A Shining Beacon

by James Albon

Pictures at a acclaimed graphic novelist James Albon ( Her Bark and Her Bite ) explores the role of the artist in a frighteningly familiar near-future of tyrannical regimes and popular revolts.

Francesca Saxon, artist and loyal citizen of the nation, is thrilled when she receives a commission to design the central mural of an epic new swimming the jewel in the crown for an insecure regime obsessed by propaganda. Leaving the comfort of her coastal hometown for the lap of luxury of the capital, she is swept up in the paranoia of a government threatened by underground revolutionaries, whose promise of a freer, happier future looks increasingly appealing. Torn between rival factions and her personal loyalties, she realises that when ideology has a stranglehold on art, the picture is rarely pretty.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Drama, Dystopia

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 21, 2019

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The muted watercolors in this graphic novel paint the world of eastern European totalitarian state, trying very hard to be modern suppressing individual freedom. It feels as though it was set in the past (dial up phones, no internet or computers) so maybe 60s or 70s, and gives me some of the bureaucratic vibes of a state like cold war era Romania, Syria under Assad, or Iran after the fall of the Shah. From the obscurity of a languishing northern seaside town, Francesca (a landscape painter of no particular renown) is plucked to paint the mural in in the capitol's newest edifice to the greatness of the state--a pool and fitness center that is supposed to be a shining beacon of the nation's advancement. Francesca's confusion and frustration with her increasing difficulties with the censors, and as the government continues to shine a spotlight on her, they grow more paranoid. Francesca slips unconsciously into the very types of rebellion the government is trying to prevent. The suppression of controversy stifles her art as she tries, and fails, to please the people in power. I felt all of the characters were well rounded, and the pathos just the right amount. Is obedience the answer? Is rebellion the answer? Can you ever control the message of an artwork?

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Albon’s watercolors and impressionistic style of comic, and I’m looking forward to reading Delicacy. The critique of authoritarian regimes and propaganda in A Shining Beacon is not as full and rich as some other graphic novels I’ve read… I think of PTSD (fiction) The Year of the Rabbit (memoir/non-fiction) and Maus (non-fiction) when I think of graphic novels that dive deeper into sinister use of government censorship. However the art is beautiful and a joy to look at, and I will be seeking out more Albon in the future.

[Salty Swift · Rating 4 out of 5]

Artist Francesca Saxon receives a generous commission from the government to paint a humongous mural at a brand new swimming pool. The only catch is she's not permitted to paint what she really wants. The government censors pressure her to make sure her painting is skewed towards the will of the government. While living in (the unnamed) capital, she meets a revolutionary leader, who has a keen interest in overthrowing the oppressive regime. Chaos and violence ensue. Richly rewarding graphic novel, despite its oftentimes crude artistic vision.

[Adia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-paced storyline with interesting characters that capture your attention at the start.

However, I would have liked for the ending to have been more fleshed out and more content overall. I felt the book only scraped the surface and had the potential to go farther than it did.

As for the art, it was pleasant but my interest was moreso the storyline.

[Rex Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young artist living in a totalitarian state is commissioned to create a work of art to celebrate the state's new aquatic building. It is to be a shining beacon of accomplishments of the regime. She quickly finds herself embroiled in politics, censorship, and deadly revolution. Among the vibrant watercolors, the story asks the eternal question, what price art?

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the art and colours in this book, it's beautiful. Fascinating to follow an artist toeing the line between trying to express her idea of politics, versus what censorship she is being forced to follow, though I don't believe the actual weight of the politics was very impressive. Like, censorship sucks, art can be difficult, there are conspiracies and such. Sure.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of an attempted revolution against a corrupt government is engaging and credible. The are isn't very good. It fits the story, and characters are painted with individuality, but it's not art that I would spend time looking at and enjoying.

[Rob McMonigal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really Cool look at the role of an artist in powerful regimes and how it can be so dangerous. Great book!

[Sophie Carbone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely surprising! Art style was fantastic!

[Tracy]

I liked the artwork, though sometimes found it a bit hard to parse. The earnest main character was likeable though naive.

[Khalid Albaih · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art, the story, the past and future are all at play in this short beautifully written graphic novel

[Wulan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ending made me extremely sad, she died doing what she loved and fought for, the panel where her husband was just standing there looking at his wife’s last painting amongst the rubbles got me so bad. Imagine supporting your wife’s dream and career from afar and waiting for her to come back home to listen to her stories with her in your arms and one day you hear about your wife’s death.

[Sara Ghotb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shining Beacon by James Albon is a tense and thought-provoking graphic novel that really sticks with you. The story follows Francesca Saxon, an artist who’s commissioned to create a central mural for a flashy new swimming complex in a near-future regime obsessed with propaganda. What starts as an exciting opportunity quickly becomes a journey into a world of paranoia, rival factions, and moral dilemmas, as Francesca is forced to question her loyalties and the role of art under oppressive power.
The storytelling is sharp and compelling, blending political tension with personal struggle, while the artwork is striking; full of detail, atmosphere, and emotion that perfectly captures the uneasy, almost claustrophobic feeling of a society under surveillance. Shining Beacon isn’t just a story about politics or rebellion; it’s about what it means to create and stay true to your vision when the world around you is trying to control it.
It’s a gripping, beautifully illustrated read for anyone who enjoys layered, morally complex stories with a strong visual voice.