First Man

Reimagining Matthew Henson

Author: Simon Schwartz

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PRODUCT INFORMATION

Description

In this graphic novel, Simon Schwartz weaves biography and fiction together to explore the life of Arctic adventurer Matthew Henson. Moving between different time periods and incorporating Inuit mythology, Schwartz offers a fresh perspective on the many challenges Henson confronted during his life.

As a member of early missions to reach the North Pole, Henson braved subzero temperatures and shifting sea ice. As an African American at the turn of the twentieth century, he also faced harassment and prejudice. Henson won a place on Arctic expeditions through skill and determination—though he didn't receive the same credit as his teammates. He also won the respect of the native peoples he met during his journeys—though he couldn't prevent the harm that the expeditions caused them.

More than a biography, First Man: Reimagining Matthew Henson is an artistic homage to Henson's accomplishments and the complicated realities of being a trailblazer in a society that didn't recognize black men as equals.

Critic Reviews

“"Schwartz (The Other Side of the Wall) blends history, legend, and his own fictional interpretations as he traces Robert Peary's attempt to reach the North Pole, focusing on the condescension, cruelty, and prejudice endured by his African-American associate, Matthew Henson. Two-color panels in icy grays and pale blues shift subtly and gorgeously between time periods as Schwartz follows the race to the pole, the role Henson played in Inuit myth, Peary's clashes with explorer Frederick Cook, and more, including a horrific sequence in which Peary brings several Inuit to the American Museum of Natural History in chains, most dying soon after. Schwartz openly admits to fictionalizing Henson's life, but the liberties he takes remain frustrating. Is a poignant moment in which an elderly Henson visits his wife's grave worth altering the fact that he actually died more than 10 years before her? Is it fair to highlight Peary's affairs with Inuit women while ignoring Henson's? (A detailed time line sets the record straight somewhat.) Still, as a work of fiction rooted in injustices suffered by African-Americans and indigenous peoples alike, it's powerful and almost unbearably sad."Publishers Weekly”

"[A]n unforgettable title that will resonate with readers. . . . A compelling graphic novel that biography lovers will greatly enjoy, and a wonderful addition to Black History Month book lists."—School Library Journal