asaugustine's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
2.5
I wanted to like this so much more than I actually did, and I finished this text more confused about Eugene Debs and his impact than when I started. This book needed significantly more editing; the events highlighted in the text jumped around without connecting transitions, making me feel like I was always missing something. The graphic novel portions felt like an inadequate summary of the text at the beginning of each chapter. The only highlight was Chapter 4, which focused on only one event in Eugene Debs’ life, instead of trying to arbitrarily cover a wide swath of time. Ultimately this felt like a DSA passion project that needed much more attention before it was allowed to be sold in museum gift shops.
bibliothecarivs's review against another edition
4.0
Less a biography of Debs and more a history of American socialism which highlights Debs's story within it.
edowdle's review against another edition
4.0
A great little overview of Debs' life, work, and the socialist party in America
erictlee's review against another edition
1.0
The colourful Eugene V. Debs would make a wonderful subject for a graphic novel but unfortunately, this is not the book I'd recommend. A text-heavy graphic novel that cannot decide if it's "Debs for beginners" or something far more serious. It is filled with half-ideas, people and institutions that pop in for a moment, are never introduced, and who then disappear a moment later. (Will anyone reading it know who Daniel De Leon was? Or for that matter, William Winpisinger?) Much is done to show Debs as if he was a 21st century politician, far ahead of his time on issues like race and gender, though one wonders how true this is. (The party he led was hardly free of racism and sexism.) There are passing references, largely uncritical, about the Bolsheviks and their American supporters. A not insignificant part of the book focusses on American socialism post-Debs, showing Norman Thomas as a rather nice old man and Michael Harrington in a very critical light. The authors' political agenda is evident on every page, but the real Eugene Debs does not come alive here. A pity -- this was such a great idea for a book.
emmuhhs's review against another edition
2.0
This book was a phenomenal disappointment. Firstly, it is certainly not a biography of Eugene V. Debs, so much as a overview of the American Labor movement with a light emphasis on Debs.
The written (not graphic) portions of this book maybe saw one editor, given some of the grammatical typos found. The anti-Communist bias is also adamant at various points, giving into a sort of left-punching that betrays the character of Debs himself. 2 stars is literally only because the graphics are cute and captured historical figures' likenesses well.
The written (not graphic) portions of this book maybe saw one editor, given some of the grammatical typos found. The anti-Communist bias is also adamant at various points, giving into a sort of left-punching that betrays the character of Debs himself. 2 stars is literally only because the graphics are cute and captured historical figures' likenesses well.
horrorwine's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful intro to Debs, very readable and inspiring. A great gift for the YDSA member in your life.