Colonial Comics, Volume II: New England, 1750-1775

by Jason Rodriguez (Editor)

Overview

A massacre in Boston. A tea party. A shot heard around the world. But who was the first casualty of the massacre? How did the tea get to Boston Harbor? What was the Battle of Concord like for a Minute Man? Colonial Comics: New England, 1750–1775 expands the frame of this important period of American history. Unconventional characters come to life, including gravedigging medical students, counterfeiters, female playwrights, instigators of civil disobedience, newspaper editors, college students, rum traders, freemen, and slaves. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682750025
Publisher:	Fulcrum Publishing
Publication date:	01/16/2017
Series:	Colonial Comics Series
Pages:	216
Sales rank:	183,448
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	12 Years

About the Author

Jason Rodriguez is an Eisner and Harvey-nominated editor of comics and graphic novels. His anthologies include Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened, Colonial Comics, Volume II: New England, 1620-1750, and Artists Against Police Brutality. He is also the author of the short story collection Try Looking Ahead. He lives in Arlington, Virginia. For more on Jason’s current and future projects, visit his website at jasonrodriguez.com or connect with him on Twitter (@JayRodriguez) or on Facebook.

Table of Contents

I From the Editor 6

II Previously, in Colonial Comics: New England, 1620-1750 8

III The Devil and Silence Dogood J. L. Bell Bradai Lamb 10

IV A Lonely Line Sarah Winifred Searle Carey Pietsch 22

V The Apprehension of Owen Sullivan Cory Levine Jason Axtell 32

VI To This Land of Light Robert Sickels Scott White Jason Hanley 42

VII Spotlight On: New England Triangular Trade 49

VIII Spotlight On: Thomas Hutchinson Rafer Roberts 50

IX The Newport Riots James Maddox Rob Dumo Arsia Rozegar 51

X Spotlight On: Effigies in Colonial History 65

XI The Grand Illumination Kevin Cooney Matt Dembicki 66

XII Spotlight On: The Stamp Act Obelisk 74

XIII Spotlight On: King George III Mal Jones 75

XIV Hale at Yale Lora Innes Rachcl Smith Kelly Phillips 76

XV The Stranger's Corpse J. L. Bell Jesse Lonergan 84

XVI Newton Prince: Loyalist for Liberty Alexander Danner N. Steven Harris John Jennings Jason Hanley 98

XVII Mercy Otis Warren Ashley Victoria Robinson Matt Rawson Jason Hanley 104

XVIII Spotlight On: Phillis Wheatley Liz Laribee 111

XIX The Spunker Club Lora Innes 112

XX This Detested Tea Jackie Roche 128

XXI Cannon Fodder Joe Hilliard Jeff McComsey 138

XXII The Call Up Erik Radvon Noel Tuazon Rob Croonenborghs 150

XXIII Spotlight On: Samson Occom E. J. Barnes 161

XXIV There Is an Anecdote A. David Lewis Caria Speed McNeil Jenn Manley Lee 161

XXV Join, or Die! Josh O'Neill James Comey 170

XXVI Spotught On: Paul Revere's Ride Chris Piers Mark Englert 176

XXVII The Shot Heard around the World… as Told Amos Barrett Charles Fetherolf 178

XXVIII In Closing: On Newspapers 192

XIXX Bibliography 198

XXX Creator Biographies 204

Editorial Reviews

"The stories all stand alone but together, they add up to a well-rounded picture of life in New England in the middle of the 18th century." —Brigid Alverson, School Library Journal

"We love the work that editor Jason Rodriguez and Colorado's Fulcrum Press are doing with this series. We hope the books inspire lots of comic-reading history buffs everywhere!" —American Antiquarian Society

From the Publisher

Within a collection of eighteen stories, this second installment of the “Colonial Comics” series explores both well-known and previously untold tales from the formative years of American history, 1750-1775. Readers will see young Ben Franklin as he crafts his quip editorial responses as Silence Dogood and struggles to keep his brother’s printing press in business despite tight government censorship. Another tale highlights the life of Molly Ockett, a respected Abenaki woman with medicinal knowledge who wove between colonial and Native American culture. Famed Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale appears in his early days of rebellion as a notorious prankster in school. Additionally, the book highlights the Boston Tea Party and triangular slave trade, as well as little-known aspects of history like grave robbing and Paul Revere’s celebratory obelisk monument that illuminated and burned in one night. Each comic presents a short snapshot of history, while an introduction provides the critical time, place, characters, and context for each tale since plot development is limited with the few panels. Varied art styles showcase each storyteller’s perspective and set the tone for the tale, whether light and humorous or dark and foreboding. Although the characters’ speech follows the colonial style and evokes authenticity, it may prove slightly challenging for modern readers. However, history truly comes to life in these pages, as readers see events and people in new, daring, and admirable ways. The collection is a good conversation starter or supplemental material for the classroom. An extensive bibliography accompanies each comic with well-researched and documented source material. Reviewer: Sarah Webb; Ages 8 to 12.

Children's Literature - Sarah Webb

05/01/2017
Gr 5 Up—Whereas the first volume of Colonial Comics focused on the years 1620–1750, this installment tackles a better-known time period in American history. However, Rodriguez has chosen to examine lesser-known people and events or lesser-known aspects of famous people and events. They also refreshingly highlight stories that focus on the minority and female experience within the New England colonies. Each piece is prefaced by an editorial introduction to the topic. The stories range from five to 13 pages in length and are all by different authors and artists. This leads, as is often inevitable in anthologies, to an uneven quality among the tales. Fortunately, the editorial introductions and spotlights keep the narrative cohesive. Many of the entries would do well to be fleshed out more, and in some narratives, the personages aren't introduced well enough for the action to be clear. However, these instances are minor aberrations and do not detract from the overall book. The graphic novel format will entice reluctant readers who might not otherwise gravitate toward nonfiction, while the short story format will appeal to educators who want to emphasize a particular event or person in a classroom setting while whetting their students' appetites for more. The editorial introductions explain that the stories make use of racial terms that may be jarring to modern readers but are historically accurate. A section on slavery depicts some (appropriately portrayed) nudity. While this title could stand alone, it would be best paired with the first volume, Colonial Comics: New England, 1620–1750. VERDICT This quality work of nonfiction is a strong option for those studying American history.—Elizabeth Nicolai, Anchorage Public Library, AK

School Library Journal