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Che: A Graphic Biography
A symbol of counterculture worldwide, Ernesto "Che" Guevara is one of the most, if not the most, recognizable and influential revolutionary figures of the twentieth century. From the pages of history textbooks to silk-screened T-shirts at Urban Outfitters, his mythologized face is positively unavoidable. But what, exactly, does this glorified image stand for? During his life, and perhaps even more since his death, Che has elicited controversy and wildly divergent opinions as to who he was and what he represented. In A Graphic Biography , Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colón―the graphic duo who made the 9/11 Commission Report understandable in their bestselling The 9/11 A Graphic Adaptation and who most recently explained the ongoing war on terror in After 9/11 ―have come together again to give a real portrait of Ernesto Guevara de la Serna. Following Che from his fabled motorcycle journeys with Alberto Granado as a young medical student to his eventual execution at the hands of Bolivian soldiers and CIA operatives, A Graphic Biography not only provides a concrete time line of his life but also gives a broader understanding of his beliefs, his legacy, and Latin American politics during the mid-twentieth century.
113 pages, Hardcover
First published October 27, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
October 3, 2024
Ωραία μελάνια, ωραίο σχέδιο, ωραίο κείμενο. Οχι αγιογραφία.. Η ιστορία μιας χώρας ανάμεσα σε συμπληγάδες, ένα μικρό χρονικό μιας κατάστασης που ίσως να άξιζε να βιωθεί για μια μέρα, την πρωτοχρονιά του 59.. Άντε δύο..
Κι ο Ερνέστο, αδυνατώντας ν' αφήσει το τιμόνι της μοτοσυκλέτας, να γκαζώνει προς το ηλιοβασίλεμα.
Κι ο Ερνέστο, αδυνατώντας ν' αφήσει το τιμόνι της μοτοσυκλέτας, να γκαζώνει προς το ηλιοβασίλεμα.
March 30, 2022
Really gripping - beautiful art. I liked the way that the artist was able to convey silence and stillness without killing the momentum.
Che is a polarizing figure. This book does a good job of conveying why he became such a romanticized icon. His passion for violent revolution was undeniable. But this book also shows what a difficult, uncompromising character he could be... someone who even a powerful personality like Fidel Castro had to handle with kid gloves.
I enjoyed this portrait of Che the revolutionary. It is a very different picture from the young Che we see in Motorcycle Diaries. A complex person. But it is also very clear why he was considered such a potent threat by the US and other governments. It is completely unsurprising that his life was cut short.
Che is a polarizing figure. This book does a good job of conveying why he became such a romanticized icon. His passion for violent revolution was undeniable. But this book also shows what a difficult, uncompromising character he could be... someone who even a powerful personality like Fidel Castro had to handle with kid gloves.
I enjoyed this portrait of Che the revolutionary. It is a very different picture from the young Che we see in Motorcycle Diaries. A complex person. But it is also very clear why he was considered such a potent threat by the US and other governments. It is completely unsurprising that his life was cut short.
January 19, 2015
Obviously there are more comprehensive accounts of Che's life out there, but if you like graphic novels and are interested in Che at all, this is definitely worth the read.
March 17, 2024
CHE: A Graphic Biography ❤️
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This comic book like, beautifully crafted graphical format is absolutely a brilliant idea to introduce Che’s biography to the readers. It shows us the important events and turns in Che’s life, the people with whom he welcomed the adventures and the historical backgrounds of that time and the countries that are connected to it. Overall, it’s a simplified resource on the great revolutionist Che Guvera’s biography.
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This comic book like, beautifully crafted graphical format is absolutely a brilliant idea to introduce Che’s biography to the readers. It shows us the important events and turns in Che’s life, the people with whom he welcomed the adventures and the historical backgrounds of that time and the countries that are connected to it. Overall, it’s a simplified resource on the great revolutionist Che Guvera’s biography.
January 8, 2010
This is a great Graphic biography about Che's life as a revolutionary. it explains his travels into different Latin American countries and it also has some historical information about each country. the illustrations are great and very vivid. I highly recommend this book to any one interested in Che's life.
October 6, 2023
Toen ik jong was was Che mijn held, links en strijdbaar. Naarmate ik ouder werd en me ging verdiepen in Latijns-Amerikaanse geschiedenis zag ik ook de andere kant van deze man. Hoe zijn betrokkenheid leidde tot zoveel geweld. Maar toch..
"Let me say, at the risk of seeming ridiculous, that the true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love." - Ernesto Che Guevara
"Let me say, at the risk of seeming ridiculous, that the true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love." - Ernesto Che Guevara
August 5, 2015
This is a really well done and informative biography. Readers do need to have some familiarity with the history of South America and the Cold War to fully place some events into context but the book describes a lot of what was happening at the time so you only need to know a general history. The artwork is really well done and I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about Che Guevara.
February 26, 2010
A little surprised that no one reviewing this mentioned how horrible the writing is. The author managed to take an interesting story and chop it up into a dry bunch of statements and unemotional dialog. If you want to read a graphic novel about Che Guevara, there are better ones out there.
August 20, 2010
The history and story of Che Guevera is very interesting, though Jacobson could've left some of the more tedious details out of this book. All in all I found it interesting but not overly engaging because of the writing and art.
September 12, 2012
I went in expecting a For Beginners style thing, but I got a book of fantastic beautiful artwork! It is the same quality you would see in any normal comic book. It tells the complete history of che and it does it at a nice pace.
January 13, 2020
Che: A Graphic Biography is a biographical graphic novel written by Sid Jacobson and illustrated by Ernie Colón and is a passable biography of the revolutionary icon Ernesto "Che" Guevara.
Ernesto "Che" Guevara was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist. A major figure of the Cuban Revolution, his stylized visage has become a ubiquitous counter-cultural symbol of rebellion and global insignia in popular culture.
The graphic novel begins with Guevara's motorcycle journey across southern South America of 1952 and beyond, when Guevara's eyes were opened to the pernicious effects of U.S. domination of third-world economies. It continues to chart Guevara's growing radicalism and his partnership with Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro, while providing a surprisingly thorough survey of South American history, a tale of caudillos and exploiters.
Che: A Graphic Biography is written and constructed somewhat well. Throughout, the tone is respectful but not hagiographic, and Jacobson and Colón take pains not to gloss over a signal moment in Guevara's role in the Cuban revolution. The narrative continues to embrace the history and aftermath of Che's storied martyrdom. Colón wonderfully depicted the somewhat choppy and dry narrative.
All in all, Che: A Graphic Biography is a somewhat good, albeit cursory look at the Argentine revolutionist – Ernesto Guevara, popularly known as Che.
Ernesto "Che" Guevara was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist. A major figure of the Cuban Revolution, his stylized visage has become a ubiquitous counter-cultural symbol of rebellion and global insignia in popular culture.
The graphic novel begins with Guevara's motorcycle journey across southern South America of 1952 and beyond, when Guevara's eyes were opened to the pernicious effects of U.S. domination of third-world economies. It continues to chart Guevara's growing radicalism and his partnership with Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro, while providing a surprisingly thorough survey of South American history, a tale of caudillos and exploiters.
Che: A Graphic Biography is written and constructed somewhat well. Throughout, the tone is respectful but not hagiographic, and Jacobson and Colón take pains not to gloss over a signal moment in Guevara's role in the Cuban revolution. The narrative continues to embrace the history and aftermath of Che's storied martyrdom. Colón wonderfully depicted the somewhat choppy and dry narrative.
All in all, Che: A Graphic Biography is a somewhat good, albeit cursory look at the Argentine revolutionist – Ernesto Guevara, popularly known as Che.
July 7, 2018
This book has a lot of good information, but could be presented in a more entertaining way, considering that they chose a graphic novel format. Also, I feel like the art could be so much better. Just because it's non-fiction, doesn't mean I don't want great pictures! It would be so much more engaging and easier to follow with better art.
July 21, 2025
Tells of the great revolutionary's successes as well as his later failures. Inspired illustrations to this reader who has limited experience in the graphic novel genre. Certainly worth the browse about a complex dude (who was no innocent himself) yet continues to fascinate the world long after his martyrdom by the black op' spooks. Viva Che!
July 4, 2017
Probably any number of comprehensive profiles out there, but a pretty good overview. Jury's still out in terms of impact on the world stage, but again, probably a good prompter to read more. Outstanding art.
April 3, 2018
Except for a few sidetracks that took too long and offered too little (such as the history of every single country in South and Latin America!), it's a solidly crafted, decently compelling bio. If you're interested in Guevara, read it. If not, skip it.
November 19, 2019
Reading this was instrumental in my understanding of Che. I knew so little when I began and this has really helped me fit in the pieces and hopefully understand him as a historical reference from here on out.
May 12, 2021
With such a text-heavy graphic, about a figure as controversial as Guevara, one would hope for scrupulous accuracy. While none of the factual errors are major, there are enough of them that they wear upon the patience of an informed reader and erode the overall credibility of the narrative.
September 28, 2021
Een ingewikkeld levensverhaal. Door de vele (voor mij niet heel bekende historische gebeurtenissen ) is het lastig te volgen. Ook de vele moeilijke namen maakt het best lastig. Wel een interessante geschiedenis.
October 10, 2017
The authors are clearly fan boys, so don't expect objectivity. The section on Latin American history is awkward. But I learned some stuff about Che.
December 23, 2017
What a smart little surprise! Enjoyed this unexpected quick read, especially the history of Latin America that is often a footnote.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2018
the book is good and the pictures help me understand
April 23, 2018
Everest'in çıkardığı en kötü kitap olabilir(İçerik hariç). Okurken dağılmaması için çaba göstermek boşuna..
June 29, 2021
This guy seemed cool. Loved the art style and colouring in this one
January 27, 2022
A fun read about a disagreeable fellow.
September 6, 2023
Truly a talent to make revolution so boring to read about.
July 15, 2024
Zeer overzichtelijk, boeiend en informatief.
December 17, 2024
A critical puzzle piece in history. One I don’t get but I have better context than I used to.
October 9, 2025
Chock full of information. Not a compelling read, more of a history text with pictures. I learned a lot about Central and South America.
July 26, 2016
What I can't forgive is the complete lack of sources or any suggestions for further reading. Any biography of Che is going to be controversial and it strikes me as unconscionable to write one directed at young people without providing a bibliography or any indication of where the quotes and facts came from. At the end of the book there is a brief nod to divided opinion with six quotes from various historians and authors.
There is an admirably ambitious section devoted to describing, country by country, the history of South and Central America circa 1953. But again: how could anyone sum up a country's history in a page? I had a hard time swallowing the hagiography of Eva Peron or the fact that no connection was ever made between political policies and economic collapse. On the other side the appalling machinations of Dulles' CIA were only hinted at.
I have personal issues with the glamorization of Che and Ernie Colon's art did nothing to allay them. Even after Che alters his appearance: growing heavy and having his hair pulled out to look bald, we see him pictured slim, virile and with a full head of hair. Did it grow back? To be fair the book does point out Che's superficiality and the events-most disasterous, to some extent, speak for themselves.
Criticism aside I admire Jacobson and Colon for the attempt. There is no doubt U.S. citizens are far too ignorant of history south of our borders. I am sorry to say I don't think this attempt materially redresses the issue, but perhaps it may prompt readers to do there own research. It could also be used alongside other texts to represent the powerful mythology that has grown up around Che
There is an admirably ambitious section devoted to describing, country by country, the history of South and Central America circa 1953. But again: how could anyone sum up a country's history in a page? I had a hard time swallowing the hagiography of Eva Peron or the fact that no connection was ever made between political policies and economic collapse. On the other side the appalling machinations of Dulles' CIA were only hinted at.
I have personal issues with the glamorization of Che and Ernie Colon's art did nothing to allay them. Even after Che alters his appearance: growing heavy and having his hair pulled out to look bald, we see him pictured slim, virile and with a full head of hair. Did it grow back? To be fair the book does point out Che's superficiality and the events-most disasterous, to some extent, speak for themselves.
Criticism aside I admire Jacobson and Colon for the attempt. There is no doubt U.S. citizens are far too ignorant of history south of our borders. I am sorry to say I don't think this attempt materially redresses the issue, but perhaps it may prompt readers to do there own research. It could also be used alongside other texts to represent the powerful mythology that has grown up around Che
January 23, 2011
Expect the unexpected! In general it fulfill the so called a biography of Ernesto Guevara De La Serna or Che Guevara. Having read this graphic biography it feels like you are reading a brief history of not just about Che but also Latin America, Central America and also Cuba.
Started with his maiden motorbike journey through Northern Argentina in 1950 until his serious involvement in Cuban Revolutionary in 1959. His revolutionary movement does not end at Cuba but continues in Congo and ended at Bolivia.
Do not expect much of the details of his story along the revolutionary acts as this biography is just as good introduction to the more in-depth of his day which you can read further in Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War and The Bolivian Diary: The authorized edition.
The graphics features in this novel is awesome and great.
Started with his maiden motorbike journey through Northern Argentina in 1950 until his serious involvement in Cuban Revolutionary in 1959. His revolutionary movement does not end at Cuba but continues in Congo and ended at Bolivia.
Do not expect much of the details of his story along the revolutionary acts as this biography is just as good introduction to the more in-depth of his day which you can read further in Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War and The Bolivian Diary: The authorized edition.
The graphics features in this novel is awesome and great.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews