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Che Guevara: A Manga Biography
An extraordinary illustrated graphic novel about the legendary political figure Che Guevara.
His name is equated with rebellion, revolution, and socialism. His face is on tee-shirts all over the world. Che Guevara's life has been explored and portrayed in numerous books and films, including The Motorcycle Diaries , and he continues to captivate the public imagination more than forty years after his death. Guevara became politically active in his native Argentina, but gained notoriety after he met Fidel Castro and became instrumental in Castro's efforts in Cuba. Guevara then went on to Bolivia, where he was captured and killed by the Bolivian army while trying to incite revolution. This illustrated biography tells the riveting story of Che's life and death through the popular Japanese art form manga .
His name is equated with rebellion, revolution, and socialism. His face is on tee-shirts all over the world. Che Guevara's life has been explored and portrayed in numerous books and films, including The Motorcycle Diaries , and he continues to captivate the public imagination more than forty years after his death. Guevara became politically active in his native Argentina, but gained notoriety after he met Fidel Castro and became instrumental in Castro's efforts in Cuba. Guevara then went on to Bolivia, where he was captured and killed by the Bolivian army while trying to incite revolution. This illustrated biography tells the riveting story of Che's life and death through the popular Japanese art form manga .
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
September 7, 2014
This book has a great visual opening: Drawings of teenagers wearing Che T-shirts, posters of Che on buildings, and Che's picture used as a backdrop during a rally. "His image is iconic, spread around the world in various forms."
The book is described as a "manga biography" of Che Guevara. I think it's a creative way to give a primer about the revolutionary leader, but it is not very deep and it races through a lot of important events. I think I appreciated it because I already had some knowledge about Che, but if you had no background on him, you might be a bit confused.
For example, we get a glimpse of his childhood in Argentina, and then you turn a page and he's riding a motorcycle around South America, and then he's in Guatemala, and then he meets Fidel Castro in Mexico, and then he's a guerilla leader in Cuba, and then he's traveling around the world, and then he's in the Congo, and then he's shot to death in Bolivia (purportedly by the CIA). It was the biographical version of whiplash.
Which says that maybe you can't limit Che's life to 172 pages of a graphic novel. The guy needs a 600-page biography.
But I did like it, and maybe it will inspire someone to read more about Che. I think it's great when artists use graphic novels to tell interesting socio-political and historical stories. While this is not a perfect example, I admired the spirit of the thing.
(It is also a good example of the treasures that can be found when I take time to just browse at the library. I work in one, but my job keeps me so busy I rarely have time to wander. Must. Browse. More.)
Some good quotes from Che:
"I want to be a doctor who cures our society."
"If you tremble indignation at every injustice then you are a comrade of mine."
"I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves."
"There are no boundaries in this struggle to the death. We cannot be indifferent to what happens anywhere in the world, for a victory by any country over imperialism is our victory; just as any country's defeat is a defeat for all of us."
"As long as injustice and subsequent suffering remain, somebody, somewhere, will continue to stand up against you."
The book is described as a "manga biography" of Che Guevara. I think it's a creative way to give a primer about the revolutionary leader, but it is not very deep and it races through a lot of important events. I think I appreciated it because I already had some knowledge about Che, but if you had no background on him, you might be a bit confused.
For example, we get a glimpse of his childhood in Argentina, and then you turn a page and he's riding a motorcycle around South America, and then he's in Guatemala, and then he meets Fidel Castro in Mexico, and then he's a guerilla leader in Cuba, and then he's traveling around the world, and then he's in the Congo, and then he's shot to death in Bolivia (purportedly by the CIA). It was the biographical version of whiplash.
Which says that maybe you can't limit Che's life to 172 pages of a graphic novel. The guy needs a 600-page biography.
But I did like it, and maybe it will inspire someone to read more about Che. I think it's great when artists use graphic novels to tell interesting socio-political and historical stories. While this is not a perfect example, I admired the spirit of the thing.
(It is also a good example of the treasures that can be found when I take time to just browse at the library. I work in one, but my job keeps me so busy I rarely have time to wander. Must. Browse. More.)
Some good quotes from Che:
"I want to be a doctor who cures our society."
"If you tremble indignation at every injustice then you are a comrade of mine."
"I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves."
"There are no boundaries in this struggle to the death. We cannot be indifferent to what happens anywhere in the world, for a victory by any country over imperialism is our victory; just as any country's defeat is a defeat for all of us."
"As long as injustice and subsequent suffering remain, somebody, somewhere, will continue to stand up against you."
December 31, 2020
2.5 stars
I love that they wrote this in manga form but it ends up being very surface-level.
I love that they wrote this in manga form but it ends up being very surface-level.
January 4, 2010
Manga and Che? Hot DAMN. Graphic adaptation about the true story of his courage, visions and revolutions. I devoured it in just over two hours.
November 1, 2021
I read his full biography and it was really slow at parts so i was excited to read this condensed graphic novel. While it doesnt capture the wholeness of his character as well as the full book, this graphic novel does a great job capturing his essence. It hits most of the major points of his life (except when he killed someone. That shouldve definitely been in here!) and inspires us to stand up for any and everyone who is suffering, viva la revolucion!
January 1, 2016
This is the life story of Che Guevara told in manga comic style. The focus is very much on him as 1) a revolutionary hero whose life mission was to fight injustice and 2)his role as a significant contributor to the establishment of Castro's Cuba.
It is scattered with original sayings of Che Guevara e.g. "if you tremble indignation at every injustice then you are a comrade of mine".
I'm sure it is slightly unbalanced & bordering on hagiography, but as a easy-to-read overview of some of the events and motivations behind this iconic man of the 20th century, it was quite enjoyable and informative.
I think that graphic novels like this are a useful vehicle for potted histories, particularly for "book-shy" teens
It is scattered with original sayings of Che Guevara e.g. "if you tremble indignation at every injustice then you are a comrade of mine".
I'm sure it is slightly unbalanced & bordering on hagiography, but as a easy-to-read overview of some of the events and motivations behind this iconic man of the 20th century, it was quite enjoyable and informative.
I think that graphic novels like this are a useful vehicle for potted histories, particularly for "book-shy" teens
February 2, 2017
I'm sympathetic to the subject and the subject-matter but I can't give this more than three stars because it does whitewash important elements of Guevara's life, even taking into account the form. For instance his divorce from Hilda was dealt with in three, romanticized panels. I had thought it might be a good primer for children to get to know his story but I'm not so sure, I'd want a little more complexity even in a kid's story. And, from what I've read, I don't think that Guevara would have minded a little more of the gritty realism from his life to be on show.
Still, manga and revolutionary politics? You gotta read it at least!
Still, manga and revolutionary politics? You gotta read it at least!
June 9, 2016
This was an interesting book, especially as though I'd seen the face before, I actually had no idea who Che Guevara was and had never heard his name. The art in the book was well-drawn and fun. However, I wish it had been a bit more well-written, as there were more than a few grammar mistakes and some of the sentences were awkward. It was a quick read and I'd recommend it for people who don't have the patience for a full-length biography. Overall a decent book.
October 28, 2011
Beautifully drawn and almost captures the spirit of che, doesn't quite make it. For people who have never heard of him, or know little more than his face on a T-shirt (which is actually how the book starts off)this is a good introduction. However, there was nothing new for me and I felt that it was more of a hagiography than it was a biography.
Still, worth reading and gazing upon...
Still, worth reading and gazing upon...
June 1, 2016
I really like this manga biography of Che Guevara. I learned more about him and how his relationship was with Fidel Castro. It is a really good book. I recommend this book to teens who like manga books, and who like biographies. I like the details the author includes in this book, it helped me understand more about the revolution in Cuba.
July 5, 2015
Over-simplified, seemingly unedited (for grammar) and incredibly one-sided. It comes across like propaganda given to young elementary school children. I don't mind reading material that doesn't favor America, but it was so poorly written that it was nearly impossible to take it seriously.
August 17, 2011
More like 3.5 stars actually. A very light introduction to Che Guevara. Just make sure you read his biography afterwards.
June 25, 2024
"There are no boundaries in this struggle to the death. We cannot be indifferent to what happens anywhere in the world, for a victory by any country over imperialism is our victory; just as any country's defeat is a defeat for all of us."
This manga biography of Che Guevara offers a compact and visually engaging swift look at the life of the iconic revolutionary. While it's clear that condensing Che's complex and multifaceted life into 172 pages is an immensely challenging task, the graphic novel does an admirable job of capturing key moments and the genuine spirit of his journey. If the brevity of it leaves much to be desired, those seeking a deeper understanding might find themselves yearning for a more extensive tome of a biography. The author does provide a lengthy bibliography of all of the source material utilized to create this -- I would follow his lead and watch the films and read the texts mentioned.
Despite its limitations, I found the graphic novel really moving and enjoyable and appreciated its potential to spark interest in Che's life and legacy and revolutionary philosophy. In my opinion, I am always delighted when artists utilize the format of the graphic novel to explore socio-political and historical narratives, making them accessible to a wider audience.
In summary, while the manga biography may not fully satisfy those looking for an in-depth exploration (obviously lol), it serves as a great introduction and launching point for further reading. The effort to bring such a significant figure to life through art is something to be admired. <3
"As long as injustice and subsequent suffering remain, somebody, somewhere, will continue to stand up against you."
This manga biography of Che Guevara offers a compact and visually engaging swift look at the life of the iconic revolutionary. While it's clear that condensing Che's complex and multifaceted life into 172 pages is an immensely challenging task, the graphic novel does an admirable job of capturing key moments and the genuine spirit of his journey. If the brevity of it leaves much to be desired, those seeking a deeper understanding might find themselves yearning for a more extensive tome of a biography. The author does provide a lengthy bibliography of all of the source material utilized to create this -- I would follow his lead and watch the films and read the texts mentioned.
Despite its limitations, I found the graphic novel really moving and enjoyable and appreciated its potential to spark interest in Che's life and legacy and revolutionary philosophy. In my opinion, I am always delighted when artists utilize the format of the graphic novel to explore socio-political and historical narratives, making them accessible to a wider audience.
In summary, while the manga biography may not fully satisfy those looking for an in-depth exploration (obviously lol), it serves as a great introduction and launching point for further reading. The effort to bring such a significant figure to life through art is something to be admired. <3
"As long as injustice and subsequent suffering remain, somebody, somewhere, will continue to stand up against you."
May 19, 2018
3.5 Stars!
As is often the way in Japanese Manga, I couldn’t help but notice that many of the occidental characters in here have suspiciously Japanese looking features, but nevertheless the art work is of a high standard and really enhances the text well.
This gives a good insight and overview into the life and times of Guevara, whilst glossing over many of the uglier elements of him and Castro, (homophobia, shooting and killing defectors etc), but it does an admirable enough job.
I was quite surprised by the amount of typos in here, I would have thought a company like Penguin would have been a little sharper, a brand with its global reach and reputation really should have picked them up, especially in a book with so little text in it.
Guevara did a lot of good and his anti-American, anti-imperialist outlook, understandably appeals to millions, but it would be ridiculous to call this a balanced book, this is fairly one sided and almost borders on the re-writing of history. But when all is said and done, this is an enjoyable read and you do get to learn a lot about the subject. This book makes a good companion alongside “The Motorcycle Diaries” and anyone looking for further reading will be able to satisfy their curiosity via many of the other, more in depth Guevara biographies out there.
July 18, 2019
I recently read Spain Rodriguez's Che and, as fascinated as I am by Che, I was more interested in Spain's take on him. That got me curious about other "graphic biographies" of Che and, of course, the manga one was at the top of my list.
The similarities and differences are interesting. Both give a quick overview of the highlights, serving as a decent primer, but often emphasize different moments. Spain put more time into the motorcycle trip, which more firmly establishes Che's motivations. He also deals with Che's kind of messy love life more honestly. Not that Spain was really critical, but his account seems more clear-eyed, while this one is more rose-colored.
I like the manga art style. It's appealing, though I'm not sure it completely gels with the subject matter. Spain was able to use his artwork to engage with Che's iconic image. The manga starts the same, in the present day with people seeing his image on t-shirts and posters everywhere they look, but never engages with the legacy of Che imagery beyond that introduction.
All in all, it's a quick read that covers most of the basics and is probably a good place to start, especially for reluctant readers.
The similarities and differences are interesting. Both give a quick overview of the highlights, serving as a decent primer, but often emphasize different moments. Spain put more time into the motorcycle trip, which more firmly establishes Che's motivations. He also deals with Che's kind of messy love life more honestly. Not that Spain was really critical, but his account seems more clear-eyed, while this one is more rose-colored.
I like the manga art style. It's appealing, though I'm not sure it completely gels with the subject matter. Spain was able to use his artwork to engage with Che's iconic image. The manga starts the same, in the present day with people seeing his image on t-shirts and posters everywhere they look, but never engages with the legacy of Che imagery beyond that introduction.
All in all, it's a quick read that covers most of the basics and is probably a good place to start, especially for reluctant readers.
June 24, 2018
Highly disappointing. First of all, the female characters in this story only existed because they had a relationship with Che (mother, wife, etc.) and they had no motivation or purpose outside of the fact that they had something to do with Che. They were beyond flat, which is the fault of the writers and editors. Second, the story wasn't fully developed. I learned almost nothing knew about Che Guevara, and this text offered nothing new about his life or story. The plot was a series of highlights from Che's story with no depth or connection to one another. It was a sadly disappointing text. There are much better biographies out there.
April 15, 2020
My painful truth is that my 20thc international history knowledge is really bad. So while I had a name and a philosophy I knew really nothing about Che. I still know very little, as other reviewers have pointed out this book is slim and has holes - and I found myself many times checking if I had missed a page or a panel, there’s a confusing quality to the story with scenes suddenly cutting off or picking back up. Anyway, it’s a Japanese manga about Che Guevara - it’s all we can expect and while I still don’t know a lot, I know a little more. If I could learn all 20thc international history by graphic novel I’d be cool with that.
December 8, 2024
Underwhelming and oversimplified. Lacked nuance given how polarizing Guevara and Castro can be as important figures in world history. Pacing needed work. Several points where it seemed to jump suddenly to the next part of the story without properly resolving the previous part. Other places where multiple frames were dedicated to showing battle scenes and gun shot sound effects with little information. The opening and closing worked well together to convey the central message of Guevarra’s impact. The issue is not the format. You can write great biographies and memoirs in this format. I think it suffered from its short length.
May 22, 2017
a touching and adventerous tales of Che Guevara, the living legend. This book tell the story from when Che was just a little boy until the death of Che at the hand of the Bolivian's armies. From his motorcyle journal with his pal Alberto Granados with their Norton 500cc (la pedrosaa II) to the war that Che and Fidel joined, this book is a must have to all who wants to know his story and his adventure. VIVA LA REVOLUTION!
January 6, 2021
A very brief survey of Che's life. I'm reading it as a quick primer before longer books on Che and Cuba and it's pretty good for this purpose. You will not finish it with any kind of deep understanding of any part of his life, but you will retain some key episodes which have been sketched out.
I'd recommend the 2-part Soderbergh film as a next step for learning more about his time as a guerrilla in Cuba and Bolivia, which is explored only very quickly here.
I'd recommend the 2-part Soderbergh film as a next step for learning more about his time as a guerrilla in Cuba and Bolivia, which is explored only very quickly here.
May 24, 2020
Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara and Manga. What a creation and gem this is. Loved it till the end. In the form of Manga, still so touching. The visuals and everythings. Gives a poignant ending. Che este el vive. ❤️
July 27, 2023
A simple biography of Che Guevara. It gives brief glimpses of his life and the achievements. It does make you learn more about this man who dedicated his life for a cause...
"Hasta la Victoria Siempre" (Forever, until victory).
"Hasta la Victoria Siempre" (Forever, until victory).
September 8, 2025
Will never forget the incident of my childhood regarding my dad’s Che poster and the absolutely hilarious vandalism my sister committed against it. Feels nothing but right after reading this.
Pero simon, el Che vive chingao.
Pero simon, el Che vive chingao.
January 3, 2017
Gave me a good overall understanding of Che Guevara's life, but there were quite a few mistakes and some important moments were confusing as they weren't explained/drawn clearly enough.
April 5, 2018
Too much war for me, but I did learn a lot.
June 23, 2018
menceritakan secara singkat peristiwa2 penting untuk perjalanan dari salah seorang revolusioner che Guevara
dari seorang dokter hingga menjadi revolusioneris sejati
dari seorang dokter hingga menjadi revolusioneris sejati
January 24, 2020
A concise review of Che's life and values. This one had more of a manga feel to it with elements like chibi characters and vibrant action scenes. Definitely worth reading if you like history.
June 12, 2021
Good for a short read!
February 7, 2022
Guerrilla!
March 12, 2025
Interesting and thought-provoking but seemed to have formatting issues.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews