I haven't heard of the book being reviewed. I don't know whether or not it is accurate or respectful. Bill Miller would know. Please don't rush out and buy the book just because I have passed on this review. I have done so only for your information. I found it in a blog when I was doing a routine search for anything related to John on the net. I hope it's helpful.

Your mate Down Under,

Grahame.

Here's a product description:
The graphic biography of the most famous country singer of all time - The Man in Black. Renowned graphic novelist Rheinhard Kleist depicts Johnny Cash's eventful life from his early sessions with Elvis, through the concert in Folsom Prison, his spectacular comeback and the final years before his death. Cash is an idol to music fans from every generation and his entire unpredictable life as a loner, a patriot, an outlaw, a music business rebel and a drug addict provides a complex true story for graphic novel and music fans alike. We first saw some of this when the very respected Kleist published it in Germany a couple of years back and we've been seriously wanting someone to translate it and publish it in English, it looks terrific.

Here's an illustration:


Now here's the actual review:
what have I become?
my sweetest friend
everyone I know
goes away in the end
and you could have it all
my empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
(Hurt by Trent Reznor, but made perfect by Johnny Cash)

I’ve just finished Reinhard Kleist’s wonderful graphic biography of Johnny Cash – I See A Darkness and have to say it’s every bit as good as Joe said in his review last week. In fact, Joe did such a good job of reviewing it that I’m not even going to try.

Here’s some of what Joe had to say:
Anyone who’s listened to Cash’s music over the years knows his songs came out of his life; the darkness and the light were both there, he lived through them, he pretty much lived his songs. And that’s part of the point Kleist makes here, how so many people … bought into Cash because his singing is honest; you feel the raw emotion in his voice, in the early work and even in the final years.

Its a wonderful read; in fact I found after I’d finish I had to go back and re-read it more slowly and enjoyed it even more on the second reading and I know its going to be one of those special books that I go back to every so often and read once more. Its a story of a 20th century icon, a man who bestrode pretty much all normal boundaries of genre to appeal to a far wider audience and a remarkable life….. But mostly its about a man, the darkness he sees around him that almost swallows him and the lights that lead him back out the edge of the darkness (although he’d never be completely free of it), the love of his mother, his lost brother, June.

All I can say is that I agree with him completely. I See A Darkness has a wonderfully true feel - this feels like Johnny Cash’s life, every dark moment, every song, every emotion. It’’s a great read.

I’d add just one thing to Joe’s review – take a little time with this and soundtrack it – set up a playlist, get all those classic Cash songs on and you’ll realise just how well Kleist captures the essence of Johnny Cash. And be sure to end the soundtrack as Kleist ends his book; with Cash’s American Recordings work with Rick Rubin. End it with Cash’s voice, cracking and fragile singing his version of Hurt. Tears should flow.

Yes, it was and is a big success in Germany where it originally was written. As I said before, I'm glad it made it to the international market in English.

WOW!! I hope it IS as good as it sounds.. If Reimer approves then I have to sit up and listen!!

The first few words of Grahame's post was "novelist".. That kinda caught me but novelists CAN write non-fiction.. That is what I want.. I am NOT a person who knows ALL about Cash like how many eggs he ate for breakfast but when I read one untruth in a book about him then it is over for me..

I hope Bill will get this in the STORE.. I am more than willing to give it a try!! Anxious to hear others opinions...

Yes........this is the one Reimer gave us his approval of here a while back (many Thanks Reimer) & I was going to go out to Barnes & Noble then, however, I couldnt remember the title or author......now I can.........sounds interesting!!!!
Will it be offered in the store Bill??............if so.......when??

I cannot recommend this graphic novel enough. It's awesome!

In The Netherlands/Holland it's currently in its 4th printing since march.

This looks like a fascinating book.

Nancy

it's funny, i just finished reading it early this week ! i really liked it !
it's got a great vibe. i read it in french tough, but its really a great graphic novel !!!

Here's another review of this graphic novel by Reinhard Kleist that I just found on the net:


Saw a Train a Comin’

Courtesy Abrams Publishing
by M. Landis
November 4, 2009

"If you are a fan of Johnny Cash, or are curious about the nature of the iconic "Man in Black," you owe it to yourself to make time to read "Johnny Cash: I See A Darkness" (Abrams Publishing, 2009, $17.95). Written and illustrated by Reinhard Kleist, this graphic novel takes you from Cash's humble beginnings in Tennessee to the famous concert at Folsom Prison in 1968 at the pinnacle of his career, with the ups-and-downs from point A to point B included.


"The book opens with a blast of imagery, illustrating a line from "Folsom Prison Blues": "I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die." No lyrics from the song are evident, but there is no mistaking Kleist's intention. He repeats this trick throughout the novel, casting Cash as the characters in his songs, punctuating the singer's outsider stance in the music business and polemical relationship with the world at large.

"The narrative of the book is framed by Folsom prisoner Glen Sherley's anticipation upon hearing the news that Johnny Cash will be performing at the prison. Sherley is a musician himself who idolizes Cash for his understanding of the plight of the common and downtrodden individual. Sherley records a demo that he intends to get to Cash, entrusting the prison's chaplain to help him. Sherley's anxiety is palpable, and it drives the story as much as the main character.

"Although Sherley's story is fictionalized, it's based on truth. You can actually hear Johnny Cash call him by name on the album "Live At Folsom Prison." Like the visual interpretations of the songs, the prisoner's anxious wait for the day of the concert is woven into the heart of the story.

"We meet the Cash family in 1935, as they move to Arkansas as part of Roosevelt's New Deal to farm cotton. It's in these early days that young Johnny, then known as J.R., develops an affinity for music and aspires to something bigger than cotton farming. In his youth Cash idolized his older brother Jack, who died an untimely death at the age of 14. After this event, the family held together with Johnny filling his brother's absence with music. But it wasn't long before his dreams took him to the boredom of a Detroit automotive production line, and then to the lure of military service and a chance to see the world.

"Upon his return from service, Cash and his new wife, Vivian, settled in Memphis. He worked as a door-to-door salesman while pursuing his musical career on the side. Grabbing the attention of the legendary Sam Phillips, who discovered Elvis Presley, Cash's life takes an upswing as he embarks on a life of constant touring, partying and indulgence. As his career takes off, his personal relationships crumble until he realizes he has sunk as far as he can. With the help of family and music partner June Carter, who saw the best and worst of Cash, he begins to put his life back together.

"The climactic account of the concert at Folsom Prison delivers all the resolution a reader could want. I recommend you hear the record to get the full impact of a concert played in what was the worst prison in America at the time. You will have a better understanding of the book's imagery for it. This was tension and release for both the musicians, but much more so for the inmates. This is particularly true for prisoner Sherley, who meets his hero in a larger-than-life moment and finds the redemption he craves.

"The book ends with an epilogue of an elder Johnny Cash, reflective and wiser, recording some of his last material with producer Rick Rubin. Here you'll learn Sherley's eventual fate and get a glimpse of a part of American legend shortly before his passing. Bittersweet, indeed.

"Kleist's graphic novel does more than just hit the highlights of an infamous man with an illustrious career. Peppering the story with his take on some instantly recognizable images of the singer, the work is loose and consistently moves you through the pages, panel to panel, with a fluidity that only the best comics achieve. As a bonus, he has included a gallery of more traditionally styled portraits of his subject. Kleist has received several comic-related awards in his native Germany for "Johnny Cash: I See A Darkness," and I look forward to more of his work in the future."


I hope that might have been of some interest to some fans and friends in here.

(Sure has been quiet here lately ...)

Thanks, Grahame.. I hope Bill gets that in the STORE..

And IF you mention QUIET in a thread, you will get LOTS of responses!!!