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Al Capone
A década de 1920 marca, nos Estados Unidos, o auge do crime organizado. Com subornos, balas e sobre centenas de cadáveres, erguem-se impérios de milhões de dólares. Em Chicago, o rei do crime organizado tem um nome que é por todos pronunciado com um misto de medo e de respeito: Al «Scarface» Capone.
Mas como contar a sua história? Swann Meralli e Pierre-François Radice optam por deixar que seja o próprio Al Capone a fazê-lo, a partir da sua cela em Alcatraz onde, em 1938, se encontrava preso. Conta-a à sua mãe, que foi visitá-lo à prisão. Mas o terrível Al Capone não consegue evitá-lo: faz batota, desfalca a verdade. E, assim, deixa-nos a verdadeira história (falsificada à sua maneira) do maior gangster de todos os tempos!
Mas como contar a sua história? Swann Meralli e Pierre-François Radice optam por deixar que seja o próprio Al Capone a fazê-lo, a partir da sua cela em Alcatraz onde, em 1938, se encontrava preso. Conta-a à sua mãe, que foi visitá-lo à prisão. Mas o terrível Al Capone não consegue evitá-lo: faz batota, desfalca a verdade. E, assim, deixa-nos a verdadeira história (falsificada à sua maneira) do maior gangster de todos os tempos!
176 pages, Hardcover
Published September 1, 2024
52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 22, 2024
As a huge fan of the Godfather trilogy and gangster movies in general, I had high expectations for this one.
The story begins with Al Capone in jail, nearing the end of his infamous criminal career. During his imprisonment, he's visited by his mother, and from that point on, we are taken on a journey through his life as he recounts his deeds to her. However, Capone isn't always truthful in his storytelling. What I love is how the narrative cleverly contrasts what Capone says with what we see in the artwork—he tells one version of events to his mother, but the visuals reveal the darker, more brutal truth. It's a brilliant touch that adds depth to the story.
There’s a certain charm to the noble criminal archetype. Even though these characters operate outside the law, they often follow their own code of honor, and we witness that in several key moments throughout the book. But, of course, at the end of the day, they are still ruthless criminals who ultimately serve only themselves. Yet, to some extent, isn't that something we all do?
This book offers a captivating look into Al Capone's life, blending a well-crafted narrative with stunning artwork. The visuals perfectly complement the story, and together they create a seamless experience. I was never bored for a moment.
The story begins with Al Capone in jail, nearing the end of his infamous criminal career. During his imprisonment, he's visited by his mother, and from that point on, we are taken on a journey through his life as he recounts his deeds to her. However, Capone isn't always truthful in his storytelling. What I love is how the narrative cleverly contrasts what Capone says with what we see in the artwork—he tells one version of events to his mother, but the visuals reveal the darker, more brutal truth. It's a brilliant touch that adds depth to the story.
There’s a certain charm to the noble criminal archetype. Even though these characters operate outside the law, they often follow their own code of honor, and we witness that in several key moments throughout the book. But, of course, at the end of the day, they are still ruthless criminals who ultimately serve only themselves. Yet, to some extent, isn't that something we all do?
This book offers a captivating look into Al Capone's life, blending a well-crafted narrative with stunning artwork. The visuals perfectly complement the story, and together they create a seamless experience. I was never bored for a moment.
October 6, 2023
My thanks to Black Panel Press/Diamond Books for a review copy of this book.
While I knew Al Capone as an American gangster, one whose name perhaps comes up first in one’s mind when anyone mentions gangsters, and that he was eventually arrested not for those crimes but tax fraud, that was literally all I knew about him. So when I spotted this graphic novel, I thought it sounded the perfect way to get to know more (without picking up a bio etc.). As the editor’s note at the end of the book explains, even though 76 years have passed since Capone’s death (1947) much about his life including whether he actually suffered syphilis which was supposedly diagnosed with or how he got the scars on his face is debated. The author Swann Meralli has put together Capone’s story from what little is known filling the gaps as best can be done, thereby making this book a combination of fact and fiction.
The story opens in 1938 in Alcatraz where Capone is a prisoner and is supposedly narrating his tale to his mother. As a child he and his parents lived in fairly straightened circumstances, and he fell in with some rough company, resorting in an instance depicted to petty theft to feed his family. Though in the story depicted, he promises his mother he’ll never lie to her, we see how in his narration he tells of what happened without really telling it, many scenes as we ‘see’ them being far different what he’s describing to her.
Leaving his parents’ home as a teen, he begins to make some money as a card player (resorting of course to less than straightforward methods). At first he joins the Five Point Gang in New York finding work in their clubs after proving his worth. He works as a bouncer in some of their clubs, alongside also finding a mentor in Johnny Torrio. Later following Johnny, he moves to Chicago where his real career as a gangster begins. He begins by joining Torrio’s uncle’s gang at the former’s recommendation, helping running the bootlegging business (initially smuggling and selling, and later distilling their own) in the days of the prohibition. But with more foresight and being far more enterprising than the others, he soon expands the business profitably, eventually taking it over with Johnny by his side. But getting to the head of a gang, having most of the local police in his pocket, and endless money doesn’t mean peace, for rival gangs who can be extremely ruthless and bloodthirsty, diligent prosecutors who pop up every so often wanting to clean up the system, and the federal agencies which are not as pliable as local authorities means he must always be on his toes, and even more merciless in dealing with his adversaries. There are shootouts and murders, full blown gang wars, but Capone manages to keep himself safe as also his hold over his business.
Alongside during his New York days, he has met and married Mae and had a son Albert, who must put up with his work and ways, yet he does manage to keep his family together. He also has a Robin Hood side to him, so while on the one side he may have made lavish homes and a business for himself, he also opens for instance soup kitchens and orphanages during the stock market crash and depression. While his reputation oscillates with newspapers at times directly pointing fingers for his crimes, it seems he’d much rather his benevolent side be seen and perhaps also appreciated.
Eventually though the authorities do manage to catch up with him, albeit through the unusual route of his taxes rather than the murders (massacring rivals for instance in the infamous Valentine’s Day Massacre of 1929) or other gang activities he was involved him. In the somewhat tragic last chapter, we learn of his arrest and how he came to be telling his story to his ‘mother’ something that certainly sends a chill up one’s spine.
Using a graphic novel to tell the story of Al Capone and the way author Swann Meralli framed it, almost as an autobiography (mimicking perhaps one of his sources, an autobiography of Capone known to be fictional) made for a very effective narrative. Capone might be ‘telling’ the truth differently to his mother—choosing his words carefully—yet it is there for us to see on the pages, with all the blood. Though there are innumerable deaths across the pages of the book and the illustrator Pierre-Francois Radi does not hold back in letting the blood flow, the tones used make it handleable (without having to avert one’s eyes too much though one does sometimes, and indeed quickly turns the pages) while certainly putting across the gravity of it all. While gangster life as films often tend to portray it is glamorised and romanticised, here we have the full brutality and danger of it, while also being able to see the circumstances in which Capone ended up in that life (this is just a telling of the story, and not any examination of the ethics or morality of any of it). It also makes one wonder what life in Chicago would have been like in those days for ordinary people with full fledged gang wars almost always on.
This is, as mentioned, a blend of fact and fiction, and there are aspects I later realised were not touched upon at all, like Capone’s many siblings some of whom joined his business. But the book worked well in giving one a general idea of Capone’s life as also of himself as a person. He is certainly a difficult man to classify or pin down with many sides and shades to his character.
The artwork uses heavier featured figures but on looking up pictures of Capone (also his mother on Wikipedia) I found it does capture a sense of them, perhaps exaggerating certain aspects including Capone’s scars (which earned him the nickname Scarface) which don’t appear as prominent in photos, though they are noticeable. Also while the illustrator hasn’t used sepia tones all through though they are there, one gets a good feel of the period. We can see from photographs of his homes, prison cell (from a time he voluntarily gave himself up for a few months) etc. that the illustrator has stayed true to real life details for the most part (though of his Florida home, it would seem the colour scheme is somewhat different).
Overall, a nicely done volume, and despite all the blood and deaths, may be a slight tamer way of getting an idea of at least the violence this than a biography proper.
p.s. It appears from Goodreads that this book was originally published in French though the translator isn’t mentioned in the ARC.
Some illustrations on my blog: https://potpourri2015.wordpress.com/2...
4.25 stars
While I knew Al Capone as an American gangster, one whose name perhaps comes up first in one’s mind when anyone mentions gangsters, and that he was eventually arrested not for those crimes but tax fraud, that was literally all I knew about him. So when I spotted this graphic novel, I thought it sounded the perfect way to get to know more (without picking up a bio etc.). As the editor’s note at the end of the book explains, even though 76 years have passed since Capone’s death (1947) much about his life including whether he actually suffered syphilis which was supposedly diagnosed with or how he got the scars on his face is debated. The author Swann Meralli has put together Capone’s story from what little is known filling the gaps as best can be done, thereby making this book a combination of fact and fiction.
The story opens in 1938 in Alcatraz where Capone is a prisoner and is supposedly narrating his tale to his mother. As a child he and his parents lived in fairly straightened circumstances, and he fell in with some rough company, resorting in an instance depicted to petty theft to feed his family. Though in the story depicted, he promises his mother he’ll never lie to her, we see how in his narration he tells of what happened without really telling it, many scenes as we ‘see’ them being far different what he’s describing to her.
Leaving his parents’ home as a teen, he begins to make some money as a card player (resorting of course to less than straightforward methods). At first he joins the Five Point Gang in New York finding work in their clubs after proving his worth. He works as a bouncer in some of their clubs, alongside also finding a mentor in Johnny Torrio. Later following Johnny, he moves to Chicago where his real career as a gangster begins. He begins by joining Torrio’s uncle’s gang at the former’s recommendation, helping running the bootlegging business (initially smuggling and selling, and later distilling their own) in the days of the prohibition. But with more foresight and being far more enterprising than the others, he soon expands the business profitably, eventually taking it over with Johnny by his side. But getting to the head of a gang, having most of the local police in his pocket, and endless money doesn’t mean peace, for rival gangs who can be extremely ruthless and bloodthirsty, diligent prosecutors who pop up every so often wanting to clean up the system, and the federal agencies which are not as pliable as local authorities means he must always be on his toes, and even more merciless in dealing with his adversaries. There are shootouts and murders, full blown gang wars, but Capone manages to keep himself safe as also his hold over his business.
Alongside during his New York days, he has met and married Mae and had a son Albert, who must put up with his work and ways, yet he does manage to keep his family together. He also has a Robin Hood side to him, so while on the one side he may have made lavish homes and a business for himself, he also opens for instance soup kitchens and orphanages during the stock market crash and depression. While his reputation oscillates with newspapers at times directly pointing fingers for his crimes, it seems he’d much rather his benevolent side be seen and perhaps also appreciated.
Eventually though the authorities do manage to catch up with him, albeit through the unusual route of his taxes rather than the murders (massacring rivals for instance in the infamous Valentine’s Day Massacre of 1929) or other gang activities he was involved him. In the somewhat tragic last chapter, we learn of his arrest and how he came to be telling his story to his ‘mother’ something that certainly sends a chill up one’s spine.
Using a graphic novel to tell the story of Al Capone and the way author Swann Meralli framed it, almost as an autobiography (mimicking perhaps one of his sources, an autobiography of Capone known to be fictional) made for a very effective narrative. Capone might be ‘telling’ the truth differently to his mother—choosing his words carefully—yet it is there for us to see on the pages, with all the blood. Though there are innumerable deaths across the pages of the book and the illustrator Pierre-Francois Radi does not hold back in letting the blood flow, the tones used make it handleable (without having to avert one’s eyes too much though one does sometimes, and indeed quickly turns the pages) while certainly putting across the gravity of it all. While gangster life as films often tend to portray it is glamorised and romanticised, here we have the full brutality and danger of it, while also being able to see the circumstances in which Capone ended up in that life (this is just a telling of the story, and not any examination of the ethics or morality of any of it). It also makes one wonder what life in Chicago would have been like in those days for ordinary people with full fledged gang wars almost always on.
This is, as mentioned, a blend of fact and fiction, and there are aspects I later realised were not touched upon at all, like Capone’s many siblings some of whom joined his business. But the book worked well in giving one a general idea of Capone’s life as also of himself as a person. He is certainly a difficult man to classify or pin down with many sides and shades to his character.
The artwork uses heavier featured figures but on looking up pictures of Capone (also his mother on Wikipedia) I found it does capture a sense of them, perhaps exaggerating certain aspects including Capone’s scars (which earned him the nickname Scarface) which don’t appear as prominent in photos, though they are noticeable. Also while the illustrator hasn’t used sepia tones all through though they are there, one gets a good feel of the period. We can see from photographs of his homes, prison cell (from a time he voluntarily gave himself up for a few months) etc. that the illustrator has stayed true to real life details for the most part (though of his Florida home, it would seem the colour scheme is somewhat different).
Overall, a nicely done volume, and despite all the blood and deaths, may be a slight tamer way of getting an idea of at least the violence this than a biography proper.
p.s. It appears from Goodreads that this book was originally published in French though the translator isn’t mentioned in the ARC.
Some illustrations on my blog: https://potpourri2015.wordpress.com/2...
4.25 stars
November 19, 2023
Nice graphic biography of crime kingpin Alphonse Capone, here Al is in jail, riddled and delirious with syphilis, talking to the ghost of his mother. So Al hides all his bad, murderous behaviour from his mother, while the art shows us what he actually did. It's a nice little trick, works pretty well.
The art I can only really describe as.. European? I liked it, your mileage may vary.
3.5 stars
(Picked up a review copy through Edelweiss)
The art I can only really describe as.. European? I liked it, your mileage may vary.
3.5 stars
(Picked up a review copy through Edelweiss)
October 15, 2024
Scorsese filmi izler gibi bir çizgi roman.
Zaten anlattığı dönem, krizler içinde serpilen Amerikan rüyası, göçmenler, etkileyici temalar. Bu janrda izlediğimiz nice klasik aklımda, kafamda Morricone müzikleriyle okudum.
Göz doyurucu boyutu, güzel çizimlerler süslenmiş. Bazen tam sayfa, bazen iki sayfayı kaplayan tasarımlarıyla görseli kuvvetli. Bu ayın sürpriz atı olabilir. Bu tip mafya/suç hikayesi sevenlere iyi çizilmiş, based on a true story, büyük boy bir iş. Daha ne olsun. Öneriyorum.
Zaten anlattığı dönem, krizler içinde serpilen Amerikan rüyası, göçmenler, etkileyici temalar. Bu janrda izlediğimiz nice klasik aklımda, kafamda Morricone müzikleriyle okudum.
Göz doyurucu boyutu, güzel çizimlerler süslenmiş. Bazen tam sayfa, bazen iki sayfayı kaplayan tasarımlarıyla görseli kuvvetli. Bu ayın sürpriz atı olabilir. Bu tip mafya/suç hikayesi sevenlere iyi çizilmiş, based on a true story, büyük boy bir iş. Daha ne olsun. Öneriyorum.
March 5, 2024
I think the author could have done a better job in highlighting Capone's narcissistic personality, which is the foundation for the violence that is depicted in this graphic novel. Capone lacked empathy. He believed he was of high moral character, and the violence was his right as both judge and jury. The style of illustration didn't work for me, but I also was expecting a more fully developed character that highlighted the complexity of who Capone felt he was rather than focusing solely on his brand of judgment.
September 11, 2024
DNF at page 80
I knew that this was a graphic novel about a really bad guy, but wow. It's all alcohol and prostitution and kidnapping and murder and violence and guns. This book does not gloss over the ugliness.
There is a lot of nasty profanity and graphic violence, and I just couldn't stomach it anymore. Horrid.
I knew that this was a graphic novel about a really bad guy, but wow. It's all alcohol and prostitution and kidnapping and murder and violence and guns. This book does not gloss over the ugliness.
There is a lot of nasty profanity and graphic violence, and I just couldn't stomach it anymore. Horrid.
December 6, 2024
3.5
As a person from Chicago interested in organized crime and history, there wasn't a ton here that I didn't already know, but I thought the story was rendered well. Sharp, spooky dialogue even with the translation, and art that caught the mood extremely well. The bio approach of Al telling his story in a completely delusional, lying manner was a nice touch.
It suffered a bit from being a bit of a artfully done Wikipedia entry, but once I realized that this was a European primer on the subject it really clicked for me. No matter where I've gone in the world, people find out that I am from Chicago and ask me about three things: Michael Jordan, Al Capone, and guns, and not always in that order. So learning that there's a bit of a pop culture obsession with Capone that this book is looking to demystify was an interesting wrinkle!
As a person from Chicago interested in organized crime and history, there wasn't a ton here that I didn't already know, but I thought the story was rendered well. Sharp, spooky dialogue even with the translation, and art that caught the mood extremely well. The bio approach of Al telling his story in a completely delusional, lying manner was a nice touch.
It suffered a bit from being a bit of a artfully done Wikipedia entry, but once I realized that this was a European primer on the subject it really clicked for me. No matter where I've gone in the world, people find out that I am from Chicago and ask me about three things: Michael Jordan, Al Capone, and guns, and not always in that order. So learning that there's a bit of a pop culture obsession with Capone that this book is looking to demystify was an interesting wrinkle!
July 20, 2024
A solid 3 stars. Well told biographical story in the first person. Although some of the facts are controversial and a couple of Ealy characters are legends that did not exist, the author points put thar he used Capone's French language autobiography as a source and some of it is considered false.
The city drawings are extremely well done, but the faces are cartoonish..... I do not understand why he couldn't even get Capone's receding hairline right. Capone looks more like Eddie Munster.
The city drawings are extremely well done, but the faces are cartoonish..... I do not understand why he couldn't even get Capone's receding hairline right. Capone looks more like Eddie Munster.
January 23, 2024
This is great!
April 15, 2024
Creating a work of non-fiction that is compelling and refreshing yet granular is an incredibly remarkable feat. Al Capone does this and more by showing a different side of a story that many are well-acquainted with.
The story is told by the narration of Al Capone to his mother regarding his life and what he did, both to defend himself from accusations and to explain himself to his mother so that she could personally judge him while knowing the full story. Throughout Al Capone’s narration, themes of morality are almost always prevalent, as well as touches of corruption and desperation. Overall, the human condition and Al Capone’s interpretation of it make the book such a good read.
Speaking of good aspects, Al Capone excels at portraying contextually realistic lingo, settings, events, and more in a way that romanticizes the overall narrative to fit into the mind of Al Capone. As well as this, the story sometimes weaves the romanticized lens of Al Capone to the actual events that occurred without the glamor, creating a thought-provoking juxtaposition between what Al Capone describes and what he’s describing.
This positive leads to the main negative of the book, however; the reader needs to know the full context of Al Capone’s story from the public eye to fully appreciate and understand what the book is attempting to accomplish. Without this context, the narrative can sometimes be seen as notably arbitrary.
In conclusion, I subjectively place this book at four stars out of five, for every reason described above. The only thing the reader needs to know is a sizeable amount of context behind the Chicago Outfit, and they’ll be fully equipped to enjoy the fruits of the author’s labor.
The story is told by the narration of Al Capone to his mother regarding his life and what he did, both to defend himself from accusations and to explain himself to his mother so that she could personally judge him while knowing the full story. Throughout Al Capone’s narration, themes of morality are almost always prevalent, as well as touches of corruption and desperation. Overall, the human condition and Al Capone’s interpretation of it make the book such a good read.
Speaking of good aspects, Al Capone excels at portraying contextually realistic lingo, settings, events, and more in a way that romanticizes the overall narrative to fit into the mind of Al Capone. As well as this, the story sometimes weaves the romanticized lens of Al Capone to the actual events that occurred without the glamor, creating a thought-provoking juxtaposition between what Al Capone describes and what he’s describing.
This positive leads to the main negative of the book, however; the reader needs to know the full context of Al Capone’s story from the public eye to fully appreciate and understand what the book is attempting to accomplish. Without this context, the narrative can sometimes be seen as notably arbitrary.
In conclusion, I subjectively place this book at four stars out of five, for every reason described above. The only thing the reader needs to know is a sizeable amount of context behind the Chicago Outfit, and they’ll be fully equipped to enjoy the fruits of the author’s labor.
September 8, 2023
I am writing to you today to review the digital version of Al Capone, which I received in exchange for an honest review.
I had no prior knowledge of Al Capone's history, other than that he was a notorious gangster in Chicago during the 1920s. The book is 172 pages long and is full of color illustrations. The artwork is simply stunning, with incredible detail in the buildings and people of old downtown Chicago. The characters are all drawn in a unique style that is both odd and charming. I particularly enjoyed the crayon-like style of the comic strips.
I read it on my 32-inch monitor, and the full-color eBook was a feast for the eyes. The artwork was so vivid and lifelike that I felt like I was right there in the middle of the action. The story was engaging and suspenseful, and I couldn't put the it down.
At the end of the book, it is revealed that this "biography" is actually a mix of fiction and real-life stories. While this may disappoint some readers, I found it to be an interesting and unique approach to telling Al Capone's story. After all, we will never know the full truth about his life, so why not enjoy a fictionalized account?
Overall, I highly recommend Al Capone to anyone who enjoys a good story, stunning artwork, or a bit of history. I give it 10 out of 10 stars.
I had no prior knowledge of Al Capone's history, other than that he was a notorious gangster in Chicago during the 1920s. The book is 172 pages long and is full of color illustrations. The artwork is simply stunning, with incredible detail in the buildings and people of old downtown Chicago. The characters are all drawn in a unique style that is both odd and charming. I particularly enjoyed the crayon-like style of the comic strips.
I read it on my 32-inch monitor, and the full-color eBook was a feast for the eyes. The artwork was so vivid and lifelike that I felt like I was right there in the middle of the action. The story was engaging and suspenseful, and I couldn't put the it down.
At the end of the book, it is revealed that this "biography" is actually a mix of fiction and real-life stories. While this may disappoint some readers, I found it to be an interesting and unique approach to telling Al Capone's story. After all, we will never know the full truth about his life, so why not enjoy a fictionalized account?
Overall, I highly recommend Al Capone to anyone who enjoys a good story, stunning artwork, or a bit of history. I give it 10 out of 10 stars.
January 2, 2024
The art style caught my attention, as I think it is unique, interesting and in general I knew I had to read this book from just looking at it. Thankfully the art is matched by solid, well paced and well conceived writing.
Al Capone is known all over as a gangster, perhaps one of the most famous criminals in the world. His story is mixed up with fact and fiction, so much so that it is hard to get to the truth of the man. This book understands that and places Al Capone as narrator to his own story. He explains to his mother from his prison cell that the world has it wrong and only he knows the truth. While the narration follows his own self serving view of himself, the art work depicts a different truth, a truth that’s shows him as the violent, sadistic, greedy man, most know him as. This is an interestingly approached autobiographical book of the man and the myth and is well worth a read.
Al Capone is known all over as a gangster, perhaps one of the most famous criminals in the world. His story is mixed up with fact and fiction, so much so that it is hard to get to the truth of the man. This book understands that and places Al Capone as narrator to his own story. He explains to his mother from his prison cell that the world has it wrong and only he knows the truth. While the narration follows his own self serving view of himself, the art work depicts a different truth, a truth that’s shows him as the violent, sadistic, greedy man, most know him as. This is an interestingly approached autobiographical book of the man and the myth and is well worth a read.
November 14, 2024
This is told from Capone's POV but due to who he was, and the images given, we know he is not a reliable narrator. It is interesting, highlighting important events that would start as a child (which little to nothing is known), continue with his rise in New York crime, and finally to Chicago and 11-years of glory days. The images are in various browns and muted/brownish-reds. Many images though the overall look is slightly cartoonish, are graphic with showing the murders/deaths. Read any editorial extras as they include context for the events.
July 13, 2025
Este livro lê-se bem, mas confesso que achei demasiado simplista. Quando vi este livro pela primeira vez nos escaparates das livrarias fiquei bastsnte entusiasmado com a possibilidade de ler uma biografia em formato de novela gráfica sobre Al Capone... Mas agora que a li, lamento afirmar que tenha ficado um bocadinho aquém das expectativas inicialmente criadas. O problema se calhar é meu. Em todo o caso, não posso dizer que seja um mau livro. Não deixa de valer a pena lê-lo.
December 28, 2023
Told from the perspective of Al Capone a.k.a. “Scarface” explaining his misdeeds to his mother from his prison cell, this graphic novel with a minimal color palette recounts what historians can piece together about this gangster/serial killer/POS that weirdly gets admired for his rags to blood-stained riches story.
January 16, 2024
Loved this graphic novel, firstly because I love gangster stories, secondly because the story of Al Capone was told by Al, to his mother. His words said one thing, the graphics told the real story.
The author also cited the sources for all the included historically 'accurate' details.
A juicy, colorful, thoughtful view of Al Capone by the man himself.
The author also cited the sources for all the included historically 'accurate' details.
A juicy, colorful, thoughtful view of Al Capone by the man himself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2025
Interesting glimpse into Al Capone's rise and fall, as relayed to his mother while he withers away in an Alactraz jail cell. In this story, he is the aggrieved party - just doing what anybody else would do to make a life for himself and his family. (Of course his actions and complete lack of scruples belie this view.)
December 30, 2022
Découverte des gangsters américains
March 7, 2024
A good graphic biography that is an overview of Capone’s life. Told by Capone to his mother, the illustrations sometimes contradict the story he’s telling. Well done overall.
May 16, 2024
Well done.
May 14, 2025
"Pero sinceramente, ¿Qué es robar una manzanita comparado con un estómago vacío que ruge de hambre?"
Me encantó el arte y la forma en que estaba escrito, mis respetos.
Me encantó el arte y la forma en que estaba escrito, mis respetos.
June 15, 2025
« Personne sur cette terre ne peut, d’un trait de plume, rayer tout ce qu’il a fait »
July 1, 2025
somebody please tell me about the syphilis. i need to know moreeeee.
December 19, 2023
With the narrative frame of Capone's jail "confessions" to his visiting mother, Meralli took his unique character designs and captivating art style and painted a picture of the legendary gangster that unfortunately does not differ from any other written biographical account too much. I wish more comic artists would go the extra mile and just!!! make something new up.
***I received a digital copy from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.***
***I received a digital copy from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.***
November 22, 2024
The opening page of this graphic novel declares that "This is the story of the greatest gangster of all time." I have a Chicago historian friend who hates Al Capone, because in his words "being a great gangster means no one knows you're a gangster." Both of these things are true, and this biography demonstrates how that's possible. We are shown Al Capone's life, but in his words as he tells it to his mother in his cramped, dingy Alcatraz prison cell. The tone of the book is established in the first few pages of the extended flashback as we are shown Capone as a child stealing a fish but telling everyone else he caught it. "Whether I caught it or borrowed it, what difference did it make? God put it in my path." This belief in his own lies blends with his entitlement and self-aggrandizement to create the notorious historical figure we recognize. He justifies his behavior to his mother and to himself.
The artwork by PF Radice is exceptional, full of rounded edges and curvy character design similar to a children's book, suggesting that Al Capone has remained the child from the opening pages even as he grows into the role of career criminal. The colors are mostly muted, but not in the sepia tones that are normally used to evoke bygone eras. Instead, we are shown early twentieth century New York City and Chicago as dirty, sooty, and smoke-filled havens of organized crime with polluted skies, cigarette butts, and dilapidated buildings. It's all the more shocking when splashes of bright red blood appear, and they appear a lot.
Swann Meralli does a great job capturing the voice of Al Capone. This isn't the dry recitation of historical events that many biographies become, but a character study that is all too relevant for contemporary events as mug shots fill the news and would-be authoritarians reject reality. I highly recommend Al Capone to readers of historical fiction and current events alike.
The artwork by PF Radice is exceptional, full of rounded edges and curvy character design similar to a children's book, suggesting that Al Capone has remained the child from the opening pages even as he grows into the role of career criminal. The colors are mostly muted, but not in the sepia tones that are normally used to evoke bygone eras. Instead, we are shown early twentieth century New York City and Chicago as dirty, sooty, and smoke-filled havens of organized crime with polluted skies, cigarette butts, and dilapidated buildings. It's all the more shocking when splashes of bright red blood appear, and they appear a lot.
Swann Meralli does a great job capturing the voice of Al Capone. This isn't the dry recitation of historical events that many biographies become, but a character study that is all too relevant for contemporary events as mug shots fill the news and would-be authoritarians reject reality. I highly recommend Al Capone to readers of historical fiction and current events alike.
August 17, 2023
Al Capone is written by S. Meralli with art by PF Radice. It is a worthwhile book both in that it tells an interesting story and has wonderfully complementary art.
PF Radice has done a great job with the art which perfectly suits the story. Individual characters are easily recognized and the colour palette reflects the mood of the story and the era in which it is set. It is sometimes quite beautiful, despite the subject matter. There is good use of shadows and variations in level of detail to develop the story.
The story itself is well done. It is told as if Al Capone is talking to his mother from prison at the end of his life to justify his actions. The story moves clearly through the years and has a nice interplay with the imagery. The art shows what actually happened in parallel with Capone’s justification of his actions. It also shows the complexity of the man–highlighting his Catholicism, social service, and love for his wife and family in the midst of a gangster lifestyle. Given that this is a story of the life of violent gangster it is not surprising that there is a fair bit of violence (and brief nudity)—which makes it a book primarily for mature audiences. However, the level of depiction of violence is in service to telling the story. The story successfully makes Capone a sympathetic figure without glorifying or excusing his actions. A fascinating and worthwhile read.
This book was provided for review by Black Panel Press but they did not tell me what to write.
PF Radice has done a great job with the art which perfectly suits the story. Individual characters are easily recognized and the colour palette reflects the mood of the story and the era in which it is set. It is sometimes quite beautiful, despite the subject matter. There is good use of shadows and variations in level of detail to develop the story.
The story itself is well done. It is told as if Al Capone is talking to his mother from prison at the end of his life to justify his actions. The story moves clearly through the years and has a nice interplay with the imagery. The art shows what actually happened in parallel with Capone’s justification of his actions. It also shows the complexity of the man–highlighting his Catholicism, social service, and love for his wife and family in the midst of a gangster lifestyle. Given that this is a story of the life of violent gangster it is not surprising that there is a fair bit of violence (and brief nudity)—which makes it a book primarily for mature audiences. However, the level of depiction of violence is in service to telling the story. The story successfully makes Capone a sympathetic figure without glorifying or excusing his actions. A fascinating and worthwhile read.
This book was provided for review by Black Panel Press but they did not tell me what to write.
September 5, 2023
This book is absolutely gorgeous - the illustrations are beautiful and full of detail and depth - you can spend a long time taking in the different characters and backgrounds, and the colour palettes really help to set the mood of a bygone era. I also appreciated the small details the illustrator and author chose to highlight, such as the food that was being eaten, which really helped to bring life to the story, as Al Capone's whole life was being fit into 172 pages.
Honestly, I would read this just for the pictures, but outside of that, I thought the storytelling was also clever and well-executed, telling the story from Al Capone's point of view, speaking to his mother. It helped to depict aspects of Capone as a whole, complicated person, with people who loved him, rather than just a villain. I think it was particularly effective how what Al Capone was relating back to his mother was different from what actually happened, as shown by the illustrations. I definitely think this book is worth picking up!
Honestly, I would read this just for the pictures, but outside of that, I thought the storytelling was also clever and well-executed, telling the story from Al Capone's point of view, speaking to his mother. It helped to depict aspects of Capone as a whole, complicated person, with people who loved him, rather than just a villain. I think it was particularly effective how what Al Capone was relating back to his mother was different from what actually happened, as shown by the illustrations. I definitely think this book is worth picking up!
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