Nelson Mandela's Life As Graphic Novel

by Jarrett Martineau | July 15, 2008 at 04:17 pm | 299 views | 7 comments

Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Nelson Mandela and Graca Machel

Having been feted with a huge 90th birthday party in London several weeks ago, Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela is receiving a new honour: his life story is to become a graphic novel.

What a great way to be immortalized, to share your story, and to raise money for charity.

A comic book series telling the life story of South African leader Nelson Mandela will be published in North America next year.

The graphic novel series was commissioned by the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg, with the first issue coming out in South Africa in October 2005.

The latest comic in the eight-part series is being issued in South Africa this year to coincide with Mandela's 90th birthday.

A group of young black artists was hired to draw the story, which was approved by Mandela and his foundation.

All proceeds from the sale of the comic books go to the foundation's work, which includes education, health care and other social justice issues.

W. W. Norton & Company has acquired North American publishing rights to Nelson Mandela: The Authorized Comic Book, according to a report in the New York Times. It says it will issue the series in July 2009.

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mchawk

at 16:41 on July 15th, 2008

The BBC website has some of the artwork

julianw

at 17:23 on July 15th, 2008

Very cool.

Peter Evers

at 18:21 on July 15th, 2008

Statue of Nelson Mandela near Big Ben and the English Parliament.

Peter Evers has contributed a photo to this story.

EXKARRAVELHO

at 18:33 on July 15th, 2008

its an honour to be asked to share my designs to this kind of work, Nelson Mandela is one of a kind, my home country is mozambique just next to South Africa, and the name Nelson Mandela, has been always present from my childhood till today, and will never go away. this is a great idea, congrats, any help u guys need please, contact me.

Nuno de Azevedo

Paschen

at 21:26 on July 15th, 2008

good stuff:

Jarrett Martineau, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Kate Thompson

at 03:05 on July 16th, 2008

My photos were taken at the Sixth Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture,in Kilptown, Soweto, Johannesburg (South Africa). It was amazing to be there at such an historic event.

Africa's first elected female president (Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia) was the keynote speaker.

Kate Thompson has contributed a photo to this story.