Serling wrote the television drama ¨Requiem for a Heavyweight¨ - dealing with the decline of a boxer´s life, when he is no longer in demand as a boxer, can no longer win, and has become a laughing-stock. The boxer protagonist says in the play when he is urged to leave boxing in accordance with medical advice, since his mental capacity has been adversely affected by his career in the ring: ¨But...I dunno anythin' but fightin´!¨ Although the play was a major hit on TV, was even remade around the world in a number of languages, and was also was made into a film - Serling was sick of fighting the network censors. Years later, when Serling taught writing, the book has him telling his students about the subject of the play: ¨There´s something inherently tragic in the sport of boxing. Harlan ¨Mountain¨ McClintock [the protagonist of ¨Requiem for a Heavyweight¨] is not a victim of his own choices, but a victim of the system.¨ Like the protagonist of ¨Requiem for a Heavyweight,¨ despite railing against the inhuman establishment, he too was eventually used up, physically destroyed, by the system.
The epilogue to the book is an essay called ¨Beyond the Zone¨ written by Koren Shadmi, the author and artist of the ¨The Twilight Man.¨ In it, he discusses his own fascination with ¨The Twilight Zone¨ series, how he saw re-runs of the original series on TV growing up in Israel, and eventually began wondering about the show´s creator, Rod Serling. Discussing the era and context of the series, and why it was such a hit, Shadmi writes: ¨Serling was, after all, a product of World War II --a war that was perhaps the greatest traumatic event in the history of humanity.¨ The show in presenting scary stories in the aftermath of a frightening era which was followed by another frightening era -- the Cold War, held up a symbolic mirror, reflecting people´s anxieties, and as with the horror genre in general, provided an emotional escape - as well as catharsis. With respect to the relevance of Serling´s sources of inspiration to present-day events, especially the sense of the world spiraling out of control with the election of Trump, the rise of nationalism, identity politics, political binaries and polarization, Shadmi goes on to say: ¨After all, Serling had grown up in a world that had gone completely nuts. He had lived through war and seen senseless death and killing firsthand [when he saw action including getting wounded at Leyte in the Philippines in WWII]. He had returned to an all-powerful America, a country on the rise, yet in a state of deep terror of the atomic bomb. Anxiety and uncertainty were in the air, and Serling was able to channel them, perhaps better than anyone, in the then modest and still formless medium of television.¨
This graphic novel format biography of Rod Serling can be enjoyed at one sitting - is well worth it, and to me at least, is one of the best recent graphic novel books. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in media, television, and above all, Serling and ¨The Twilight Zone.¨
Throughout his life, Serling challenged the establishment - but in the end, the establishment defeated him as he over-extended himself, writing around the clock, barely meeting deadlines - the stress that smoking and working so hard must have placed on his heart probably led to his death at age 50 from a heart attack.
Serling initially struggled to have his scripts that critiqued social justice topics presented on television - but they were always censored, changed by the networks in accordance to the wishes of the sponsors, who did not want to rock the boat by ¨upsetting¨ the viewers. In ¨The Twilight Man,¨ the character of Serling says: ¨No dramatic art form should be dictated and controlled by men whose training and instincts are to sell consumer goods.¨ He abandoned that struggle once it was clear it was impossible to win against the network censors - and turned from dealing directly with social problems of the day to dealing with them indirectly through sci-fi or horror scripts and ¨The Twilight Zone¨ series. Since ¨The Twilight Zone¨ shows usually concluded with the narrator (Serling) pointing out the moral message of the story - Serling was still able to convey his ideas on some aspect of morality or social justice through the sci fi or horror stories of The Twilight Zone TV series.
Serling wrote the television drama ¨Requiem for a Heavyweight¨ - dealing with the decline of a boxer´s life, when he is no longer in demand as a boxer, can no longer win, and has become a laughing-stock. The boxer protagonist says in the play when he is urged to leave boxing in accordance with medical advice, since his mental capacity has been adversely affected by his career in the ring: ¨But...I dunno anythin' but fightin´!¨ Although the play was a major hit on TV, was even remade around the world in a number of languages, and was also was made into a film - Serling was sick of fighting the network censors. Years later, when Serling taught writing, the book has him telling his students about the subject of the play: ¨There´s something inherently tragic in the sport of boxing. Harlan ¨Mountain¨ McClintock [the protagonist of ¨Requiem for a Heavyweight¨] is not a victim of his own choices, but a victim of the system.¨ Like the protagonist of ¨Requiem for a Heavyweight,¨ despite railing against the inhuman establishment, he too was eventually used up, physically destroyed, by the system.
The epilogue to the book is an essay called ¨Beyond the Zone¨ written by Koren Shadmi, the author and artist of the ¨The Twilight Man.¨ In it, he discusses his own fascination with ¨The Twilight Zone¨ series, how he saw re-runs of the original series on TV growing up in Israel, and eventually began wondering about the show´s creator, Rod Serling. Discussing the era and context of the series, and why it was such a hit, Shadmi writes: ¨Serling was, after all, a product of World War II --a war that was perhaps the greatest traumatic event in the history of humanity.¨ The show in presenting scary stories in the aftermath of a frightening era which was followed by another frightening era -- the Cold War, held up a symbolic mirror, reflecting people´s anxieties, and as with the horror genre in general, provided an emotional escape - as well as catharsis. With respect to the relevance of Serling´s sources of inspiration to present-day events, especially the sense of the world spiraling out of control with the election of Trump, the rise of nationalism, identity politics, political binaries and polarization, Shadmi goes on to say: ¨After all, Serling had grown up in a world that had gone completely nuts. He had lived through war and seen senseless death and killing firsthand [when he saw action including getting wounded at Leyte in the Philippines in WWII]. He had returned to an all-powerful America, a country on the rise, yet in a state of deep terror of the atomic bomb. Anxiety and uncertainty were in the air, and Serling was able to channel them, perhaps better than anyone, in the then modest and still formless medium of television.¨
This graphic novel format biography of Rod Serling can be enjoyed at one sitting - is well worth it, and to me at least, is one of the best recent graphic novel books. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in media, television, and above all, Serling and ¨The Twilight Zone.¨
January 7, 2020
It's rare for a graphic bio to actually shed light on a person rather than beat the dead horse of his career highlights. Read, learn and remember, for we shall not see his like again.
February 20, 2020
A heartfelt tribute biography to the man who created "The Twilight Zone," the famous 1960s television show that was ahead of its time. A Jewish underdog intellectual, a daredevil paratrooper in World War II, and a writer who saw the potential in television, Serling's hard work and driven nature consumed him. I've seen some "Twilight Zone" episodes long ago but, after reading this, I'm now inspired to watch the entire series this winter. The graphic illustrations are powerful and sharply drawn, and lend a vintage quality to the text.
June 18, 2023
This was a fantastic graphic novel biography of Rod Serling, and an awesome tribute to one for the most brilliant and creative minds ever. As a longtime fan of “The Twilight Zone,” I learned quite a bit, and it’s it presented beautifully. I read Shadmi’s similarly painstakingly researched and lovingly rendered graphic novel biography of Bela Lugosi recently, and I will absolutely read any he does in the future, especially if they are like biographies of historical entertainment figures in the field of horror.
February 15, 2020
Fascinating look into Rod Serling and why he saw potential with the Sci-Fi genre to bring some of the freshest and most thought-provoking entertainment to a then-fledging medium. There's a reason that The Twilight Zone still holds appeal to audiences beyond the nostalgia factor, and this graphic gives some insight into why.
April 24, 2021
I don’t read many graphic novels. Honestly, I didn’t realize this was one when I ordered it from Amazon. How is that possible? Amazon suggests things based on what you’ve already ordered from them, and this one came up. The price was right so I ordered it. It turns out that I enjoyed it quite a lot. I prefer regular books because they allow your imagination to go where it will—make its own images. A graphic novel is like peering into someone else’s imagination. I’m a fan of Rod Serling, as a glance through my reviews reveals. I feel I learned something about him from Koren Shadmi’s treatment/vision.
As Shadmi admits, he’s a relative newcomer to The Twilight Zone. I grew up with it. It must’ve been on its early reruns then, since the series started before I was old enough to know what television was. No matter, Shadmi has immersed himself in the biography of the remarkable man who created it. He was an intensely creative person trying to make a living at what he loved. His past experiences, however, made him what he was. He found a way of expressing it through the macabre and futuristic stories. Success, however, didn’t satisfy him.
On my blog post (Sects and Violence in the Ancient World) I discuss the lure and fear of graphic novels. This one is part fact and part fiction. Anyone who wasn’t there has to re-envision what his experiences must’ve been like. That makes it a novel. That it was done with a true appreciation for a man who influenced many others not to conform, makes it a noble effort. Like most graphic novels it’s a fairly quick read, but that doesn’t mean it won’t make you think.
As Shadmi admits, he’s a relative newcomer to The Twilight Zone. I grew up with it. It must’ve been on its early reruns then, since the series started before I was old enough to know what television was. No matter, Shadmi has immersed himself in the biography of the remarkable man who created it. He was an intensely creative person trying to make a living at what he loved. His past experiences, however, made him what he was. He found a way of expressing it through the macabre and futuristic stories. Success, however, didn’t satisfy him.
On my blog post (Sects and Violence in the Ancient World) I discuss the lure and fear of graphic novels. This one is part fact and part fiction. Anyone who wasn’t there has to re-envision what his experiences must’ve been like. That makes it a novel. That it was done with a true appreciation for a man who influenced many others not to conform, makes it a noble effort. Like most graphic novels it’s a fairly quick read, but that doesn’t mean it won’t make you think.
August 17, 2019
THE TWILIGHT MAN: Rod Serling and the Birth of Television, written and illustrated by Koren Shadmi, tells the story of the genius behind The Twilight Zone.
Shadmi, living in India, didn’t see the original Twilight Zone until 2009, but they were smitten. Who was this creator of strange stories?
Covering Serling’s World War II experience is an important part of what made his personality. Shadmi then covers how Serling fell into writing in college, his professional beginnings in New York, and the highs and lows of working in Hollywood.
I highly recommend this graphic novel for readers of biographies, history, and the entertainment industry.
I thank #Netgalley for the honor of reading this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Shadmi, living in India, didn’t see the original Twilight Zone until 2009, but they were smitten. Who was this creator of strange stories?
Covering Serling’s World War II experience is an important part of what made his personality. Shadmi then covers how Serling fell into writing in college, his professional beginnings in New York, and the highs and lows of working in Hollywood.
I highly recommend this graphic novel for readers of biographies, history, and the entertainment industry.
I thank #Netgalley for the honor of reading this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 340 reviews