IDW Publishing has announced plans for a graphic novel based on the life of the Godfather of Soul. Written and illustrated by Xavier Fauthoux, James Brown: Black and Proud will be available in stores in October.
“Tracing the life of this cultural juggernaut, Black and Proud, paints a rich portrait of a true larger-than-life American personality,” said Justin Eisinger, Editorial Director of Graphic Novels and Collections at IDW, in a press release. “Even readers more than casually familiar with Mr. Brown’s career and achievements will find plenty of new revelations and details that add a deep complexity to a celebrated cultural icon. And that’s something so powerful about the contemporary non-fiction movement in graphic storytelling.”
Here’s how IDW describes the project ion the press release:
Born in the South during the height of segregation, James Brown launched his career as a gospel singer before skyrocketing to fame with tracks like “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine.” During the height of the civil rights movement, he soothed the tensions of a mourning community in the wake of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination, and provided the cause with an anthem in “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud.” With immeasurable talent and powerful presence, and amid adversity and controversy, he chased what he believed was the American Dream.
Fauthoux is a French film director and producer. In 2012, he won the James Brown Music Video Challenge with his submission for the song “It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World.” Check it out below:
Director's Cut – James Brown music video – It's Man's Man's Man's World from SHOOT THE BOSS on Vimeo.