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Houdini: The Handcuff King
"I have escaped out of more handcuffs, manacles, and leg shackles than any other human being living."
Harry Houdini mesmerized a generation of Americans when he was alive, and continues to do so over ninety years since his death. This is a snapshot of The Handcuff King's life, centering on one of his most famous feats. As Houdini prepares for a death-defying leap into the icy Charles River in Boston, biographer Jason Lutes and artist Nick Bertozzi reveal Houdini's life and from the antisemitism Houdini fought all his life, to the adulation of the American public from his hounding by the press, to his loving relationship with his wife Bess from his egoism to his insecurity from his public persona--to the secret behind his most amazing trick! And it's all in graphic form, so it's fresh, original, and unlike anything previously published about this most fascinating of American showmen.
Harry Houdini mesmerized a generation of Americans when he was alive, and continues to do so over ninety years since his death. This is a snapshot of The Handcuff King's life, centering on one of his most famous feats. As Houdini prepares for a death-defying leap into the icy Charles River in Boston, biographer Jason Lutes and artist Nick Bertozzi reveal Houdini's life and from the antisemitism Houdini fought all his life, to the adulation of the American public from his hounding by the press, to his loving relationship with his wife Bess from his egoism to his insecurity from his public persona--to the secret behind his most amazing trick! And it's all in graphic form, so it's fresh, original, and unlike anything previously published about this most fascinating of American showmen.
96 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2007
16 people are currently reading
738 people want to read
About the author
Jason Lutes
52 books227 followersJason Lutes was born in New Jersey in 1967 and grew up reading American superhero and western comics until a trip to France at age nine introduced him to the world of "bandes dessinées." In the late 1970s he discovered Heavy Metal magazine and the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, both of which proved major influences on his creative development.
Lutes graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Illustration in 1991. While at RISD, among the many new comics he encountered were Art Spiegelman's RAW magazine and Chester Brown's Yummy Fur, which together inspired him to start publishing minicomics under the imprint "Penny Dreadful."
Upon graduation in 1991, he moved to Seattle, where he spent several years working as a dishwasher and assistant art director at Fantagraphics Books. His "big break" came in 1993, when he began drawing a weekly comics page called "Jar of Fools" for The Stranger, Seattle's alternative paper. By 1995 he had become the paper's art director, but upon collecting and self-publishing Jar of Fools in 1996, he left The Stranger and made the leap to becoming a full-time cartoonist.
In the handful of productive years following that decision, Lutes began the comic book series Berlin, set in the twilight years of the Weimar Republic.
Lutes currently lives in Vermont with his partner and two children, where he teaches comics at the Center for Cartoon Studies.
He still tries to play Dungeons & Dragons once a week with friends.
Lutes graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Illustration in 1991. While at RISD, among the many new comics he encountered were Art Spiegelman's RAW magazine and Chester Brown's Yummy Fur, which together inspired him to start publishing minicomics under the imprint "Penny Dreadful."
Upon graduation in 1991, he moved to Seattle, where he spent several years working as a dishwasher and assistant art director at Fantagraphics Books. His "big break" came in 1993, when he began drawing a weekly comics page called "Jar of Fools" for The Stranger, Seattle's alternative paper. By 1995 he had become the paper's art director, but upon collecting and self-publishing Jar of Fools in 1996, he left The Stranger and made the leap to becoming a full-time cartoonist.
In the handful of productive years following that decision, Lutes began the comic book series Berlin, set in the twilight years of the Weimar Republic.
Lutes currently lives in Vermont with his partner and two children, where he teaches comics at the Center for Cartoon Studies.
He still tries to play Dungeons & Dragons once a week with friends.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 252 reviews
October 25, 2021
you can make literally anything uncool if you think hard enough about it.
that's because every talent takes effort and so you can trick yourself into thinking that you could also do it.
as in: i could break athletic records if i practiced every day. i could be a hot-dog eating champion to put joey chestnut to shame if i really sat down and worked on my strategy. and i could be a houdini-level escape mastermind if i were some kind of freak who handcuffed myself all the time.
see how that makes everything kinda lame?
part of a series i'm doing where i review books i read a long time ago but give more of an insight into my psyche than anything else
that's because every talent takes effort and so you can trick yourself into thinking that you could also do it.
as in: i could break athletic records if i practiced every day. i could be a hot-dog eating champion to put joey chestnut to shame if i really sat down and worked on my strategy. and i could be a houdini-level escape mastermind if i were some kind of freak who handcuffed myself all the time.
see how that makes everything kinda lame?
part of a series i'm doing where i review books i read a long time ago but give more of an insight into my psyche than anything else
September 10, 2018
This is a snapshot into one stunt Harry Houdini pulled off a bridge in Cambridge, MA. It is simply a day in the life picture. Great for young people interested in who this man was. It doesn't give away his secrets really.
For me it was too short and it didn't me enough about Harry. He was worried about being remembered by history. He loved his wife and she was part of his act. He drew huge crowds of people to see him almost drown. The art was ok with 3 colors throughout.
It's a nice little story.
For me it was too short and it didn't me enough about Harry. He was worried about being remembered by history. He loved his wife and she was part of his act. He drew huge crowds of people to see him almost drown. The art was ok with 3 colors throughout.
It's a nice little story.
March 11, 2024
Great overview of Houdini and the challenges he faced in his life. Houdini has become one of the most immersed historical figures into mythos; so hard to ascertain fact from fiction when you read about him. This book will give you a foundational understanding of one of the most complex and culturally significant figures in the history of entertainment.
November 22, 2023
I suppose that when I read a book wherein the structure of the story itself reflects the tone, I should be appreciative. In this case, I'm just annoyed. The artwork in Houdini: The Handcuff King is sparse, not very structured, and, honestly, a bit trite. The story is much of the same. It's a little slice of biography about Houdini's chained and handcuffed jump at Harvard Bridge. One of Houdini's minor feats, though he plied it as a marketing opportunity, which, as the book relates, he was always seeking. Unfortunately, I felt that this was only a minor graphic novel that acts as a (rather expensive) advertisement for The Center for Cartoon Studies, which holds the copyright.
I wanted to like this book more than I did. The foreshortened story was stilted, even jarring sometimes in its incompleteness. This shoddy storytelling wasn't, unfortunately, made up for by stunning artwork. Outside of the panel of Houdini jumping from Philadelphia's Market Street bridge, the artwork was pedestrian and uninspiring.
This is a book that could have breathed and been full of life. Instead, I felt much like Houdini must have while he was sinking into the cold water, struggling to be free of the claustrophobia of the story in which he found himself. He escaped. I didn't.
I wanted to like this book more than I did. The foreshortened story was stilted, even jarring sometimes in its incompleteness. This shoddy storytelling wasn't, unfortunately, made up for by stunning artwork. Outside of the panel of Houdini jumping from Philadelphia's Market Street bridge, the artwork was pedestrian and uninspiring.
This is a book that could have breathed and been full of life. Instead, I felt much like Houdini must have while he was sinking into the cold water, struggling to be free of the claustrophobia of the story in which he found himself. He escaped. I didn't.
July 26, 2011
On a recent busride down to San Diego to view the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the natural history museum, I figured it’d be good to bring some reading material. From my to-read pile I pulled the recently purchased Houdini: The Handcuff King. I was excited because I love Jason Lutes’ work (as previously seen in Jar of Fools and
Berlin
). And really, this book did not disappoint. There were, however, two surprises for me.
Surprise #1: While Jason Lutes penned the story that comprises the book’s narrative, he did not contribute to its art. Really this should not have been a surprise as the cover plainly says Nick Bertozzi immediately beneath Lutes’ own name and the art on the cover is plainly not the work of Lutes’ established style. At first, this surprise was a disappointment to me—like when you think your glass has Pepsi in it but your first sip reveals apple juice instead. But after my initial shock, I came to appreciate Bertozzi’s line and recognized that he really was a good choice for the book.
Bertozzi does do some fantastic work in the book, managing crowd scene after crowd scene with enough visual grace that the reader never suspects just how terribly dull it must have been to compose these pages. And even in the midst of these ink-saturated pages, it is never difficult to see where the action is. Bertozzi does a stand-up job of directing the reader’s eye and conveying the tension of the moments—moments that could easily have been lost had the artist been too detailed or too simplistic in his execution.
Surprise #2: I had brought a book to busy me during the ninety-minute drive, but finished it within forty-five minutes. Houdini is not a long book. There is plenty to look at but little text per page, which makes it a fairly quick read. Wholly apart from disappointing, the brisk pace of the story was refreshing. I closed the back cover satisfied with a mid-morning snack of graphic reading.
When initially approaching the book, I did not know what to expect. With the blue note set by Lutes’ prior works, I thought this might be an exploration of Houdini’s last days and unforeseen death. Instead the narrative picks up on a morning nearly a full decade before his mortality asserted itself and climaxes later that same day, presenting a slice of Houdini’s life, a splash of what made him great. And a snapshot of the people Houdini relied upon to feed that greatness.
Houdini: The Handcuff King is really a charming little story and I would pleasantly recommend it to anyone with an hour to kill.
[review courtesy of Good Ok Bad]
Surprise #1: While Jason Lutes penned the story that comprises the book’s narrative, he did not contribute to its art. Really this should not have been a surprise as the cover plainly says Nick Bertozzi immediately beneath Lutes’ own name and the art on the cover is plainly not the work of Lutes’ established style. At first, this surprise was a disappointment to me—like when you think your glass has Pepsi in it but your first sip reveals apple juice instead. But after my initial shock, I came to appreciate Bertozzi’s line and recognized that he really was a good choice for the book.
Bertozzi does do some fantastic work in the book, managing crowd scene after crowd scene with enough visual grace that the reader never suspects just how terribly dull it must have been to compose these pages. And even in the midst of these ink-saturated pages, it is never difficult to see where the action is. Bertozzi does a stand-up job of directing the reader’s eye and conveying the tension of the moments—moments that could easily have been lost had the artist been too detailed or too simplistic in his execution.
Surprise #2: I had brought a book to busy me during the ninety-minute drive, but finished it within forty-five minutes. Houdini is not a long book. There is plenty to look at but little text per page, which makes it a fairly quick read. Wholly apart from disappointing, the brisk pace of the story was refreshing. I closed the back cover satisfied with a mid-morning snack of graphic reading.
When initially approaching the book, I did not know what to expect. With the blue note set by Lutes’ prior works, I thought this might be an exploration of Houdini’s last days and unforeseen death. Instead the narrative picks up on a morning nearly a full decade before his mortality asserted itself and climaxes later that same day, presenting a slice of Houdini’s life, a splash of what made him great. And a snapshot of the people Houdini relied upon to feed that greatness.
Houdini: The Handcuff King is really a charming little story and I would pleasantly recommend it to anyone with an hour to kill.
[review courtesy of Good Ok Bad]
October 28, 2019
A day in the life of Harry Houdini. The story follows Houdini as he prepares and executes a jump into the icy rivers in Cambridge, MA while handcuffed. I found this very interesting. I would have really preferred Jason Lutes drew this as well. He'a fantastic artist. Nick Bertozzi drew it instead and I didn't care for his misshapen, stylistic heads. Still, it was a quick, easy read for anyone wanting to read more about Houdini.
September 10, 2011
What are secrets worth?
I'm doing my mean Michael Caine from The Prestige impersonation now. You can't hear me if you are reading this (because you are reading and not listening to me). This is an example. (The clip is of Michael Caine speaking in his own Cockney accent [more or less dampened by years of living in California smog].) "Once they know the secret the trick is worthless!" is what I'm getting around to.
If you care about secrets Houdini: The Handcuff King is not a book for you. It spills the secrets to one of his famous tricks (diving off a bridge into a freezing river and removing his shackles underwater). His wife delivers him a pick with a kiss. I'm surprised no one contracted lock jaw! har har har. Mariel, you are too damned funny. Sobs.
I don't really care about secrets. I could figure out that there was a trick in there somehow and not NEED to know how they were pulling off the trick. I'm impressed with the skill it takes to pull off tricks. What would drive a person to spend their lives thinking of ways to fool everybody else? Are they pleased by the illusion and skill or are they happy to fool people for its own sake?
Jason Lutes wrote 'Houdini' and Nick Bertozzi illustrated. I had been looking forward to reading this comic book for weeks. I liked Lutes's 'Berlin' comics a whole lot. If you care about this sort of thing (I do!), those were comics about life in Berlin before the Nazis came to power. Outside forces and inside forces pulling out the people insides and outsides and forcing them to splatter on the same walls they'd rather not touch (that's why they have walls). The drawings were the expressions I could go into a temporary visual coma staring at as the body language spoke over the panels into pages. Reading the story through words and then there's another layer of subtext through subtly changing landscapes. I'd compare Lutes's work to the Hernandez brothers of Love and Rockets fame. Growing to love the characters as if you were living with them. That sounds easy but it isn't something I get every day. Knowing Maggie through her weight ups and downs as if watching her body was a visual timer of the good and bad of her friendships and love lives. If L&R is your type of comic I'd suggest taking up the 'Berlin' stories. According to wikipedia, Lutes was influenced by the Tin Tin comics (I love those too). This is probably true about 'Handcuff'. It's kinda deliberately old fashioned.
Bertozzi's Houdini illustrations were something else. I want to say this is a kiddie style without really knowing what that means. Like if you read a so-so young adult book and think "that's for young adults" and it doesn't mean that other ya isn't completely awesome that anyone could love. It has a precursory feel to it. Introductory level. Harry Houdini, introductory level. The scenes with his wife are "Oh honey" sitcom style. Harry Houdini: asshole to journalists and brags about himself a lot. Yeah, he did that. But there were other sides. Harry Houdini who worked to expose others and thought of himself as a criminal too. Maybe he wanted to be caught too. Maybe the con and the praise were the whole trick for him.
I wouldn't have chosen to write about an outside surface look at a happy marriage. Since when are marriages ever what they appear on the inside? To give an outside look as inside felt really kiddie look to me.
The pictures are colored as if in a black and white film (not black and white. Painted a blueish gray and sometimes colored black). It felt like the stylistic choice when you watch new films that are black and white because films from that period were black and white. Why are they trying to emulate the films of the period, basing life off of a copy? I think too much. Maybe they want to be like their old idols like a kid magician becomes a magician because they had believed in the illusion to begin with. They get stuck in the past that way, though. The expressions were ego and triumph. Boring. How about a like bodied (like like minded) Houdini pose? Escaping bonds of a regular job. He represented a lot to a lot of people (escape!) and yet he did not want anyone else to be him. The wonderful thing about Tigger is that he's the only one? What did he represent to himself? Houdini: The Handcuff King is never more than a facade. The mystery is better than this. I would at least want a wow! to make me wonder about how he did it (being him).
The back of the book comes with blurbs from scenes of the books with their historical contexts. A reporter delivering his story by phone because there was no internet in those days. One box is of Houdini running past a wall of advertisements for his stunt (the one he is racing too). I thought it would have been cool if Houdini advertised by running through the streets. "I'm Houdini!"
I'm doing my mean Michael Caine from The Prestige impersonation now. You can't hear me if you are reading this (because you are reading and not listening to me). This is an example. (The clip is of Michael Caine speaking in his own Cockney accent [more or less dampened by years of living in California smog].) "Once they know the secret the trick is worthless!" is what I'm getting around to.
If you care about secrets Houdini: The Handcuff King is not a book for you. It spills the secrets to one of his famous tricks (diving off a bridge into a freezing river and removing his shackles underwater). His wife delivers him a pick with a kiss. I'm surprised no one contracted lock jaw! har har har. Mariel, you are too damned funny. Sobs.
I don't really care about secrets. I could figure out that there was a trick in there somehow and not NEED to know how they were pulling off the trick. I'm impressed with the skill it takes to pull off tricks. What would drive a person to spend their lives thinking of ways to fool everybody else? Are they pleased by the illusion and skill or are they happy to fool people for its own sake?
Jason Lutes wrote 'Houdini' and Nick Bertozzi illustrated. I had been looking forward to reading this comic book for weeks. I liked Lutes's 'Berlin' comics a whole lot. If you care about this sort of thing (I do!), those were comics about life in Berlin before the Nazis came to power. Outside forces and inside forces pulling out the people insides and outsides and forcing them to splatter on the same walls they'd rather not touch (that's why they have walls). The drawings were the expressions I could go into a temporary visual coma staring at as the body language spoke over the panels into pages. Reading the story through words and then there's another layer of subtext through subtly changing landscapes. I'd compare Lutes's work to the Hernandez brothers of Love and Rockets fame. Growing to love the characters as if you were living with them. That sounds easy but it isn't something I get every day. Knowing Maggie through her weight ups and downs as if watching her body was a visual timer of the good and bad of her friendships and love lives. If L&R is your type of comic I'd suggest taking up the 'Berlin' stories. According to wikipedia, Lutes was influenced by the Tin Tin comics (I love those too). This is probably true about 'Handcuff'. It's kinda deliberately old fashioned.
Bertozzi's Houdini illustrations were something else. I want to say this is a kiddie style without really knowing what that means. Like if you read a so-so young adult book and think "that's for young adults" and it doesn't mean that other ya isn't completely awesome that anyone could love. It has a precursory feel to it. Introductory level. Harry Houdini, introductory level. The scenes with his wife are "Oh honey" sitcom style. Harry Houdini: asshole to journalists and brags about himself a lot. Yeah, he did that. But there were other sides. Harry Houdini who worked to expose others and thought of himself as a criminal too. Maybe he wanted to be caught too. Maybe the con and the praise were the whole trick for him.
I wouldn't have chosen to write about an outside surface look at a happy marriage. Since when are marriages ever what they appear on the inside? To give an outside look as inside felt really kiddie look to me.
The pictures are colored as if in a black and white film (not black and white. Painted a blueish gray and sometimes colored black). It felt like the stylistic choice when you watch new films that are black and white because films from that period were black and white. Why are they trying to emulate the films of the period, basing life off of a copy? I think too much. Maybe they want to be like their old idols like a kid magician becomes a magician because they had believed in the illusion to begin with. They get stuck in the past that way, though. The expressions were ego and triumph. Boring. How about a like bodied (like like minded) Houdini pose? Escaping bonds of a regular job. He represented a lot to a lot of people (escape!) and yet he did not want anyone else to be him. The wonderful thing about Tigger is that he's the only one? What did he represent to himself? Houdini: The Handcuff King is never more than a facade. The mystery is better than this. I would at least want a wow! to make me wonder about how he did it (being him).
The back of the book comes with blurbs from scenes of the books with their historical contexts. A reporter delivering his story by phone because there was no internet in those days. One box is of Houdini running past a wall of advertisements for his stunt (the one he is racing too). I thought it would have been cool if Houdini advertised by running through the streets. "I'm Houdini!"
October 23, 2015
Being myself a magician--strictly amateur--for around forty years now, give or take, I was predisposed to like this. This is obviously not a full biography of Houdini, more an account of a single day--not even a full one--in his life. The story is well told. Both Lutes and Bertozzi are old hands at this sort of tale. There are some fascinating end notes after the story. If this has a major fault, it's that it's a little too short. It feels more like the prelude to a full-blown graphic novel biography of Houdini rather than a stand-alone tale. It's over almost as soon as you start it, but it's still worth reading if you've any interest in the topic.
December 19, 2017
Interesante para los fans de Houdini.
July 20, 2010
Houdini: The Handcuff King is a graphic biography about master magician and escape artists, Harry Houdini. Instead of trying to tell about Houdini's entire life in an eighty-two page graphic novel, the comic instead tells the story behind one trick and how that one trick expressed so much about Houdini's life. Here we are able to learn about his daring, his devotion to his wife Bess, his sense of showmanship, his insatiable pride, and demand for loyalty from his employees. This paints us a picture of Houdini as a complex man, far from perfect, but no less interesting for it. The illustrations for this comic are done with minimal lines and color that successfully manage to personify the emotions of the character, as well as create tension during the actual trick when Houdini jumps off a bridge into the Charles River. The art is presented with several blocks on each page, except for a few important moments which are given full page spreads. The several pages of further back story and in depth introduction, is just as interesting as the comic itself. Though these pages we are able to see more information on Houdini's life and death, as well as life in Boston and Cambridge during the early 1900s. Houdini: The Handcuff King is an effective graphic novel, both educational and suspenseful, that effectively tells the tale of one larger than life man who's great works are still remembered a hundred years later.
NOTE- This review was written for a class
NOTE- This review was written for a class
June 17, 2008
This was great. I gave it to a magician friend as a gift, and thought I should probably check it out myself. I'm not particularly a big magic or Houdini fan but found this graphic novel to be compelling and entertaining. It's really more about the man, Houdini— his struggles with ego and fame, the antisemitism he faced, and his relationship with his wife. The artwork is beautiful; very clean and expressive.
My only complaint is I wish the story was longer. I realize it is meant to focus on one particular event-- one of his famous tricks/stunts-- but I would have appreciated a more extensive look at his life and career. It was such a quick read (even for me,) that when I was finished I immediately wanted more.
My only complaint is I wish the story was longer. I realize it is meant to focus on one particular event-- one of his famous tricks/stunts-- but I would have appreciated a more extensive look at his life and career. It was such a quick read (even for me,) that when I was finished I immediately wanted more.
December 8, 2011
Houdini The Handcuff King
by Jason Lutes and Nick BertozziPart
I found this story about Ehrich Weiss, a.k.a. Houdini, very interesting and easy to read, even though the writers aren't exactly sure if they guessed Houdini's escape methods accurately. In this day and age, Magician Chris Angel is burning up the tube, but back then, before T.V., the entire nation (and the world actually) all knew who the Magician Houdini was. It was said that no bonds, no matter how strong, could hold him. The only bonds that got him in the end were the bonds of death—but even that didn't come through one of his escape artist routines. In fact, his death has a lot to do with his personality. If you want to know more, read this short little number and maybe you can guess the reason for Houdini's demise.
by Jason Lutes and Nick BertozziPart
I found this story about Ehrich Weiss, a.k.a. Houdini, very interesting and easy to read, even though the writers aren't exactly sure if they guessed Houdini's escape methods accurately. In this day and age, Magician Chris Angel is burning up the tube, but back then, before T.V., the entire nation (and the world actually) all knew who the Magician Houdini was. It was said that no bonds, no matter how strong, could hold him. The only bonds that got him in the end were the bonds of death—but even that didn't come through one of his escape artist routines. In fact, his death has a lot to do with his personality. If you want to know more, read this short little number and maybe you can guess the reason for Houdini's demise.
September 12, 2009
A quick primer on Houdini, his work and times with great ancillary material included both in the forward and afterward. This is an excellent introduction to the man for school-aged children.
March 16, 2021
Una forma súper linda de acercarme a la vida de los personajes de la historia que más llaman mi atención .
September 9, 2025
الرسومات كويسه ومركزة ع اهم حدث ف حياة هوديني لما نط ف البحر المجمد وايديه مقيدة وطلع بعدها
اشهر ساحر ف العالم اللي بدأت اسمع عنه من كام يوم واستعرت كتب عنه من المكتبة عنه وشوفت مسلسل عنه حلو اوي
بجهز حلقة ع قناة فيلم عميق علشان أتكلم عنه لو حد مهتم 👇
@film3mek
اشهر ساحر ف العالم اللي بدأت اسمع عنه من كام يوم واستعرت كتب عنه من المكتبة عنه وشوفت مسلسل عنه حلو اوي
بجهز حلقة ع قناة فيلم عميق علشان أتكلم عنه لو حد مهتم 👇
@film3mek
August 13, 2022
Debió ser catártico para Lutes poder hacer algo así mientras seguía atrapado en Berlín; alejarse de aquella ciudad y del drama que estaba desentrañando para contar un día en la vida de Houdini. Una intensa estampa cotidiana que, en la sencillez del guión de Nick Bertozzi, retrata a la persona mientras da vueltas alrededor de la fama. Lo que es, lo que aporta, lo que arrastra, lo que permanece...
October 25, 2017
Kind of interesting- gave you a good feel for how people reacted to Houdini, and his flare for drama. But oddly lacking in more significant details. Needs to be paired with a more fact heavy book for more balanced information.
December 18, 2023
Love me some Lutes. This whole ascetic is amazing. Pick this one up if you dig the style, but also if you wanna finish a book in one sitting. (It’s the end of the year, gotta get those reading challenge numbers up!)
August 27, 2022
Centrado en un episodio de escapismo cuando se lanza de un puente no profundiza demasiado en el personaje. Entretenido de leer pero poco más.
August 23, 2010
GENRE: Fiction, graphic novel, magic. This book also has some non-fiction, biographical elements to it.
SUMMARY: This story centers on one event in the life of master magician Harry Houdini: his jumping handcuffed from a bridge in Boston into the nearly freezing water below. At the beginning we get to see a tender scene between Harry and his wife, Bess. We know that he gives her a pick, though we don't know exactly how it relates to Harry's future trick. Harry does some training, involving exercising and practicing jumping from the bridge, with the full cooperation of the police. Harry must contend with blows to his ego, as people from the press harangue him over how popular he currently is. The climax of the book arrives during the big jump, though we worry whether or not Bess will make it to Harry in time; he has cautioned her not to be late, no matter what!
EVALUATION: This book reads very quickly and smoothly, and never loses its upbeat pacing. I enjoyed the black, white, and what looks almost like periwinkle tones. While it doesn't tell very much about Mr. Houdini, it's not designed to do so, and relates this bridge-jumping section in Harry's life very well.
WHY I WOULD INCLUDE IT: This would be an excellent book for students interested in famous magicians that have shied away from more traditional books. After reading it, you will truly have a good idea of what Harry was like at this moment in time, and you may even be hungry for more.
READER'S ANNOTATION: One of Harry Houdini's most daring stunts, a handcuffed dive from a Boston bridge into nearly-freezing water, is told in a brisk and true fashion.
ITEMS WITH SIMILAR APPEAL:
• Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow by James Sturm.
• The Arrival by Shaun Tan.
• Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson.
• The Houdini Box by Brian Selznick.
• The Secret of the Great Houdini by Robert Burleigh.
SUMMARY: This story centers on one event in the life of master magician Harry Houdini: his jumping handcuffed from a bridge in Boston into the nearly freezing water below. At the beginning we get to see a tender scene between Harry and his wife, Bess. We know that he gives her a pick, though we don't know exactly how it relates to Harry's future trick. Harry does some training, involving exercising and practicing jumping from the bridge, with the full cooperation of the police. Harry must contend with blows to his ego, as people from the press harangue him over how popular he currently is. The climax of the book arrives during the big jump, though we worry whether or not Bess will make it to Harry in time; he has cautioned her not to be late, no matter what!
EVALUATION: This book reads very quickly and smoothly, and never loses its upbeat pacing. I enjoyed the black, white, and what looks almost like periwinkle tones. While it doesn't tell very much about Mr. Houdini, it's not designed to do so, and relates this bridge-jumping section in Harry's life very well.
WHY I WOULD INCLUDE IT: This would be an excellent book for students interested in famous magicians that have shied away from more traditional books. After reading it, you will truly have a good idea of what Harry was like at this moment in time, and you may even be hungry for more.
READER'S ANNOTATION: One of Harry Houdini's most daring stunts, a handcuffed dive from a Boston bridge into nearly-freezing water, is told in a brisk and true fashion.
ITEMS WITH SIMILAR APPEAL:
• Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow by James Sturm.
• The Arrival by Shaun Tan.
• Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson.
• The Houdini Box by Brian Selznick.
• The Secret of the Great Houdini by Robert Burleigh.
July 20, 2008
This brief graphic novel (novella? novelette? it's pretty short!) gives a fictionalized look at one of Houdini's bridge jumps. Handcuffed and in leg irons, he plunges into the cold Charles River in Cambridge, MA as thousands of people look on. He escapes in less than two minutes, of course.
I'm not sure what the point is, here. I think the people who made this book were well meaning. I get the impression that they did a lot of research, and that they admire Houdini a great deal. The book sports an introduction that's meant to be a mini-biography of Houdini. It hits all the main events of Houdini's life, but doesn't make it sound terribly exciting.
Nor is the illustrated presentation of the bridge jump terribly exciting. While I did admire the bold graphics, I wonder whether the style of the illustrations was the best fit for the story. Perhaps a more detailed style would have helped to convey more of the emotions of the stunt?
There are also a few pages of notes after the story -- more biographical information, as well as notes about the time period in which the story takes place. There's also a bibliography of books about Houdini -- much better books than this one.
I can see that this book has its place -- perhaps as a "high-low" book for a child who wants to learn about Houdini but whose reading skills need work. Other than that, it's not a biography -- one could call it creative nonfiction. But for what market? I read this in about 10 minutes, and I can't imagine a child of grade-level reading ability would take much longer than that either. The cover design is really cool, but once you get inside the book, there's not that much to take away.
I'm not sure what the point is, here. I think the people who made this book were well meaning. I get the impression that they did a lot of research, and that they admire Houdini a great deal. The book sports an introduction that's meant to be a mini-biography of Houdini. It hits all the main events of Houdini's life, but doesn't make it sound terribly exciting.
Nor is the illustrated presentation of the bridge jump terribly exciting. While I did admire the bold graphics, I wonder whether the style of the illustrations was the best fit for the story. Perhaps a more detailed style would have helped to convey more of the emotions of the stunt?
There are also a few pages of notes after the story -- more biographical information, as well as notes about the time period in which the story takes place. There's also a bibliography of books about Houdini -- much better books than this one.
I can see that this book has its place -- perhaps as a "high-low" book for a child who wants to learn about Houdini but whose reading skills need work. Other than that, it's not a biography -- one could call it creative nonfiction. But for what market? I read this in about 10 minutes, and I can't imagine a child of grade-level reading ability would take much longer than that either. The cover design is really cool, but once you get inside the book, there's not that much to take away.
December 28, 2015
Full disclosure: I was a magician as a kid, performing various "shows" for my family, so I've got a soft spot in my heart for illusions of all kinds. That said, "Houdini: The Handcuff King," written by Jason Lutes (the master of turn-of-the-century period pieces like "Berlin" and "Jar Of Fools") and drawn by Nick Bertozzi, is a delightful book for magic experts and novices alike. It's straightforward, interesting, and beautifully executed.
Wisely, Lutes and Bertozzi, focus on only one of Houdini's feats of escape in "Houdini: The Handcuff King": a stunt where he is bound and handcuffed and then jumps off a bridge into the icy river below. Using this as the focal point of the story, they touch on Houdini's relationship with his wife, his efforts at publicity, the loyalty that he demanded from his employees, and the efforts of some to discredit his abilities (a few pages of end notes also provide some additional information). However, the book did seem a little too short; I'd have loved some more scenes but only because I enjoyed the comic so much. Bertozzi's lines are quirky and beautiful and the coloring, focusing on a limited palette of blues, was a great choice to compliment the story.
"Houdini: The Handcuff King" is a great book and a great reminder of a time before TV and electronics, when magic seemed possible. One man, an immigrant with a boundless work ethic, made it his mission to push the limits of the human body, to the delight of adoring crowds. I'd definitely recommend checking this comic out because, honestly, couldn't we all use a little more wonder?
Wisely, Lutes and Bertozzi, focus on only one of Houdini's feats of escape in "Houdini: The Handcuff King": a stunt where he is bound and handcuffed and then jumps off a bridge into the icy river below. Using this as the focal point of the story, they touch on Houdini's relationship with his wife, his efforts at publicity, the loyalty that he demanded from his employees, and the efforts of some to discredit his abilities (a few pages of end notes also provide some additional information). However, the book did seem a little too short; I'd have loved some more scenes but only because I enjoyed the comic so much. Bertozzi's lines are quirky and beautiful and the coloring, focusing on a limited palette of blues, was a great choice to compliment the story.
"Houdini: The Handcuff King" is a great book and a great reminder of a time before TV and electronics, when magic seemed possible. One man, an immigrant with a boundless work ethic, made it his mission to push the limits of the human body, to the delight of adoring crowds. I'd definitely recommend checking this comic out because, honestly, couldn't we all use a little more wonder?
April 14, 2013
Graphic Novel
Published April 1st 2007 by Disney-Hyperion
ISBN 0786839023 (ISBN13: 9780786839025)
Ages 10 and up
This graphic novel examines Houdini's famous 1908 jump from Harvard Bridge in which his hands and feet are bound in handcuffs. Houdini is presented as a driven, hard-working man, but one who is loyal to his wife Bess--who plays an important role in this escape.
Strengths:
- Graphic Novel format will appeal to many ages
- Black and white illustrations match time-period well.
- Houdini is presented as a real man-- complete with flaws
- Forward is very informative
-I nformation text features include: forward, bibliography, panel discussion section to discuss some aspects in mor detail
- Many wordless panels moves plot forward
-one-page graphic on Graphic Novel process and production
Weaknesses:
- Panel discussion reveals that no one has ever proved that Bess passed the lock pick to him in a kiss, but it is in the story. This reveal to an integral part of this biography is somewhat buried under Bess's history.
Uses:
-Gathering information from illustration
- plot sequencing
- Biography unit
- How to make comic books
- talks about Magicians Code-- use to promote upcoming "magic" events at library
- Publisher has discussion guide
Awards:
- YALSA Top 10 Great Graphic Novels for Teens, 2008 ; American Library Association (List)
- Garden State Teen Book Award, 2010 Winner Nonfiction New Jersey
Published April 1st 2007 by Disney-Hyperion
ISBN 0786839023 (ISBN13: 9780786839025)
Ages 10 and up
This graphic novel examines Houdini's famous 1908 jump from Harvard Bridge in which his hands and feet are bound in handcuffs. Houdini is presented as a driven, hard-working man, but one who is loyal to his wife Bess--who plays an important role in this escape.
Strengths:
- Graphic Novel format will appeal to many ages
- Black and white illustrations match time-period well.
- Houdini is presented as a real man-- complete with flaws
- Forward is very informative
-I nformation text features include: forward, bibliography, panel discussion section to discuss some aspects in mor detail
- Many wordless panels moves plot forward
-one-page graphic on Graphic Novel process and production
Weaknesses:
- Panel discussion reveals that no one has ever proved that Bess passed the lock pick to him in a kiss, but it is in the story. This reveal to an integral part of this biography is somewhat buried under Bess's history.
Uses:
-Gathering information from illustration
- plot sequencing
- Biography unit
- How to make comic books
- talks about Magicians Code-- use to promote upcoming "magic" events at library
- Publisher has discussion guide
Awards:
- YALSA Top 10 Great Graphic Novels for Teens, 2008 ; American Library Association (List)
- Garden State Teen Book Award, 2010 Winner Nonfiction New Jersey
January 25, 2012
So short and simple with a brief but captivating look into Houdini's life. The intial "setup" begins to tell the story, while moving into the graphic novel, and then ending with a brief explanation of specific pieces of the graphic novel that are either historical or biographical in nature.
Again, so simple, with black, white and blue coloring, it is easy to read both because there is little text but also because it is simple vocabulary in which the pictures tell the story. The authors/artists choose to capture one specific event in which Houdini jumped off a bridge in Massachusetts while readers already know that it is not only skill and practice but a key hidden in his wife's mouth (he kisses her moments before jumping) that allows his escape even after a breathtaking (literally!) nearly two minutes underwater in the freezing cold.
Definitely enjoying it, would like to read more about Houdini himself. They share tidbits about his role model, Houdin, how Houdini escaped discrimination by not publicizing his Jewish heritage, how he marketed himself in America after moving here (there is a neat description of how Houdini truly lived an American dream), and how Houdini disbelieved and set out to disprove all fortune tellers while honing his magic. Cool!
Again, so simple, with black, white and blue coloring, it is easy to read both because there is little text but also because it is simple vocabulary in which the pictures tell the story. The authors/artists choose to capture one specific event in which Houdini jumped off a bridge in Massachusetts while readers already know that it is not only skill and practice but a key hidden in his wife's mouth (he kisses her moments before jumping) that allows his escape even after a breathtaking (literally!) nearly two minutes underwater in the freezing cold.
Definitely enjoying it, would like to read more about Houdini himself. They share tidbits about his role model, Houdin, how Houdini escaped discrimination by not publicizing his Jewish heritage, how he marketed himself in America after moving here (there is a neat description of how Houdini truly lived an American dream), and how Houdini disbelieved and set out to disprove all fortune tellers while honing his magic. Cool!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2017
Harry Houdini was an incredible individual, so talented at escape and magic that there were people that questioned whether he was completely human. Yet, there were always simple explanations for how he managed to perform his tricks, much of the mystique was due to his incredible showmanship.
This graphic novel is not about the life of Houdini, it focuses on one specific event. He was to strip nearly naked, manacled and then jump into the freezing Charles River. Given the weight of the steel that he was wearing, Houdini would immediately sink to the bottom. The Cambridge police department would perform the shackling as well as searching Houdini for any hidden lock picks.
From this rendition, the reader learns about the incredible showmanship of Houdini and how he managed to perform this specific stunt. This graphic novel is an excellent history lesson, putting forward a small portion of the life of the greatest magician and escape artist that ever lived. All of his magic was based on tricks, yet there was always the element of danger, for despite all the intense preparation and practice, there was always the possibility that something would go wrong.
This graphic novel is not about the life of Houdini, it focuses on one specific event. He was to strip nearly naked, manacled and then jump into the freezing Charles River. Given the weight of the steel that he was wearing, Houdini would immediately sink to the bottom. The Cambridge police department would perform the shackling as well as searching Houdini for any hidden lock picks.
From this rendition, the reader learns about the incredible showmanship of Houdini and how he managed to perform this specific stunt. This graphic novel is an excellent history lesson, putting forward a small portion of the life of the greatest magician and escape artist that ever lived. All of his magic was based on tricks, yet there was always the element of danger, for despite all the intense preparation and practice, there was always the possibility that something would go wrong.
May 14, 2009
Best Book (Realistic) ,Graphic novel, 5Q/4P/MJSA {Review}
Flip Book Momentum. Houdini:The Handcuff King is a snapshot biography of the most famous escape artist of all time. The graphic novel depicts one of the most famous death-defying leap into the icy Charles River in Boston. As well as reveal the mechanical secrets behind his handcuff escape, the author Lutes/Bertozzi pull back the iron curtin to show his ego, his adulation of the American public but mostly his loveing relationship with his wife Bess. Compared to other graphic novels I really enjoy the illustration/design. Keeping it simple black and white allows the reader to feel the genuine historic piece for the time period. During his high life on stage between 1900-1912, most images of Houdini were captured on black and white film and in moving pictures. In my opinion Bertozzi took that into consideration when he was developing the images for the graphs. The story if very straight forward, is very reminiscent for story time for any age.
Flip Book Momentum. Houdini:The Handcuff King is a snapshot biography of the most famous escape artist of all time. The graphic novel depicts one of the most famous death-defying leap into the icy Charles River in Boston. As well as reveal the mechanical secrets behind his handcuff escape, the author Lutes/Bertozzi pull back the iron curtin to show his ego, his adulation of the American public but mostly his loveing relationship with his wife Bess. Compared to other graphic novels I really enjoy the illustration/design. Keeping it simple black and white allows the reader to feel the genuine historic piece for the time period. During his high life on stage between 1900-1912, most images of Houdini were captured on black and white film and in moving pictures. In my opinion Bertozzi took that into consideration when he was developing the images for the graphs. The story if very straight forward, is very reminiscent for story time for any age.
May 12, 2013
Shana Loven
APA Citation: Lutes, Jason, Bertozzi, Nick, & Center for Cartoon, Studies. (2007). Houdini : the handcuff king. New York: Hyperion.
Genre: Biography
Format: Graphic Novel
Selection Process: Kirkus Reviews
Houdini: The Handcuff King by Jason Lutes and Nick Bertozzi tells the tale of Houdini’s daring jump from Harvard Bridge in Boston, Massachusetts in 1908 while being handcuffed and leg-shackled. The story draws attention to Houdini’s quest for fame and how he hired only the best people to work with him and keep his secrets. The Handcuff King details how instrumental Bessy, his wife, was to Houdini’s act and the large part she often played in his daring escapes. Lutes and Bertozzi tell the tale of his daring escape as he plunged into the frigid waters, but they also humanize this great man of history by revealing that what he prized more than fame was his wife, Bessy.
Recommend.
APA Citation: Lutes, Jason, Bertozzi, Nick, & Center for Cartoon, Studies. (2007). Houdini : the handcuff king. New York: Hyperion.
Genre: Biography
Format: Graphic Novel
Selection Process: Kirkus Reviews
Houdini: The Handcuff King by Jason Lutes and Nick Bertozzi tells the tale of Houdini’s daring jump from Harvard Bridge in Boston, Massachusetts in 1908 while being handcuffed and leg-shackled. The story draws attention to Houdini’s quest for fame and how he hired only the best people to work with him and keep his secrets. The Handcuff King details how instrumental Bessy, his wife, was to Houdini’s act and the large part she often played in his daring escapes. Lutes and Bertozzi tell the tale of his daring escape as he plunged into the frigid waters, but they also humanize this great man of history by revealing that what he prized more than fame was his wife, Bessy.
Recommend.
December 8, 2016
Summary: Houdini: The Handcuff King tells the story of the man whose name is synonymous with escape! It is a graphic novel which focuses on one of Houdini's most famous stunts, a jump from a bridge into Boston's icy Charles River-while handcuffed! It details his struggles with the press, antisemitism, and fame. Throughout, the love of Houdini's life, Bess, is his most important ally.
Review: A great twist on biography presented in graphic form. Detailed, thoughtful illustrations compliment and enlarge the narrative. Recommended read for anyone interested in the history of magic and stunts! The artwork is excellent and adds dimension to the narrative.
Other books: Shackleton: Antarctic Odyssey by Nick Bertozzi
Quote: "I cannot think of a man more dangerous to know than Mr. Harry Houdini, the man for whom the phrase, "kids, don't try this at home" might well have been invented." from the introduction by Glen David Gold
Review: A great twist on biography presented in graphic form. Detailed, thoughtful illustrations compliment and enlarge the narrative. Recommended read for anyone interested in the history of magic and stunts! The artwork is excellent and adds dimension to the narrative.
Other books: Shackleton: Antarctic Odyssey by Nick Bertozzi
Quote: "I cannot think of a man more dangerous to know than Mr. Harry Houdini, the man for whom the phrase, "kids, don't try this at home" might well have been invented." from the introduction by Glen David Gold
August 8, 2013
Imagine a heart monitor, nearing the brink of death. The beeps are infrequent and shaky. Imagine a tiny *beep* and then flatline.
That's basically how the graphic novel was. It just started out with Harry Houdini preparing for a show and doing the show in front of adoring fans. The only time I felt emotion was when Bess happened to get stuck at that policeman and Harry was about to jump. Thank God it was only 96 pages.
The story of Harry Houdini is actually very interesting but this take on it, I found was a bit lacking. It was just like a tiny glimpse into his extraordinary life. A glimpse that didn't even make much sense. The story wasn't really fleshed out and I didn't really get the point of the graphic novel. Was it just to show that Harry Houdini could get out of anything? I honestly have no clue.
Either way, not very moved by this graphic novel. It was a flop.
That's basically how the graphic novel was. It just started out with Harry Houdini preparing for a show and doing the show in front of adoring fans. The only time I felt emotion was when Bess happened to get stuck at that policeman and Harry was about to jump. Thank God it was only 96 pages.
The story of Harry Houdini is actually very interesting but this take on it, I found was a bit lacking. It was just like a tiny glimpse into his extraordinary life. A glimpse that didn't even make much sense. The story wasn't really fleshed out and I didn't really get the point of the graphic novel. Was it just to show that Harry Houdini could get out of anything? I honestly have no clue.
Either way, not very moved by this graphic novel. It was a flop.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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