Renegade: Martin Luther, The Graphic Biography

by Dacia Palmerino (Text by), Andrea Grosso Ciponte (Artist)

Overview

"[An] earnest take on Luther’s life, wonderfully rendered through paintings and collages that dip into the biography at critical moments. YA and adult readers alike will find this work intriguing and informative." —Library Journal, Starred Review

Gold Medal Winner, 2018 IPPY Book of the Year Award, Independent Publishers
Gold Medal Winner, 2017 Indies Awards, Foreword Reviews Magazine

Delve into the life of reformer Martin Luther in graphic novel format.
Five hundred years ago a brash young monk single-handedly confronted the most powerful institutions of his day. His bold stand sparked the Protestant Reformation and marked one of the great turning points in history.

Martin Luther, a spiritual and historical giant, is loved and hated to this day—and for good reason. The anniversary of the revolution he helped start has produced a spate of doorstop-sized biographies. Luckily, today there exists a more accessible format that does justice to such a colorful, complex character and his tumultuous life and times – the graphic novel.

In a world of grinding poverty, plague, and religious superstitions, a child of laborers distinguishes himself at university – until a lightning-bolt conversion lands him in a monastery. There his personal battles with disillusionment and doubt culminate in a cry for freedom. The rest is the stuff of history and legend: Luther’s revolt against Rome with the nailing of ninety-five theses to the church door in Wittenberg; his time spent incognito at Wartburg Castle, where he famously throws an inkpot at the devil; his seditious translation and publication of the Bible in the language of the people; his scandalous marriage to former nun Katharina von Bora; and, in later years, his ugly tirades against peasants, Anabaptists, and Jews.

Each chapter of Luther’s life comes vividly to life thanks to cutting-edge graphic techniques, meticulous historical research, and compelling writing. This could be the biggest breakthrough for Martin Luther since the Gutenberg press.

With its splendid color and unvarnished narrative, this is surely the most successful graphic biography ever. —Georg Howahl, WAZ

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780874862072
Publisher:	Plough Publishing House, The
Publication date:	10/09/2017
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 11.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Dacia Palmerino has collaborated with Andrea Grosso Ciponte on six graphic novels since 2014. Formerly a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Foggia, Italy, she researches experimentation in audiovisual and multimedia art, curates film and video exhibits, and reviews emerging artists and musicians. Born in Milan in 1978, Palmerino lives and works in Catanzaro, Italy.

Andrea Grosso Ciponte is a Calabrian painter, graphic novelist, filmmaker, and illustrator. He is a professor of computer graphics and digital animation techniques at the Academy of Fine Arts in Catanzaro, Italy. Ciponte was born in Praia a Mare, Italy, in 1977. In 2011 his work was shown at the Venice Biennale.

Editorial Reviews

"Ciponte’s drawings make real the motto: ‘The book is cinematography.’ The realist imagery is interrupted occasionally by surreal elements that express moods and thoughts in plastic form." —Jens Bayer-Gimm, Neue Westfaelische (newspaper)

"Impressively informative and unreservedly recommended as an introduction to the life and work of one of the most influential leaders of the early years of the Protestant Movement and the founder of the Lutheran church." —Midwest Book Review

"Captivating… Dramatic use of light in the renderings, gorgeous color, almost cinematic. Using visual quotes and metaphors drawn from great art, like Hironymous Bosch’s paintings, with their surrealistic imagery of hell, Renegade captures the psychological angst of the story… A great introduction to the man and his thought." —God and Comics Podcast

"Other Luther biographies need hundreds of pages of explanations. This graphic novel succeeds on the strength of its raw images and forceful dialogue.” —Shea Westhoff, Chrismon magazine

From the Publisher

12/01/2017
Gr 10 Up—It's been 500 years since Martin Luther wrote his 95 theses and changed the course of Christianity and history. This illuminating graphic novel traces Luther's education with the Catholic Church and the intricate thought processes that led to his great epiphany. Dark, violent imagery depicts a world where religion is characterized by brutal judgment and the only way to access a remote God is through money-grubbing priests. Luther saw this hypocrisy every day—how can worshippers practice their faith if the consequences of sin can be wiped away with earthly money? Through years of intense study, Luther realized that faith, not merely good works or purchasing a way out of hell, is central to Christianity. He strove to make the Bible accessible to the masses, creating a shockwave across the continent. Despite his ferocious battles with the Catholic Church and most of Europe's ruling class, Luther spent the rest of his life making reformations, forming the basis for all Protestant denominations and sects that exist today. Though somewhat didactic, Palmerino's text paints a clear chronological picture of how events may have transpired—but the art is what will pull in readers. At times it's rough and jagged, at others dreamlike with biblical imagery floating around and intertwining with the dark age environment. VERDICT A great addition to graphic novel collections. Protestantism unfolds with a compelling style that any history lover will enjoy.—Michael Marie Jacobs, Darlington School, GA

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