Julian Voloj

In the 1800s the newspaper is king and female journalists are few and far between. Intrepid reporters Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland are pitted against the clock and each other in a madcap publicity stunt that the whole world is watching—read all about one of the first viral news stories reported on and starring two fearless female journalists in the race of their careersEveryone knows about Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days, but what about a real-life mad dash around the world in less than 80 days? This is the challenge that journalist Nellie Bly tackles in 1889—her mission is to beat the famous fictional record set by Phileas Fogg, the main character of Jules Verne’s famous novel. Whether or not the stunt is successful, it will mean big sales for the paper she writes for, the New York World. But as Nellie Bly sets off on her journey, up-and-coming competing newspaper Cosmopolitan decides to send another woman, Elizabeth Bisland, on the exact same journey, turning an already challenging publicity stunt into a competition that pits the two women against each other on the world stage. As the press coverage heats up, the world watches breathlessly and the public pressure intensifies. Bly and Bisland are embroiled in a race against time, with sexism and prejudice to contend with to boot. A breathless, lively, and gripping graphic novel recounting the real-life tale of one of the most famous publicity stunts ever attempted by two fearless female journalists!

Bobby Fischer (1943–2008) je v šachovém světe považovaný za legendu, mimo šachové kruhy pak za určitý symbol epochy studené války. Fischer, zázračné šachové dítě, se v patnácti letech stal nejmladším americkým velmistrem všech dob. V roce 1972 hrál o titul mistra světa s ruským velmistrem Borisem Spasským – a jejich souboj v éře vrcholícího soupeření USA a SSSR se stal legendou. Nikdy předtím nebyla šachům věnována taková pozornost – a Bobby Fischer se v devětadvaceti letech dostal na úplný vrchol. Pak ale následoval nezadržitelný pád: projevila se u něj duševní choroba, stal se silně paranoidním a zcela se oddal různým fantastickým konspiračním a antisemitským teoriím, což bylo o to bizarnější, že byl sám židovského původu. Jeho spory s americkými úřady došly dokonce do bodu, že veřejně schvaloval útoky na New York z 11. září 2001. V USA mu hrozilo zatčení, a tak strávil zbytek života v různých zemích světa jako uprchlík. Zemřel v ústraní na Islandu. Bobby Fischer, výjimečný šachista, se tak z první globální šachové celebrity a americké kulturní ikony stal psancem a podivínem. Komiksové zpracování jeho životních osudů proto překračuje svět šachu a stává se i svědectvím o bouřlivém období studené války.

The dazzling, provocative work of Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988) would come to define the vibrant New York art scene of the late '70s and early '80s. Punk, jazz, graffiti, hip-hop: his work drew heavily on the cultural trappings of lower Manhattan, to which he fled-from Brooklyn-at the age of 15. This stunning graphic novel captures the dramatic life and exhilarating times of this archetypal New York artist, covering everything from the SAMO graffiti project to his first solo show, from his relationship with Andy Warhol to the substance abuse that would cost him his life. Today, Basquiat's influence can be seen not only in fine art but in fashion, design, and music. Now, for the first time, his remarkable story is told in graphic novel form. This playful, authoritative biography shows Basquiat's work to be more important, his themes more urgent, than ever before.