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Big Man and the Little Men
A writer navigates shady—and potentially deadly—political campaigns in this vibrant graphic novel about unconscious bias and how the cynical exploit it.
April Wells, a celebrated African-American memoirist and essayist, lands a writing assignment unlike any she has had before: covering the presidential campaign of the presumptive Democratic nominee, William Waters, for a high-profile magazine. Waters, a well-spoken progressive with lofty ideals of unity in diversity, faces the polar opposite in his Republican challenger, the anti-intellectual, narcissistic Lee Newsome, who seeks to gain power by sowing division. Ahead of the Democratic National Convention, to be held in April’s hometown, Waters must also contend with a potential Achilles’ heel: persistent rumors that he has cheated on his wife with young male staffers.
At first excited about the assignment, April sometimes feels out of her depth and wonders why she was chosen instead of a veteran journalist. When a woman contacts her accusing Waters of sexual assault, April is torn: should she do her job and report this? Or should she sit on it, in case the damage to Waters’s reputation would help Newsome win the presidency?
Events soon spiral out of control, and April, feeling that her life may be in danger but mistrusting the police and the FBI, thinks of one person she can count on: the Big Man, a longtime friend from her hometown, now its mayor. Along with his stalwart crew of Little Men, they set out to unravel a gripping mystery that goes all the way to the top.
April Wells, a celebrated African-American memoirist and essayist, lands a writing assignment unlike any she has had before: covering the presidential campaign of the presumptive Democratic nominee, William Waters, for a high-profile magazine. Waters, a well-spoken progressive with lofty ideals of unity in diversity, faces the polar opposite in his Republican challenger, the anti-intellectual, narcissistic Lee Newsome, who seeks to gain power by sowing division. Ahead of the Democratic National Convention, to be held in April’s hometown, Waters must also contend with a potential Achilles’ heel: persistent rumors that he has cheated on his wife with young male staffers.
At first excited about the assignment, April sometimes feels out of her depth and wonders why she was chosen instead of a veteran journalist. When a woman contacts her accusing Waters of sexual assault, April is torn: should she do her job and report this? Or should she sit on it, in case the damage to Waters’s reputation would help Newsome win the presidency?
Events soon spiral out of control, and April, feeling that her life may be in danger but mistrusting the police and the FBI, thinks of one person she can count on: the Big Man, a longtime friend from her hometown, now its mayor. Along with his stalwart crew of Little Men, they set out to unravel a gripping mystery that goes all the way to the top.
- GenresGraphic NovelsPolitics
96 pages, Hardcover
Published November 22, 2022
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 13, 2022
This was such an interesting graphic novel. I love that it was a political mystery about an essayist embedded in a presidential campaign. April had to grapple with journalistic moral issues about her flawed candidate and rumors of sexual assault and same sex affairs. The drawings really worked seamlessly, furthering the plot and it made the every day aspects of April's life (such as running and thinking) brought to vivid life. I would love more of this world.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
February 12, 2023
2.5 stars. You can tell that this one was an intrepid labor of love -lots of work went into drawing and telling this story with completely hand drawn and colored panels reminiscent of folk art. You can a picture a dining room table strewn for months with rulers, colored pencils, pretzel crumbs, balled up paper, and water bottle rings.
It examines a political campaign and the nefarious tactics employed by both sides. The media gets played, the people get played; it’s the current state of media and politics.
Would I recommend it? If you’re interested in the genre, it’s an interesting alternative work; for general readers, I felt it skewed quite strange. As the author himself said he’d always wanted to make a film yet did this instead, it probably could have served more adequately as a director’s storyboard.
It examines a political campaign and the nefarious tactics employed by both sides. The media gets played, the people get played; it’s the current state of media and politics.
Would I recommend it? If you’re interested in the genre, it’s an interesting alternative work; for general readers, I felt it skewed quite strange. As the author himself said he’d always wanted to make a film yet did this instead, it probably could have served more adequately as a director’s storyboard.
July 22, 2025
read this because my co-worker's husband wrote it. a fun read!
May 10, 2025
a slow-burning ethical standoff - between silence and integrity; between what’s good for “the cause” vs. what’s actually good.
it follows april wells, a Black memoirist turned campaign reporter, as she’s dropped into the middle of a presidential run that’s polished, progressive, and (maybe) rotting from the inside.
there are no real dramatic confrontations, and no cinematic unraveling. the weight of knowing something and deciding what to do with it is what makes this book really interesting.
only criticism is i wish we got more of big man himself.
it follows april wells, a Black memoirist turned campaign reporter, as she’s dropped into the middle of a presidential run that’s polished, progressive, and (maybe) rotting from the inside.
there are no real dramatic confrontations, and no cinematic unraveling. the weight of knowing something and deciding what to do with it is what makes this book really interesting.
only criticism is i wish we got more of big man himself.
July 13, 2023
This was a great read! Clifford Thompson captured a thrilling political drama in relatively few pages. The artwork is awesome, each character feels well articulated and vivid. April Wells is a essayist who takes on a new assignment - following the favourite Democratic nominee as he strikes out on the campaign trail. When all is not as it seems (as so often happens in politics) Wells must make possibly enormous decisions that could impact the elections and the country at large.
November 21, 2024
Cliff’s visual art and storytelling kept me engaged from the start. I’m pretty good at figuring out a plot but this one had me continually second guessing myself. I recommend it for anyone looking for a great read that entertains and makes you think about the world around you. But Cliff, you have to tell us….. What happens to the editor?!
Also it’s a crime it is rated below 4 stars. Do better readers!
Also it’s a crime it is rated below 4 stars. Do better readers!
December 27, 2023
I loved this story of an essayist who gets pulled onto an assignment to cover a Democratic presidential candidate – and ends up biting off significantly more than she thinks she can chew. This is a clever look at the tradeoffs politicians make to create a public persona they think voters will believe in. The ending (which I don't want to give away) has stuck in my head for weeks.
February 7, 2025
it was quite good, touches on a lot of political topics, some even follow current events. overall i thought it was very good and very interesting
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews