Houdini: The Handcuff King
- author: Jason Lutes http://jlutes.wordpress.com/
- illustrator: Nick Bertozzi http://nickbertozzi.com/
- medium: pencil, ink, digital color
- year of publication: 2007
- publictation city: New York
- publisher: Hyperion Paperbacks
- ISBN: 978-078683903-2
Annotation: In Boston, 1908, the world’s greatest escape artist Harry Houdini attempts a late-career feat jumping from the Harvard Bridge into the Charles River while handcuffed and shackled in front of hundreds of amazed spectators.
Personal Thoughts: Lutes and Bertozzi have created an awesome study of the personality that was Harry Houdini. This graphic novel is perfect for an introductory lesson on the world’s greatest escape artist.
There is an informative introduction that acts as a short biography of Houdini, catching up novice fans as to how Houdini got to be the figure he was celebrated for. Then the comic takes over presenting the setup and enactment of a stunt performed off the Harvard Bridge into the Charles River.
The dramatic script by Lutes is so filled with complicated issues that the reader really feels like they are getting to know Houdini. Houdini is shown as very dedicated to his craft, a perfectionist when it comes to preparation for the stunt. He is a leader of men, demanding that his crew knows their tasks and make no mistakes. Houdini is a dedicated husband to his love who takes an important role in love life and stage life.
The book ends with a great set of “panel discussions” offering informative tidbits on a variety of topics including the city of Boston, Anti-Semitism, Reporters at the turn of the 20th Century, and more.
***Artwork – Bertozzi’s illustrations are a perfect for the setting of the early 1900s. He’s pinned down the architecture and dress style of the era. His caricatures have various ethnic features that emphasize the diversity of Boston at that time. The color scheme is well thought out, presented in blacks, whites and blue tones. The colorization reminds us of black and white films and there is always a feeling that these events happened long ago. The thick ink lines and Bertozzi’s drawing style make Houdini: the Handcuff King an easy read that makes the story jump off the page.
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