Arne Bellstorf

Reading two graphic novels about the Beatles seemed like a good idea at the time, but when one is so clearly better than the other (both in terms of writing and art) it becomes a let down.

The artistic stylings of this book - stark black, whites, and greys combined with a rudimentary line treatment - fall extremely flat in comparison to the lush colours and emotive lines of The Fifth Beatle. Maybe the artist meant to evoke a feeling of bleakness (counterpoint to the illness of the "lost Beatle") or to represent the artistic motifs of Germany in the post-war period, but I still feel like they elementary quality of the artwork really let the story down. Repetitive elements of the story (such as the lovers in the woods) did not help, as they just emphasized the lack of maturity in the story as a whole.… (more)

I read so few graphic novels that it really isn't fair for me to rate or review them. You need a good story and you need good artwork to make me happy. The artwork here, with just a couple exceptions, I thought was rather bland. It didn't hit me with any emotional impact and it felt repetitive and unexciting. The story starts with Klaus Voorman finding the Beatles playing in a club in Hamburg in October 1960. He tells his ex-girlfriend Astrid that she must come see them with him the next night. The story ends on April 10, 1962 with the sudden death of Stu Sutcliffe.

I approached the book with a bit of excitement but was ultimately disappointed. I love the Beatles but can't recommend this.… (more)