SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

November 10, 2021 by Johanna

World Citizen Comics: What Unites Us | Review

November 10, 2021 by Johanna   Leave a Comment

World Citizen Comics: What Unites Us is a graphic adaptation of Dan Rather’s best-selling prose book.

Since the appeal of the comic format was recognized by larger, more traditional publishers, resulting in the graphic novel boom, there have been any number of non-fiction comics released. A number of them focus on education to the exclusion of anything else. That makes for dry, unappealing works that don’t take full advantage of the medium, or worse, illustrated texts, where the pictures aren’t needed to grasp the meaning of the content. Good comics allow both to combine into something more, using words and art to achieve greater understanding than either on their own.

When the World Citizen Comics imprint was announced, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Publisher First Second has put out the Science Comics line, which has a high proportion of wonderful, creative books that inform while entertaining. However, history can be a more difficult subject.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

World Citizen Comics: What Unites Us: The Graphic Novel cover

What Unites Us: The Graphic Novel
written by Dan Rather and Elliot Kirschner; art by Tim Foley
First Second Books, $28.99

I feared that this collection of essays would be particularly susceptible to the block-of-text problem, but Foley has done a brilliant job of illustrating Rather’s words, whether they’re descriptive of a moment in his memory or history, or more subjective in describing a mood or symbolic virtues. I was pleasantly surprised to see how exceptional this book was, particularly since it adapted an existing prose work.

Rather’s long history — the book opens by describing the family car, a 1938 Oldsmobile — means that the pictures do a service by showing what the objects and world looked like in previous decades. In that sense, for older readers, they’re memory-joggers, capturing key public moments of politicians or movements or daily life. Through much of the book, Rather, drawn in his trenchcoat, is the reader’s guide.

The chapter on “freedom” discusses the checkered history of voting rights. the importance of dissent, and why we need a free press, with special attention to economic changes affecting journalism over the years. “Community” covers inclusion and tolerance. I found it affecting to see Rather acknowledge his own flaws, as he came to realize his ignorance around bigotry against homosexuality, as well as racism and sexism. He also makes a call for greater empathy.

“Exploration” argues for a return to supporting science over superstition and building a love of books and learning and the arts. “Responsibility” is about our lack of connection with nature, with moments of Rather’s childhood, which is very different from today’s. He also argues the importance of public education and how our schools are failing to live up to the ideal, as well as the virtue of public service.

“Character” is a call to remember the audacity that eradicated smallpox and took us to the moon. The book ends with material on the virtues of steadiness and courage. It’s a clear-eyed look at our many problems, with an overlay of hope.

I did not expect to be won over, but I actually found this book very inspiring. Rather’s own journey, as he recalls discovering some of the injustices that make up U.S. history, can be a model, as he has an honest view of community and patriotism that understands the best of what we can be while acknowledging our flaws and challenges. We have, he writes, as part of our love of country “a responsibility to bear witness to its faults.” We must translate our dreams and ideals into reality for all, regardless of race, heritage, or who one loves.

[Editor’s note: Want to know more about World Citizen Comics? Check out SLJ’s interview with editor Mark Siegel about his vision for the imprint and a roundup of other comics that center democracy and citizenship.]

Filed under: Graphic Novels, Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
Dan RatherdemocracyElliot KirschnerFirst Second BookspoliticsTim FoleyWorld Citizen Comics

About Johanna

Johanna Draper Carlson has been reviewing comics for over 20 years. She manages ComicsWorthReading.com, the longest-running independent review site online that covers all genres of comic books, graphic novels, and manga. She has an MA in popular culture, studying online fandom, and was previously, among many other things, webmaster for DC Comics. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

March 2023

Review: Nat the Cat Takes a Nap

by Johanna

March 2023

Review: Victory! Stand!

by Johanna

February 2023

Insomniacs After School, vol. 1 | Review

by Johanna

February 2023

Review: A Visit to Moscow

by Johanna

February 2023

Science Comics: The Periodic Table of Elements | Review

by Johanna

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

One Star Review, Guess Who? (#184)

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Review of the Day – Trees: Haiku from Roots to Leaves by Sally M. Walker, ill. Angela McKay

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Review: Nat the Cat Takes a Nap

by Esther Keller

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Here Be Monsters: On Horror, Catharsis, and Uneasy Truces with Yourself, a guest post by author Rebecca Mahoney

by Karen Jensen, MLS

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Newbery Medalist Amina Luqman-Dawson visits The Yarn

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

15 Returning Faces for Graphic Novels Shelves | Series Update

Seven Titles with Censorship Themes

13 Graphic Novels To Look Forward to in 2020 | Stellar Panels 

Reviews and Coverage of the 2021 Eisner Award Nominations

Manga, An All-Ages Starter List | Mondo Manga

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023