A rousing tribute to an athlete whose star has dimmed over the generations but deserves to shine again.
Riding to glory.
Not many know the name Marshall Walter Taylor. A century ago, however, he was celebrated around the globe for his dominance in the sport of bicycle racing. His inspiring life story is told in this spirited graphic biography by Noland, an artist whose work centers on overlooked Black historical figures. He begins by outlining the bicycle’s origins, zipping through lively descriptions of “proto-bicycles,” such as the “quintessentially Victorian” high-wheeler; once a “novelty for the rich,” the bicycle in the late-19th century came to be mass-produced, allowing people from all walks of life to explore their surroundings on the “machine of freedom.” Into this world emerged an Indiana boy who took to his bike, at age 11, to sell newspapers to help his family. Young Marshall was also a natural on two wheels, blessed with acrobatic skills that drew the attention of onlookers. One of them was Tom Hay, a bike shop owner who hired the lad. “Pishposh,” says Hay. “You aren’t a paperboy. You are a performer!” Hay promoted Marshall to “Major” and encouraged him to compete in his first race—which he won. In little time, he was taking part in other contests; in 1892, at 13, he was in the top three finishers in an Illinois race, despite being “the youngest, smallest, and the only Black rider.” As Taylor’s stature grew, the League of American Wheelmen, which had banned Black members, changed its course and accepted Taylor, in part because of the buzz it would generate. Taylor’s victories did not come without obstacles. Even as he became a famous athlete—and one of the wealthiest Black men in Massachusetts—he received threats, was denied lodging and entry into races, and suffered injuries after being struck by fellow riders. Yet the perseverance of this “polite and levelheaded…model Christian” shines through in Noland’s evocative drawings, the thrill of the races and the gentleness of this rare soul vividly captured in panel after panel.
A rousing tribute to an athlete whose star has dimmed over the generations but deserves to shine again.Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026
ISBN: 9781770464933
Page Count: 372
Publisher: Drawn & Quarterly
Review Posted Online: June 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
PERSPECTIVES
An impassioned message of rage and hope.
The author of Persepolis returns with a collection about burgeoning activism in Iran.
In September 2022, the beating and death of Mahsa Jina Amini, an Iranian student arrested for not wearing her headscarf properly, incited a solidarity movement among women and men that spread around the world. To publicize and bear witness to this major uprising, Satrapi has gathered stories, cartoons, and essays from more than 20 artists, activists, journalists, and academics. The author has two aims: “to explain what’s going on in Iran, to decipher events in all their complexity and nuance for a non-Iranian readership, and to help you understand them as fully as possible”; and “to remind Iranians that they are not alone.” Setting the movement in context, Iranian American historian Abbas Milani offers an overview of the political upheavals and revolutions that have led to the current misogynist, repressive regime and the “resolute defiance” that has emerged in protest. As each contributor attests, life under a wrathful dictatorship is consistently frightening and dangerous: “The Islamic Republic ensures its own survival by murdering people. During the successive demonstrations” over Amini’s murder, “several hundred people were killed in an attempt to strike fear into the hearts of protesters. Young people were forced to confess under torture.” Women are especially vulnerable. Since November 2022, young students in schools across Iran have been poisoned by toxic gas as part of an attempt to force girls’ schools to close. Protecting the regime falls to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a paramilitary organization that answers directly to Khomeini, the Supreme Leader, and for the past four decades has carried out a reign of terror. This collection pays homage to victims and celebrates the dreams of Iran’s determined activists. Other contributors include Joanne Sfar, Lewis Trondheim, Paco Roca, and Mana Neyestani.
An impassioned message of rage and hope.Pub Date: March 19, 2024
ISBN: 9781644214053
Page Count: 280
Publisher: Seven Stories
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
IN THE NEWS
A delightful exploration of navigating the bumpy road to adulthood.
A story of a long-overdue Sapphic coming-of-age.
Through an autobiographical graphic narrative that is at times hysterically funny and at times gut-wrenching, readers follow Mieri, a young Japanese woman living in the U.S. From the lesbian characters in anime that she crushed on to the first real girl Mieri was attracted to, she’s known for a while that she likes butch girls. The fact that she sees fewer butch x butch relationships won’t stop her from trying to find a girlfriend even though the path, in person and on dating apps, is fraught with challenges. After she goes to visit her grandparents, Mieri meets Ash, a White American teaching English in Japan who becomes her first girlfriend. It starts out great: College sophomore Mieri experiences the stress and rewards of making the first move and even has her first kiss. But a month later, Ash breaks up with her, Mieri’s parents get divorced, and her grandparents learn about and aren’t cool with her sexuality. Worst of all, she can’t stop thinking about Ash. As Mieri navigates the aftershocks of the breakup, she also grows into maturity. The book has impeccable pacing and is engaging from start to finish. The humorous art enhances the narrative in a meaningful way, especially in portraying Mieri’s own emotional journey.
A delightful exploration of navigating the bumpy road to adulthood. (extra panels, author’s note, creating a manga, Q&A, bonus gallery) (Manga. 14-adult)Pub Date: Feb. 14, 2023
ISBN: 9781974736591
Page Count: 208
Publisher: VIZ Media
Review Posted Online: Feb. 7, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2023
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