First man
Subtitle: reimagining Matthew Henson
By: Simon Schwartz ; translated by Laura Watkinson
Contributors: Schwartz, Simon, 1982-
Edition: First American edition.
Published: 2015
Language: eng
Number of pages: 160
ISBN-13: 9781467758420; 9781467781060
Subjects: Juvenile literature; African American explorers; Explorers; Biography; Comic books, strips
Work titles: Packeis
Description: In this graphic novel, Simon Schwartz weaves biography and fiction together to explore the life of Arctic adventurer Matthew Henson. Moving between different time periods and incorporating Inuit mythology, Schwartz offers fresh perspective on the many challenges Henson confronted during his life. As a member of early missions to reach the North Pole, Henson braved subzero temperatures and shifting sea ice. As an African American at the turn of the twentieth century, he also faced harassment and prejudice. Henson won a place on Arctic expeditions through skill and determination--though he didn't receive the same credit as his teammates. He also won the respect of the native peoples he met during his journeys--though he couldn't prevent the harm that the expeditions caused them. More than a biography, First Man: Reimagining Matthew Henson is an artistic homage to Henson's accomplishments and the complicated realities of being a trailblazer in a society that didn't recognize black men as equals.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 159).