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The Revolution Trilogy #1
The British Are Coming, Volume 1
This striking graphic edition adapts the first half of the New York Times bestselling The British Are Coming, the opening volume in Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Rick Atkinson’s extraordinary trilogy about the American Revolution
From the battles at Lexington and Concord in the spring of 1775 through the Siege of Boston in 1776, American militiamen and the newly created Continental Army take on the world’s most formidable adversary: the British Empire. The gripping saga is alive with astonishing characters: Henry Knox, the former bookseller with an uncanny understanding of artillery; Nathanael Greene, the blue-eyed bumpkin who becomes a brilliant battle captain; Benjamin Franklin, the self-made man who proves to be the wiliest of diplomats; and George Washington, the commander in chief who learns the difficult art of leadership when the war seems all but lost. The story is also told from the British perspective, making the mortal conflict between redcoats and rebels all the more compelling.
Full of riveting details and iconic stories, The British Are Coming is a tale of heroes and knaves, of sacrifice and blunder, of redemption and profound suffering. Expertly rendered in gripping graphic novel-style artwork, the battle for our nation's independence is brought to life like never before. Discover the first act of America’s creation in this vividly illustrated graphic history.
From the battles at Lexington and Concord in the spring of 1775 through the Siege of Boston in 1776, American militiamen and the newly created Continental Army take on the world’s most formidable adversary: the British Empire. The gripping saga is alive with astonishing characters: Henry Knox, the former bookseller with an uncanny understanding of artillery; Nathanael Greene, the blue-eyed bumpkin who becomes a brilliant battle captain; Benjamin Franklin, the self-made man who proves to be the wiliest of diplomats; and George Washington, the commander in chief who learns the difficult art of leadership when the war seems all but lost. The story is also told from the British perspective, making the mortal conflict between redcoats and rebels all the more compelling.
Full of riveting details and iconic stories, The British Are Coming is a tale of heroes and knaves, of sacrifice and blunder, of redemption and profound suffering. Expertly rendered in gripping graphic novel-style artwork, the battle for our nation's independence is brought to life like never before. Discover the first act of America’s creation in this vividly illustrated graphic history.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published June 2, 2026
About the author
Rick Atkinson
40 books1,925 followersRick Atkinson is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of seven works of history, including The Long Gray Line, the Liberation Trilogy (An Army at Dawn, The Day of Battle, and The Guns at Last Light), and The British Are Coming, the first volume of the Revolution Trilogy. His work as a historian and journalist has won numerous awards, including three Pulitzer Prizes.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 28, 2026
The publisher sent me a free copy to read and review.
Unfortunately, this graphic novel was a huge disappointment. Rick Atkinson is a well known historian and author and so I’m forced to assume that he made an intentional CHOICE to leave out most of the story.
This is yet another whitewashing of American history. There is one page in this book that speaks to Slavery and it is inadequate. This is another example of white supremacy being upheld through the manipulation of history and fact. George Washington is painted as a hero (no mention of his 300 slaves), there’s nothing about the slaves involved in fighting the war, nothing about the economics of slavery. Nothing about the fabric of this nation being sewn with disparity.
I understand it’s a graphical novel and page real estate is an issue, but in my view it’s better to refrain from publishing at all if you aren’t going to tell the entire story. This does nothing but further attempt to justify the continued mistreatment of BIPOC in America.
Unfortunately, this graphic novel was a huge disappointment. Rick Atkinson is a well known historian and author and so I’m forced to assume that he made an intentional CHOICE to leave out most of the story.
This is yet another whitewashing of American history. There is one page in this book that speaks to Slavery and it is inadequate. This is another example of white supremacy being upheld through the manipulation of history and fact. George Washington is painted as a hero (no mention of his 300 slaves), there’s nothing about the slaves involved in fighting the war, nothing about the economics of slavery. Nothing about the fabric of this nation being sewn with disparity.
I understand it’s a graphical novel and page real estate is an issue, but in my view it’s better to refrain from publishing at all if you aren’t going to tell the entire story. This does nothing but further attempt to justify the continued mistreatment of BIPOC in America.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for an advance copy of this graphic novel that looks at the American Revolution from the small events that lead to a large scale rebellion, the people involved and the legends and myths that still linger to this day, a day in which many of the freedoms fought over are slowly being eroded.
I loved comics when I was a young reader. I have to admit I was a huge Marvel zombie, so I still have a soft spot for those heroes in capes. Though for some reason, reasons even my Mom can't remember I loved history. Irish history, American history, stories of War, and stories of exploration. I read everything I could find, and even books that were probably above my weight class. There were a few history comics, but they have not stayed in my brain, so I gather they were pure propaganda, or just bad. I do remember wishing there were more. I loved Sgt. Fury, Sgt. Rock and really any sergeants who fought, but I wanted facts with my tales, not just action and adventure. Reading through this comic, I know that I would have loved it as a child, as much as I enjoyed it today. The British Are Coming: The Graphic Edition, Volume 1 is a sequential art version of the book by noted historian Rick Atkinson adapted by Nora Neus and illustrated by Federico Pietrobon, which tells of the early days of the American Revolution, and the events that led up to it.
The book begins in the early days, telling of the little things, the taxes, Stamp Acts, tea taxes and the distance that was both geographical and in many ways philosophically different between England and its American colonies. The book looks at the Boston Tea Party, the major players involved in that, and the escalation of events leading to British troops occupying Boston, and the violent events at Lexington and Concord. The books looks at events from all sides, the English, the American revolutionaries, the loyalists who wanted to stay with England, and the people caught between the sides. Even the issues of slavery are looked at. The book looks at Bunker Hill, the invasion of Canada, the many mistakes and problems the Americans had, as well as the rise of people like John Adams, Benedict Arnold, and George Washington.
The graphic novel is more a primer than anything. Looking at events but not going into deep reasons for why certain things happened, or even what happened to many of these people later. As there is much to cover some thing get a short shrift, where other things seem to go on. The writing it good, careful to balance views and explanations, though as there is much to cover and look at sometimes it can seem a little jumpy in spots. I liked the art, a nice color scheme with big panels, and lots of detail. The art helps move the story along, and with larger panels I can see where younger readers won't be afraid to read.
As a primer this does a good job. For more information one can either read the books that this was based on, or do their own research. There is a little glossing over of things, but all in all this is a good start, something to at least get people started in knowing something about the origin of their country, and how not to let it slip away. I look forward to more books in the series.
I loved comics when I was a young reader. I have to admit I was a huge Marvel zombie, so I still have a soft spot for those heroes in capes. Though for some reason, reasons even my Mom can't remember I loved history. Irish history, American history, stories of War, and stories of exploration. I read everything I could find, and even books that were probably above my weight class. There were a few history comics, but they have not stayed in my brain, so I gather they were pure propaganda, or just bad. I do remember wishing there were more. I loved Sgt. Fury, Sgt. Rock and really any sergeants who fought, but I wanted facts with my tales, not just action and adventure. Reading through this comic, I know that I would have loved it as a child, as much as I enjoyed it today. The British Are Coming: The Graphic Edition, Volume 1 is a sequential art version of the book by noted historian Rick Atkinson adapted by Nora Neus and illustrated by Federico Pietrobon, which tells of the early days of the American Revolution, and the events that led up to it.
The book begins in the early days, telling of the little things, the taxes, Stamp Acts, tea taxes and the distance that was both geographical and in many ways philosophically different between England and its American colonies. The book looks at the Boston Tea Party, the major players involved in that, and the escalation of events leading to British troops occupying Boston, and the violent events at Lexington and Concord. The books looks at events from all sides, the English, the American revolutionaries, the loyalists who wanted to stay with England, and the people caught between the sides. Even the issues of slavery are looked at. The book looks at Bunker Hill, the invasion of Canada, the many mistakes and problems the Americans had, as well as the rise of people like John Adams, Benedict Arnold, and George Washington.
The graphic novel is more a primer than anything. Looking at events but not going into deep reasons for why certain things happened, or even what happened to many of these people later. As there is much to cover some thing get a short shrift, where other things seem to go on. The writing it good, careful to balance views and explanations, though as there is much to cover and look at sometimes it can seem a little jumpy in spots. I liked the art, a nice color scheme with big panels, and lots of detail. The art helps move the story along, and with larger panels I can see where younger readers won't be afraid to read.
As a primer this does a good job. For more information one can either read the books that this was based on, or do their own research. There is a little glossing over of things, but all in all this is a good start, something to at least get people started in knowing something about the origin of their country, and how not to let it slip away. I look forward to more books in the series.
June 30, 2026
I no longer think of “graphic books” as resembling the comic books of my youth. Serious literary topics are now being turned into works of art through words and pictures. It’s a fascinating way to absorb history.
Rick Atkinson is a three-time Pulitzer Prize winning author. His Liberation Trilogy covered World War II. His current project is a trilogy on the American Revolution. The first two books are out, and it appears the third may become two more books, turning the trilogy into a tetralogy. The first book, “The British Are Coming” was published in 2019. Now, seven years later, it has been reimagined in graphic form, just in time for our semiquincentennial.
The first page shows a night scene at Griffin’s Wharf in Boston, where a ship is being unloaded of its cargo -tea. The book ends on March 17, 1776 when Washington drove the British from Boston after a 333-day siege. In between the covers, various battles from Lexington and Concord, to the war in Canada are drawn with vivid colors. Readers see the wound in the leg of Benedict Arnold. They see Washington’s starving and ill-clad soldiers walking barefoot and bleeding in the snow. They see members of Parliament in London and the King trying to dispel the revolution. The words are brief but powerful alongside the images. Nora Neus whittled down the 800-page original book for the graphic edition. Italian artist Federico Pietrobon created the stunning illustrations.
The book is made up of words and pictures, but it is not a children’s book. Many quotes from primary sources of the day make some language difficult to understand. Big words are used: “But the fight about taxes had metastasized into a struggle over sovereignty.” As an adult, I was mesmerized by this version (I read the original years ago). I sent a copy to a friend to share with his grandchildren. The pictures help draw in children and the adult sharing the book can provide explanations and answer questions. It’s not a good bedtime story (too bloody) but it would be a wonderful way for parents (or grandparents) to share what happened 250 years ago that brought us to where we are today.
Rick Atkinson is a three-time Pulitzer Prize winning author. His Liberation Trilogy covered World War II. His current project is a trilogy on the American Revolution. The first two books are out, and it appears the third may become two more books, turning the trilogy into a tetralogy. The first book, “The British Are Coming” was published in 2019. Now, seven years later, it has been reimagined in graphic form, just in time for our semiquincentennial.
The first page shows a night scene at Griffin’s Wharf in Boston, where a ship is being unloaded of its cargo -tea. The book ends on March 17, 1776 when Washington drove the British from Boston after a 333-day siege. In between the covers, various battles from Lexington and Concord, to the war in Canada are drawn with vivid colors. Readers see the wound in the leg of Benedict Arnold. They see Washington’s starving and ill-clad soldiers walking barefoot and bleeding in the snow. They see members of Parliament in London and the King trying to dispel the revolution. The words are brief but powerful alongside the images. Nora Neus whittled down the 800-page original book for the graphic edition. Italian artist Federico Pietrobon created the stunning illustrations.
The book is made up of words and pictures, but it is not a children’s book. Many quotes from primary sources of the day make some language difficult to understand. Big words are used: “But the fight about taxes had metastasized into a struggle over sovereignty.” As an adult, I was mesmerized by this version (I read the original years ago). I sent a copy to a friend to share with his grandchildren. The pictures help draw in children and the adult sharing the book can provide explanations and answer questions. It’s not a good bedtime story (too bloody) but it would be a wonderful way for parents (or grandparents) to share what happened 250 years ago that brought us to where we are today.
July 31, 2026
Thoughts & Review
I. Transition from Nonfiction Doorstopper –> Graphic Novel:
A. It takes some getting used to the transition from 800 page nonfiction to graphic novel. At the start of this graphic novel I was reading The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780 so I have gotten used to Rick Atkinson voice and what comes with reading a nonfiction (a chunky one at that). I missed the authors voice, verbose-ness, and tangents that a graphic novel does not allow.
II. Perks: I did enjoy the perks that come with a graphic novel like the visual-ness of the medium (getting to see an interpretation of these figures and events, using numbers capture events on the map). I think there were many things I would not understand as much without the art. I liked particularly the particular art style that was employed by Frederico Pietrobon.
III. The voice of the narration felt tongue and cheek a bit. The artist and adapter (Nora Neus) used the different people to speak to the events happening in the American Revolution.
IV. This could be a good companion or way to transition into reading the nonfiction chunkier book.
V. Thoughts/Miscellaneous:
A. At the moment there is talk about how the British do not think about the American Revolution which is not the flex that the British probably think it is- Is it impressive to not think about a country you oppressed? I think because America is all that it is today it is considered fine. Also, America and Britan have a specific relationship in general that would be fun to explore in a nonfiction book.
B. Black Americans: I started The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley: A Poet’s Journeys Through American Slavery and Independence some time ago & am a Black American so it is on my mood board to talk about Black Americans during this time. There is mention (not huge) of enslaved Black Americans in this graphic novel (finished copy) on page 152-153 (I believe there is other mentions of Black Americans that I am missing).
I won The British Are Coming, Volume 1 on goodreads from Crown Publishing
I. Transition from Nonfiction Doorstopper –> Graphic Novel:
A. It takes some getting used to the transition from 800 page nonfiction to graphic novel. At the start of this graphic novel I was reading The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780 so I have gotten used to Rick Atkinson voice and what comes with reading a nonfiction (a chunky one at that). I missed the authors voice, verbose-ness, and tangents that a graphic novel does not allow.
II. Perks: I did enjoy the perks that come with a graphic novel like the visual-ness of the medium (getting to see an interpretation of these figures and events, using numbers capture events on the map). I think there were many things I would not understand as much without the art. I liked particularly the particular art style that was employed by Frederico Pietrobon.
III. The voice of the narration felt tongue and cheek a bit. The artist and adapter (Nora Neus) used the different people to speak to the events happening in the American Revolution.
IV. This could be a good companion or way to transition into reading the nonfiction chunkier book.
V. Thoughts/Miscellaneous:
A. At the moment there is talk about how the British do not think about the American Revolution which is not the flex that the British probably think it is- Is it impressive to not think about a country you oppressed? I think because America is all that it is today it is considered fine. Also, America and Britan have a specific relationship in general that would be fun to explore in a nonfiction book.
B. Black Americans: I started The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley: A Poet’s Journeys Through American Slavery and Independence some time ago & am a Black American so it is on my mood board to talk about Black Americans during this time. There is mention (not huge) of enslaved Black Americans in this graphic novel (finished copy) on page 152-153 (I believe there is other mentions of Black Americans that I am missing).
I won The British Are Coming, Volume 1 on goodreads from Crown Publishing
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, NetGalley, for granting me a free digital copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
It’s been a minute since I listened to Rick Atkinson’s YA adaptation of The British Are Coming, and most of the books about this period that I’ve read in recent years have focused on the cultural and ideological side of the American Revolution. It was refreshing then to see a detailed timeline (as detailed as any graphic novel can be, anyway) about the early years of the war, when the odds were stocked against the Americans and defeat was only a heartbeat away. Atkinson regales many intense and unsavory moments often forgotten in our retellings, including the torching of villages (both loyalist and patriot), the doomed, grueling campaign to capture Quebec, and the 1776 liberation of Boston by Washington’s Continental Army. This first installment ends months before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and therefore doesn’t cover major moments like the Battle of Yorktown or the crossing of the Delaware River. Atkinson makes up for this with a focus on logistics (including maps), and by adding some shades of gray to the black-white narrative young people are often presented about the Revolution, including the refusal by many colonists to question slavery, and the early leadership of famed traitor Benedict Arnold.
What’s less clear is how The British Are Coming works as a graphic novel. The illustrations are fine, and they go a long way in conveying how arduous and miserable war can be, but the storytelling itself is somewhat scatterbrained and at times hard to follow. Most of the characters look alike, and often lines that should be written as narration or consigned to a thought bubble are presented as dialogue, typically delivered by background characters. I would recommend reading the physical book rather than the electronic version, since that will undoubtedly ease the flow a bit. Even still, the writing often fit awkwardly within the confines of a graphic novel.
3.5 stars
It’s been a minute since I listened to Rick Atkinson’s YA adaptation of The British Are Coming, and most of the books about this period that I’ve read in recent years have focused on the cultural and ideological side of the American Revolution. It was refreshing then to see a detailed timeline (as detailed as any graphic novel can be, anyway) about the early years of the war, when the odds were stocked against the Americans and defeat was only a heartbeat away. Atkinson regales many intense and unsavory moments often forgotten in our retellings, including the torching of villages (both loyalist and patriot), the doomed, grueling campaign to capture Quebec, and the 1776 liberation of Boston by Washington’s Continental Army. This first installment ends months before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and therefore doesn’t cover major moments like the Battle of Yorktown or the crossing of the Delaware River. Atkinson makes up for this with a focus on logistics (including maps), and by adding some shades of gray to the black-white narrative young people are often presented about the Revolution, including the refusal by many colonists to question slavery, and the early leadership of famed traitor Benedict Arnold.
What’s less clear is how The British Are Coming works as a graphic novel. The illustrations are fine, and they go a long way in conveying how arduous and miserable war can be, but the storytelling itself is somewhat scatterbrained and at times hard to follow. Most of the characters look alike, and often lines that should be written as narration or consigned to a thought bubble are presented as dialogue, typically delivered by background characters. I would recommend reading the physical book rather than the electronic version, since that will undoubtedly ease the flow a bit. Even still, the writing often fit awkwardly within the confines of a graphic novel.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Adapting prose storytelling to a graphic novel is tricky. Sure, it’s easier to visualize colonial America than describe it in words, but you also need to ensure readers know what they’re looking at and why. In this adaptation of Rick Atkinson’s same-titled book, so much context is missing that it’s a breezy, empty read that won’t enhance the reader’s knowledge.
We open in 1773 and the night of the infamous Boston Tea Party. So, right from the start, we’re missing vital information. This needed to begin with the 1765 Stamp Act, which really set the colonies on the path to independence.
We meet people with a close-up and an arrow providing us with a name, but nothing else, so when John Adams, for example, shows up on page 4, he’s a lawyer and nothing more, little seen again in the narrative.
Nora Neus and Frederico Pietrobon leisurely take us from event to event between 1773 and March 1776, leaving some juicy stuff for volume two. But it’s a limited view. Nothing occurring below Virginia is discussed, the first Continental Congress is ignored, and the vital impact of the January 1776 publication of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense is entirely missing. We periodically go to England to see King George III froth, but the divide between colonists—rebels and Tories—is missing.
Instead, we are treated to leisurely depictions of marching, their rebellion suffering degrading conditions as a result of little funding, and way too much time spent on the ill-fated attempt to conquer Quebec, and too little time on the theft of cannons from Fort Ticonderoga.
It appears Neus took the dialogue from primary sources, correspondence, and journals, but it’s formal and doesn’t at all sound like people speaking to one another or even the reader.
The book is nice to look at, easy to read, and robs the subject of the grit and personalities that shaped a new nation. Better the reader find the source material or watch the recent Ken Burns documentary series.
We open in 1773 and the night of the infamous Boston Tea Party. So, right from the start, we’re missing vital information. This needed to begin with the 1765 Stamp Act, which really set the colonies on the path to independence.
We meet people with a close-up and an arrow providing us with a name, but nothing else, so when John Adams, for example, shows up on page 4, he’s a lawyer and nothing more, little seen again in the narrative.
Nora Neus and Frederico Pietrobon leisurely take us from event to event between 1773 and March 1776, leaving some juicy stuff for volume two. But it’s a limited view. Nothing occurring below Virginia is discussed, the first Continental Congress is ignored, and the vital impact of the January 1776 publication of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense is entirely missing. We periodically go to England to see King George III froth, but the divide between colonists—rebels and Tories—is missing.
Instead, we are treated to leisurely depictions of marching, their rebellion suffering degrading conditions as a result of little funding, and way too much time spent on the ill-fated attempt to conquer Quebec, and too little time on the theft of cannons from Fort Ticonderoga.
It appears Neus took the dialogue from primary sources, correspondence, and journals, but it’s formal and doesn’t at all sound like people speaking to one another or even the reader.
The book is nice to look at, easy to read, and robs the subject of the grit and personalities that shaped a new nation. Better the reader find the source material or watch the recent Ken Burns documentary series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"The British are Coming: The Graphic Edition, Volume 1 of the "Revolution Trilogy," is an adaptation of Rick Atkinson's justly renowned series of traditional textual histories of the American Revolution. It is a Graphic Novel published by Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press. For those of you not acquainted with the phenomenon of Graphic Novels, think back to your misspent youth with Classic Comics and you get a rough idea (this is a gross oversimplification of graphic novels, but you get the idea). Anyway, I was intrigued when I had the opportunity to examine an ARC of the text, and remain so. The graphic text itself is fascinating as I am curious as to its market. I would think it has a place in middle school libraries although I am not certain how it will be received by what is presumably its target audience. The book covers, very lightly, the period from the events just preceding the American Revolution through the battles of Concord and Lexington and events in Canada to the lifting of the siege of Boston on March 17, 1776, That is a lot of ground for a graphic novel, most of which, in the history genre, at least, focus much more tightly on a single battle or event like the sinking of the Bismarck or the attack on Pearl Harbor. Looked at as a kind of experiment, this is well worth examining although I remain deeply conflicted about its prospective market. If you are familiar with graphic novels, you will find this rather ambitious but worth the read. I find the most distracting part of it to be attempts to replicate the spoken language of the time. I suspect that younger audiences will find it off-putting, but time will tell.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The British Are Coming is a graphic novel that streamlines the early stages of the Revolutionary War. It opens with the Boston Tea Party and ends with the Continental Army reclaiming control of Boston. I found it to be an engaging and creative way to present history. As is common with graphic novels, the emphasis falls more on the illustrations than on lengthy narration. The book covers the essential events but does not go deeply into every detail.
It feels like a title designed for middle school and high school readers, offering a visually driven introduction to an important period in American history. For teenagers who may be reluctant to pick up a traditional history book, this format could be an accessible entry point. Ideally, the story sparks enough curiosity that young readers seek out more information about the events and figures of the Revolutionary War.
While I am clearly not the intended audience, I enjoyed the opportunity to absorb a quick, visually rich overview of the first phase of the conflict. My hope is that this book encourages more teenagers to take an interest in history and motivates them to explore the real events that shaped the nation. Thank you to NetGalley, Rick Atkinson, Clarkson Potter, and Ten Speed Press for a free advance copy for an honest review.
It feels like a title designed for middle school and high school readers, offering a visually driven introduction to an important period in American history. For teenagers who may be reluctant to pick up a traditional history book, this format could be an accessible entry point. Ideally, the story sparks enough curiosity that young readers seek out more information about the events and figures of the Revolutionary War.
While I am clearly not the intended audience, I enjoyed the opportunity to absorb a quick, visually rich overview of the first phase of the conflict. My hope is that this book encourages more teenagers to take an interest in history and motivates them to explore the real events that shaped the nation. Thank you to NetGalley, Rick Atkinson, Clarkson Potter, and Ten Speed Press for a free advance copy for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The graphic edition of The British Are Coming is an impressively illustrated entry point to the history of the Revolutionary War. Being based upon such a complex and multi-faceted book about a similarly complicated conflict it would always be difficult to condense into a graphic form. Even with this challenge, I think the book gives a really strong overview of the subject to pique readers' interest to dive deeper.
It really helps that the book is complimented by some fantastic art from Federico Pietrobon. Pietrobon's offers some beautiful compositions of the history; I was particularly struck by his illustrations of Benedict Arnold's campaign into Quebec that displayed the beauty of the country alongside horrific violence. There are also numerous segments where the novel provides map overviews of historic campaigns with number keys aligned to graphic details. It really added a sense of place and specific location to the historic location that feels unique to this medium.
Huge thanks to Ten Speed Press for the review copy of this one, I really enjoyed my time with it!
It really helps that the book is complimented by some fantastic art from Federico Pietrobon. Pietrobon's offers some beautiful compositions of the history; I was particularly struck by his illustrations of Benedict Arnold's campaign into Quebec that displayed the beauty of the country alongside horrific violence. There are also numerous segments where the novel provides map overviews of historic campaigns with number keys aligned to graphic details. It really added a sense of place and specific location to the historic location that feels unique to this medium.
Huge thanks to Ten Speed Press for the review copy of this one, I really enjoyed my time with it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
So you think you know your American Revolution? Or are you just a big fan of Rick Atkinson? In either case, you are in for a treat with this volume! Nora Neus has teamed up with illustrator Federico Pietrobon to provide a graphic telling of the the opening section of Rick Atkinson's book The British are Coming!. They open with the Boston Tea Party and then graphically present British government policies and colonial reactions that led to Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill, and beyond. Volume 1 also covers the invasion of Canada and the siege of Boston, ending in early 1776. The art is superb and the pace of the story flows nicely. This is a nice addition to any non-fiction graphic collection and a joy to read!
Thanks Netgalley and Ten Speed Graphic for the chance to read this title!
Thanks Netgalley and Ten Speed Graphic for the chance to read this title!
July 28, 2026
I must preface my review with the statement that I enjoy learning more about history. I thought the author did a wonderful job of sharing the events leading up to and during that part of the Revolutionary War. The book seemed to be at times more from the British point of view than the colonists. The author introduced a varied number of characters and the attempts made too resolve the conflict between Britian and the colonists. The Benjamin Franklin that I learned about in school was very different than the one portrayed in this book and others that I have read. Overall the details and stories told the amazing sacrifices and suffering that was endured. The injustices and the making of heroes were profound. The book stongly portrayed the battle for freedom. I question if we are not giving away some of these hard fought freedoms.
July 18, 2026
It's interesting enough. Not as clear on what happened when and to whom as the excellent Ken Burns documentary on The American Revolution, but that thing was exhaustive, and how can a comic book really compete?
Sometimes the illustrations were incongruous with the text. For instance, a tale of a sea crossing describes it as "rough", and describes sailors saying they would just as soon die as not, yet all the drawings are of boats in waters absolutely becalmed. A missed opportunity, illustration-wise.
The depiction of the five-day, 13-mile portage into Ontario was my favorite part of the book.
I would probably give this book to a teen to get them interested in the history before setting them down in front of the PBS Passport app.
Sometimes the illustrations were incongruous with the text. For instance, a tale of a sea crossing describes it as "rough", and describes sailors saying they would just as soon die as not, yet all the drawings are of boats in waters absolutely becalmed. A missed opportunity, illustration-wise.
The depiction of the five-day, 13-mile portage into Ontario was my favorite part of the book.
I would probably give this book to a teen to get them interested in the history before setting them down in front of the PBS Passport app.
June 3, 2026
While Early American history isn't usually my absolute top sub-genre, I have always deeply enjoyed Atkinson’s writing style. This graphic edition, manages to preserve that storytelling into a fast-paced visual format.
It makes the opening of the American Revolution incredibly accessible. In fact, it was such an engaging, quick read that my 13-year-old son and I both flew through it and finished it in a single afternoon.
Thank you Ten Speed Graphic and NetGalley.#TheBritishAreComing #NetGalley.
It makes the opening of the American Revolution incredibly accessible. In fact, it was such an engaging, quick read that my 13-year-old son and I both flew through it and finished it in a single afternoon.
Thank you Ten Speed Graphic and NetGalley.#TheBritishAreComing #NetGalley.
July 9, 2026
I give two stars for the artwork, which is well done, but the rest? Mind-numbing. I was bored out of my skull reading this. American History is fascinating for its events, for its travesties, for its very existence, but this graphic novel somehow managed to completely bore the hell out of me. Not to mention that it barely spares a page to include the issue of slavery and how it was woven into the fabric of this nation. People of color fought in the Revolution, and yet there is no mention of them?
No, this is not for me.
No, this is not for me.
July 16, 2026
I thought that this could be interesting, but I think the graphic novel format isn’t the greatest for this sort of thing. In nonfiction novels, it’s perfectly common to have overly long paragraphs, but in graphic novels, it leans towards tell and not show a little more than I would’ve liked. It’s not bad, per se. The book its based on is wonderful from what I’ve read. I wouldn’t be disappointed if I checked this out from my library, but I don’t know if I’d recommend it to people over the novel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a graphic presentation of the early events that lead to the Revolutionary War. Needless to say, it does not contain the detail that the author’s books do, but it does provide another way for the public to learn more about the events. Overall, it is well done and a quick read.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.
June 10, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
The British Are Coming is an artfully illustrated graphic novel exploring the battles between the British and the Americans in their quest for independence. While I would have liked a bit more explanatory context/boxes throughout the book, this would be a great tool for young ones to learn part of the history of the United States and Canada.
The British Are Coming is an artfully illustrated graphic novel exploring the battles between the British and the Americans in their quest for independence. While I would have liked a bit more explanatory context/boxes throughout the book, this would be a great tool for young ones to learn part of the history of the United States and Canada.
June 19, 2026
This graphic edition of the pilot surprise winning novel the British are coming is a wonderful way to explore the roots of the American Revolution. I really enjoyed reading this and I’m interested in seeing what volume two will be like it is a wonderful addition of seeing how the war happened in the United States.
July 1, 2026
Meh, very selective of some details that are being added and left out. Basic story that we all know. Mentions Paul Revere but fails to mention Sybil Ludington who rode longer and farther than Paul all while being only 16. How could you leave that out? Pretty much there is no mention of women,and slaves and their roles in this part of American History.
July 4, 2026
It was a little confusing in places and not always clear who was who. The illustrations are very well-done and I love that the text seems to be mostly quotes from primary source documents.
July 7, 2026
I enjoyed it for what it is, an easy to read and view the beginnings of the the revolutionary war.
July 13, 2026
learned a great deal about the revolution that I did not know now. Hit the right amount of detail for me
July 20, 2026
3.5 stars. Honestly...it was kinda boring with ok graphics.
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