Comics / Comics News

STAGGER LEE TOPS WITH CREATORS & CRITICS ALIKE!

By The Editor
June 4, 2006 - 13:48

 

"Blazing," "Masterful," "Compelling"  and "Rich" are just some of the words being bandied about to describe  STAGGER LEE, a graphic novel by Derek McCulloch and Shepherd Hendrix  debuting this week from Image Comics.
 
STAGGER LEE tells a forgotten story from St. Louis' history: how a small-time criminal became the hero of a hundred songs by everyone from blues pioneers like Mississippi John Hurt and Furry Lewis to contemporary rock icons like Nick Cave and Beck. Like John Henry, Johnny Appleseed or Paul Bunyan, STAGGER LEE is a character of American folklore whose story evolved through oral transmission, a transformation of the news of the day into larger than life myth. On Christmas night, 1895, "Stag" Lee Shelton shot Billy Lyons dead in the midst of a heated argument over a Stetson hat, and inadvertently created a myth that continues to evolve to this day.
 
The graphic novel has been receiving heaps of advance praise from a wide variety of sources, including book critics, comic book creators and mass media.
 
Warren Ellis, creator of Fell and Nextwave calls Stagger Lee "a fascinating ride between documentary and fiction, a work of education  and ambition."
 
Greil Marcus, the renowned cultural critic and author of Mystery  Train and Lipstick Traces, says "In this blazing graphic novel...there are endless subtleties, taken from the historical record when it's available, invented with the lightest touch when it's not--and,  somehow, no resolution at all. Not after more than a hundred years, thousands of singers, and likely thousands more to come."
 
Ed Brubaker, writer of Daredevil, remarks "McCulloch and Hendrix's Stagger Lee is a masterful work of graphic inventiveness.  Part essay, part fiction, it explores the links between folklore and race with a steady hand and more honesty than you're ready for."
 
"Bravo to Derek and Shepherd for this engrossing bit of historical fiction. A clever and ambitious dissection of a great American tradition," says Matt Wagner, creator of Mage.

"From the moment I first read the history that inspired the legend, I knew it was a uniquely powerful story just waiting to be told to a  new generation," says STAGGER LEE writer Derek McCulloch.  "The generous response our book has had so far confirms that instinct. My greatest hope for this book is that it will play some part in bringing this story back to the attention of a mass audience."
 
"It's very gratifying to hear such praise for our efforts," says artist Shepherd Hendrix. "I'm happy that STAGGER LEE is doing well beyond both of our expectations. Historical narrative of this type is not commonly seen in the comics world. I'm confident that STAGGER LEE can please both avid comics readers as well as those who might not otherwise think of picking up a graphic novel."
 
The media hasn't been shy about covering the book either. Anneli Rufus of the East Bay Express newspaper calls the book "a towering testament to a homicidal antihero," while Comics Buyer's Guide says "Derek McCulloch and Shepherd Hendrix have created a contemporary cultural classic that has the impact of Harper Lee's 'To Kill A 
Mockingbird.'  Not only is this a graphic novel, but also an examination of 'They said,' 'They saw' and 'They meant' from both an African-American and Caucasian viewpoint.  This is no comic book fluff."
 
With overwhelmingly positive reviews from a diverse array of critics and creators, STAGGER LEE is a unique graphic novel that is poised to become as legendary as the songs that inspired it!
 
STAGGER LEE (MAR061829) is a 232-page black and white graphic novel published by Image Comics. Retailing for $17.99, it is on sale now!

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12