What do you think?
Rate this book
Bootblack
By the author of the critically acclaimed Giant. On the German front, in the spring of 1945: the war leaves only death and destruction in its wake. To escape the horror of the present, Al, an American soldier, the only survivor of his unit, immerses himself in the memories of his New York life. Son of German immigrants, born in the United States, he was not yet ten years old when, in one night, under the approving eyes of anti-immigrant Americans, he lost his parents and his home in a terrible fire. Turning his back on his origins, Al has no choice but to live on the streets; he becomes a Bootblack, a shoe shiner. With his friend Shiny, they somehow manage to survive by sticking together. Six years later, in 1935, they meet Buster and the ambitious Diddle Joe. And then there's Maggie, the girl Al is in love with and whose esteem he ardently longs for. And this, even as she makes it clear to him that they do not live in the same world. New York offers no future for the poor, Al understood that. He is therefore determined to earn more money, whatever the means. But he does not imagine, at that point, that the war which threatens will soon give him an appointment with his past...
128 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2021
3 people are currently reading
2196 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 16, 2022
Los dibujos, el color, la ambientación y la maestría en la composición de las viñetas de Bootblack son igual de impresionantes que los de Giant, la anterior obra de Mikaël que es, sin dudarlo, una de mis favoritas. ¿Que ha pasado entonces para que en esta ocasión la historia no acabe de ser redonda? Después de darle algunas vueltas, he llegado a la conclusión de que el problema está en que ni los personajes ni el destino son la fuerza motora detrás de esta historia. Y si ellos no lo son, quiere decir que el motor es “solo” la mano el autor y que quizás a la historia se le han forzado demasiado los engranajes. Hay demasiadas casualidades y demasiados giros en Bootblack que ocurren sólo para que el autor pueda sostener su historia, hasta el punto de que se erosiona la verosimilitud y peor aún, la conexión con los personajes.
July 7, 2024
Esta história está muito bem contada e desenhada... A viagem entre os diferentes tempos cronológicos é feita sem que o leitor fique confuso, e isso demonstra a maestria do argumento, muito bem sustentado pelas ilustrações cheias de pormenores que enriquecem visualmente a narrativa e que demonstram que o autor fez uma elaborada pesquisa histórica.
Por isto tudo, acho que merece as 5 estrelas que lhe dou.
Por isto tudo, acho que merece as 5 estrelas que lhe dou.
March 17, 2024
Fajna, choć poskładana z ogranych na maksa motywów historia, rozgrywająca się w Nowym Jorku lat 30., 40. i zahaczająca o czas wojenny. Graficznie jest ładnie, ale też bez zaskoczeń czy innowacji. Wiem, że wielu doceni tu szczególnie kreskę, ale dla mnie to taka rzemieślnicza robota, która jest wprawdzie precyzyjna i efektowna, ale zarazem nudna i przewidywalna. Jeśli ktoś lubi bardzo tradycyjny sposób opowiadania historii to pewnie must have, jeśli oczekuje czegoś więcej, może odpuścić
October 19, 2024
“Bootblack” is about an orphaned shoeshiner, who goes by the name Al Chrysler, in the lead up to WWII and his time as a G.I. in the war. Besides making it rich and famous, his dream is to win the heart of young actress, Margaret/Maggy. We all know, however, that “the course of true love never [does] run smooth.”
The art is done in a realistic style with warm colors (watercolor?). The cityscape art is fantastic. The story pulls at your heartstrings. I wasn’t ready for this one to be over so quickly!
The art is done in a realistic style with warm colors (watercolor?). The cityscape art is fantastic. The story pulls at your heartstrings. I wasn’t ready for this one to be over so quickly!
May 28, 2023
What a great story. A fictional story that could easily be real.
We spend our lives chasing our dreams swimming against the tide that seems to want only to drown us. We try to build our road in this chaotic universe that doesn't appreciate stability.
Each of our lives are different but the struggles are still there, in different forms.
Life is a game. Many players lose very early in the game. Others spend a lifetime fighting only to lose just the same. Only a few really succeed and even then, success is never permanent.
We're all playing. Trying to make the best of it.
We spend our lives chasing our dreams swimming against the tide that seems to want only to drown us. We try to build our road in this chaotic universe that doesn't appreciate stability.
Each of our lives are different but the struggles are still there, in different forms.
Life is a game. Many players lose very early in the game. Others spend a lifetime fighting only to lose just the same. Only a few really succeed and even then, success is never permanent.
We're all playing. Trying to make the best of it.
August 1, 2022
The experiences of an orphaned shoeshine boy-turned WW2 soldier are explored in this atmospheric graphic novel. Yes, the storyline skips around in time a lot, and with very little warning. However, the period detail is just incredible, fully immersing the reader in this bygone world.
November 8, 2022
Beautiful art in a well-told story of street kids, immigrants in NY in the 1930-40s, up to WWII. Art is well-used to push the story forward. Characters are flawed, very flawed, but solid. Elements creep back; I kept flipping backwards to check things! Loved the backgrounds too. I'm impressed.
December 4, 2022
4,4 ⭐️ impactante e intenso. A história sobrevive um pouco de coincidências coordenadas mas o enredo ainda assim envolvente, as personagens cativantes, a arte absolutamente incrível e a caracterização vívida da ambientação da obra desculpam a maioria desses percalços. Uma leitura belíssima.
March 15, 2024
‘Bootblack (New York Triptych)’ is a graphic novel set in 1930s New York and tells the story of a shoeshine boy and his struggles to survive. The tale begins with Altenberg, his first name, fighting in World War II on the German front in 1945, and we learn of his old life through flashbacks. Occasionally, the narrative returns to the war as his journey through the front lines leads to encounters with the past, but mostly it’s set in New York.
It’s 1929, and Altenberg, or Al as he prefers to be called, is a proud American, disgusted with his German immigrant parents. Aged nine, he runs away from home one day but returns at night, unable to survive alone. However, when he comes back, their New York tenement block is on fire, and his parents are dead. Now he has to survive alone. It made me wonder, to be honest, was there really no help at all for an orphan, even in those hard days? At any rate, he teams up with a shoeshine boy, James ‘Shiny’ Rasmussen, and they manage to eke out a living as bootblacks on the streets, after the crash of 1929 during the early years of the Great Depression.
Six years later, Al is old enough to fall in love with Maggie, the grocer’s daughter. Her younger brother, who never talks, hangs around with Al and Shiny. They call him Buster, after Buster Keaton, the silent movie star. The reason for his silence is revealed eventually. Maggie has no intention of getting involved with a poor boy, so Al decides he must make money. Diddle Joe, the pickpocket, has a cunning plan for that. Any more plot details would be spoilers.
The portrayal of Depression-era life in New York seems accurate enough, and the beautiful art with sepia tones conveys it nicely. I wasn’t there, but films like ‘Angels With Dirty Faces’ and ‘Once Upon A Time In America,’ as well as old comic book crime stories by Jack Kirby, who grew up on those mean streets, have made it familiar. There are gang wars between different ethnic groups, and everyone is broke and desperate for dimes, not just dollars.
The gritty, realistic war scenes are excellently done too. It’s a down-to-earth portrayal of times past and an excellent and moving story that would make a good film. Maybe one day it will. Al isn’t an especially likeable hero, but given his circumstances, that wouldn’t be possible. Ideally, he would have been bitten by a radioactive cockroach, become Super-Shoeshine Boy, and fought lowlife criminals instead of getting mixed up with them. That’s a proper comic story. However, this one is superb in a different way, and I certainly recommend it.
It’s 1929, and Altenberg, or Al as he prefers to be called, is a proud American, disgusted with his German immigrant parents. Aged nine, he runs away from home one day but returns at night, unable to survive alone. However, when he comes back, their New York tenement block is on fire, and his parents are dead. Now he has to survive alone. It made me wonder, to be honest, was there really no help at all for an orphan, even in those hard days? At any rate, he teams up with a shoeshine boy, James ‘Shiny’ Rasmussen, and they manage to eke out a living as bootblacks on the streets, after the crash of 1929 during the early years of the Great Depression.
Six years later, Al is old enough to fall in love with Maggie, the grocer’s daughter. Her younger brother, who never talks, hangs around with Al and Shiny. They call him Buster, after Buster Keaton, the silent movie star. The reason for his silence is revealed eventually. Maggie has no intention of getting involved with a poor boy, so Al decides he must make money. Diddle Joe, the pickpocket, has a cunning plan for that. Any more plot details would be spoilers.
The portrayal of Depression-era life in New York seems accurate enough, and the beautiful art with sepia tones conveys it nicely. I wasn’t there, but films like ‘Angels With Dirty Faces’ and ‘Once Upon A Time In America,’ as well as old comic book crime stories by Jack Kirby, who grew up on those mean streets, have made it familiar. There are gang wars between different ethnic groups, and everyone is broke and desperate for dimes, not just dollars.
The gritty, realistic war scenes are excellently done too. It’s a down-to-earth portrayal of times past and an excellent and moving story that would make a good film. Maybe one day it will. Al isn’t an especially likeable hero, but given his circumstances, that wouldn’t be possible. Ideally, he would have been bitten by a radioactive cockroach, become Super-Shoeshine Boy, and fought lowlife criminals instead of getting mixed up with them. That’s a proper comic story. However, this one is superb in a different way, and I certainly recommend it.
June 7, 2022
There's not too many stories told nowadays that are tragedies. It seems like a lot of books and movies tend to take the "happy ending" route because, lets face it, we want the protagonist to win. We want everything to be ok in the end. It's almost like if you are in a story, then it has to have a happy ending.
Mikael goes against that grain, to tell the story of Al Chrysler, whose real name he abandoned when he ran away from home. He has hard life as a shoe shine boy, and lives on the streets scraping by. He has his eyes set on a girl, and has big plans for her and him. It doesn't go that way at all. Suffice to say that the ending of the book brings him around full circle, after life deals one last blow after so many throughout his life.
This was really entertaining and a treat to read. I think the tone might be a bit dark for some, but I thought it was really good. Tragedies are sometimes a bit over the top, but this was subtle and bleak enough to really ring true. And the art puts it over the top with shadows that seem to fill every panel, and scratchy line work that denote the harshness of this type of life.
Recommended for fans of stories who don't need a happy ending.
Mikael goes against that grain, to tell the story of Al Chrysler, whose real name he abandoned when he ran away from home. He has hard life as a shoe shine boy, and lives on the streets scraping by. He has his eyes set on a girl, and has big plans for her and him. It doesn't go that way at all. Suffice to say that the ending of the book brings him around full circle, after life deals one last blow after so many throughout his life.
This was really entertaining and a treat to read. I think the tone might be a bit dark for some, but I thought it was really good. Tragedies are sometimes a bit over the top, but this was subtle and bleak enough to really ring true. And the art puts it over the top with shadows that seem to fill every panel, and scratchy line work that denote the harshness of this type of life.
Recommended for fans of stories who don't need a happy ending.
August 3, 2024
One of the three volumes (with Harlem and Giant) in Mikael's New York Triptych produced in sumptuously oversized hardback by NYRB, the story of Al, who fights in 1945 in Europe and recalls his life in thirties Depression Manhattan. Romantic, filled with period painting, we learn of Al's parents and home being burned by anti-immigrant fervor even as becomes a bootblack or shoeshine boy. There's Dickens in this book as he and the boys learn to pick pockets to survive ("you got to pick a pocket or two"), an honoring of the poor.
And there's romance, of course, as Al wanted to take beautiful Maggie to Coney Island, but she saw his clothes and dismissed him as a bum. . . but a joke he told encouraged her to keep him in the mix for a possible date. He gets enough money (not always legally) to buy a nice hat, then a nice suit, so she is tempted. She has her dreams, though, and Al discovers she is not as fancy as she pretends; she's a chorus girl with dreams of being "in pictures." We learn of what happens to Maggie when Al is off at war. ... nostalgia, heartbreak, hope. Clearly European style and scope work.
And there's romance, of course, as Al wanted to take beautiful Maggie to Coney Island, but she saw his clothes and dismissed him as a bum. . . but a joke he told encouraged her to keep him in the mix for a possible date. He gets enough money (not always legally) to buy a nice hat, then a nice suit, so she is tempted. She has her dreams, though, and Al discovers she is not as fancy as she pretends; she's a chorus girl with dreams of being "in pictures." We learn of what happens to Maggie when Al is off at war. ... nostalgia, heartbreak, hope. Clearly European style and scope work.
August 11, 2022
Thank you to NBM Publishing for providing me with an e-book in exchange for an honest review.
——
Mikaël, author and illustrator of “Giant” returns in this second series, “Bootblack”, a gorgeous graphic novel set in Depression-era New York. Al Chrysler, an orphaned child of immigrant parents, grows up in the streets with his adopted family of street urchins, shining shoes and dreaming of something better, namely his love interest, Maggie. A gritty story of poverty and the tenacity and courage needed to survive, Al’s story is one of persistence in the search for connection and loyalty, and ultimately, redemption. Historically interesting, taking place during the gang wars in New York, in a time of deep mistrust for immigrant populations, with the looming war in Europe on the periphery, it is fertile ground for Mikaël’s characters and storytelling. Mikaël’s illustrations are slick, playing with shadow and light and incorporating abstract imagery, all with an incredible colour palette. His characters are profound in their expressions and body language, providing the deeper meta text needed to amplify an often spare script.
——
Mikaël, author and illustrator of “Giant” returns in this second series, “Bootblack”, a gorgeous graphic novel set in Depression-era New York. Al Chrysler, an orphaned child of immigrant parents, grows up in the streets with his adopted family of street urchins, shining shoes and dreaming of something better, namely his love interest, Maggie. A gritty story of poverty and the tenacity and courage needed to survive, Al’s story is one of persistence in the search for connection and loyalty, and ultimately, redemption. Historically interesting, taking place during the gang wars in New York, in a time of deep mistrust for immigrant populations, with the looming war in Europe on the periphery, it is fertile ground for Mikaël’s characters and storytelling. Mikaël’s illustrations are slick, playing with shadow and light and incorporating abstract imagery, all with an incredible colour palette. His characters are profound in their expressions and body language, providing the deeper meta text needed to amplify an often spare script.
August 8, 2022
This is a story of early 1930’s New York, the life of immigrants, the struggle to live, a bit of World War 2, and the effects of this life.
There is some self hate that most people struggle with, but in this case is tied specifically to classism and racism. The protagonist has a lot of trouble processing the immigrant life of New York. (On a side note, I just read Maus and this loathing of others reminds me of the father’s interaction with blacks in that story.)
There is a circular arc to this narrative that does seem complete and well done, not cheesy. There are also frequent time jumps back and forth, but not too confusing.
The art is wonderful. Everything is readable and beautiful. I’m not a fan of the oversize format, but it works for the expansive and expressive art.
I really enjoyed this. It is real, gritty, grounded, expressive, beautiful, and a real tragedy.
I did receive this for free thru Goodreads giveaway program.
There is some self hate that most people struggle with, but in this case is tied specifically to classism and racism. The protagonist has a lot of trouble processing the immigrant life of New York. (On a side note, I just read Maus and this loathing of others reminds me of the father’s interaction with blacks in that story.)
There is a circular arc to this narrative that does seem complete and well done, not cheesy. There are also frequent time jumps back and forth, but not too confusing.
The art is wonderful. Everything is readable and beautiful. I’m not a fan of the oversize format, but it works for the expansive and expressive art.
I really enjoyed this. It is real, gritty, grounded, expressive, beautiful, and a real tragedy.
I did receive this for free thru Goodreads giveaway program.
June 12, 2025
I haven't read Giant yet, so I don't know where this book fits in, but I had a hard time connecting with Bootblack's characters. I absolutely expect kids to make stupid choices, and watching homeless and orphaned kids make one bad choice after another (during the Depression, no less) was pain on top of heartache. But mostly, it was boring... When you have an entire story where there is zero character growth or development (because all the characters are stunted, immature, and stubborn children) it makes for an underwhelming read, IMO.
I'm sorry to say that, because most of these ratings are so high, I don't want to be the one shitty review for the sake of being shitty, but I definitely found something lacking in the writing/storytelling here.
Beautiful art.
I'm sorry to say that, because most of these ratings are so high, I don't want to be the one shitty review for the sake of being shitty, but I definitely found something lacking in the writing/storytelling here.
Beautiful art.
August 18, 2024
I'd really like to rate this higher, because the art is some of the best I've seen . . . just gorgeously and vividly evocative of the place and time the story is set in. So many individual panels are masterpieces all on their own. I just don't get why it's all in the service of telling a story about a character who is stubbornly and relentlessly a self-absorbed, bigoted POS from beginning to end. He leaves a trail of destruction in his wake through the lives of much more sympathetic and likable characters, and never seems aware of it. Always he is owed whatever it is he wants from other people (and the world). And what do THEY want? It doesn't seem to occur to him that they might want anything other than to give him what he wants.
November 17, 2022
Beautiful art helps propel a well-told story of street urchins, immigrants in New York City during the Depression, leading up to WWII. Characters are very flawed, but solidly drawn. The period detail is impressive. The author expertly uses color, shadow and light in the art. Flashbacks and flashforwards are used throughout the book to highlight story elements. Impressive storytelling overall. (Reviewed by Sharon, Hickory Corner Branch)
December 6, 2022
"Ayakkabı Boyacısı" sinematiği sağlam bir grafik roman. 1929'da küçük bir çocuğun, anne ve babasına kızarak evi terk etmesi ile başlayan macera New York sokaklardan İkinci Dünya Savaşının sonlarında Almanya'nın içlerine dek uzanıyor. Aşk, aksiyon, savaş, kavga, kan... "Sinematiği sağlam" dedim çünkü rahatlıkla yüksek bütçeli bir dönem filmi olabilir hikayesi.
İnsani durumları oldukça güzel aktarıyor. Üstelik duyguları verirken zamandaki gelişim seyrini de açığa çıkarıyor.
İnsani durumları oldukça güzel aktarıyor. Üstelik duyguları verirken zamandaki gelişim seyrini de açığa çıkarıyor.
July 3, 2025
Comic un poco duro a nivel sentimental me ha gustado y ha sido nostálgico a la vez que te deja una sensación de Dioss por que...
Comic que se puede leer de un tirón ya que te metes en la historia y empatizas con el protagonista.
Para mí la obra esta cargada de sentimiento emociones y sueños que muchas veces miramos al futuro y a lo mejor ese futuro puede ser hoy mejor que dejarlo esperar.
Seguiré leyendo más comic del autor, por que este comic me ha gustado y el dibujo esta muy bien
Comic que se puede leer de un tirón ya que te metes en la historia y empatizas con el protagonista.
Para mí la obra esta cargada de sentimiento emociones y sueños que muchas veces miramos al futuro y a lo mejor ese futuro puede ser hoy mejor que dejarlo esperar.
Seguiré leyendo más comic del autor, por que este comic me ha gustado y el dibujo esta muy bien
October 20, 2022
I have mixed feeling about this, but it could be because of the quality of attention that I did at times and at other times did not have. I really loved it through the first half, but I admittedly may have been reading too many other things, as in the second half it kind of dragged, for me. This is expert story-telling, though.
September 3, 2023
What are these drawings? They are so rich and filled with meaningful details. The story jumps around in time a lot, which can make you feel confused. However, if you read this book in one sitting, everything will fit together. I'll check out other books from this author.
Just be aware that there are some graphical violence.
Just be aware that there are some graphical violence.
November 1, 2025
beautifully illustrated in a noir style, this story takes in 20s, 30s and '40s, New York and European war. the story of a young boot black who needs to learn to live on the streets as a boy and a man, and ultimately discover where he is meant to be.
August 21, 2022
Not sure I quite understood the whole story. Oh well
September 2, 2022
Thank you #goodreadsgiveaway for allowing me to review this work. Incredible story and artwork. Recommend!
September 7, 2022
A WWII story worth reading!
December 29, 2022
Interesting tale of street kids trying to escape poverty in New York during the Depression. I struggle to find an overarching theme, but the artwork is striking.
February 27, 2023
Striking art, but the story never quite reaches the heights it aims for.
April 26, 2023
Gorgeous art that evokes the New York of the thirties and forties, and a wrenching story of an orphaned shoeshine boy trying to scrabble out a better living.
did-not-finish
May 27, 2023Gave up after 40 pages. Wasn’t compelling.
August 29, 2024
This basically a bad rehashing of Once Upon a Time in America
October 29, 2024
Beautiful historical graphic novel with dual timelines between 1930's New York and WW II.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews