The best historical comics — inspired by real events — are, at the top,Mausby Art Spiegelman,Persepolisby Marjane Satrapi,Marchby John Lewis andFrom Hellby Alan Moore. This tier list classifies stories anchored in History according to their quality and rigor. Facts (authors, subjects) verified, no invented ratings; each entry refers to a record when it exists.
Comics are a wonderful tool for telling History: the Shoah, segregation, wars. This tier list classifies historical comics according to theirnarrative quality and their documentary requirements. Many have become references, including school ones.
Editorial Ranks, Factsverified. Each entry refers to a site file when it exists.
Tier S: monuments
Mausrecounts the Holocaust experienced by the author's father — the only Pulitzer-winning graphic novel.Persepolistraces the childhood of Marjane Satrapi in revolutionary Iran.Marchis the story of civil rights activist John Lewis, andFrom Helldives into Jack the Ripper's London with crazy documentary rigor.
Tier A: the large frescoes
Berlinby Jason Lutes depicts the Weimar Republic,Louis RielCanadian history, andPalestineasThey Called Us Enemy(Japanese-American internment camps) bear witness to major conflicts and injustices.
Tier B: the drawn report
Two Brothers,Age of Bronze(the Trojan War),The Photographer(Afghanistan) andSafe Area Goraždeby Joe Sacco (the Bosnian War) illustrate the documentary power of the medium.
Tier C: testimonials
Alan's War,Gen of Hiroshima,VietnamericaetSpring in Chernobylforcefully combine history and personal narrative.
Tier D: war stories
The 'Nam,Charley's WaretNat Turnerclose this tier list: striking historical stories, straddling war comics.
To remember
- Mausproved that comics could deal with the most serious subjects.
- The historical comicis often awarded and used in schools.
- The drawn report(Joe Sacco) is a genre in its own right.
- Each entry refers to a site file when it exists.
Frequently asked questions
Mausby Art Spiegelman is unanimous: the only Pulitzer-winning graphic novel, it tells the story of the Shoah with unequaled force. Persepolis and March follow closely.
The best are based on rigorous documentary work (From Hell, Joe Sacco). Many are also recommended in educational settings for their accuracy.
ByMausouPersepolis, two accessible and moving stories, available in bound collections.
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