Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography Paperback – Illustrated, August 22, 2006

An important chapter in Canadian history that gets overlooked and that is the plight of the Metis peoples of the Red River and the Anglo-Canadian desire to expand Westwards with a railway just like the US. Like with the Indian schools, this is a dark chapter in the history of Canada's relations with the First peoples and comics are a great way of educating people. While the author does admit that he took some creative liberties telling the story of Riel's life, he even includes footnotes to explain why some things were changed and cites his sources like an actual historian should.

Fantastically written, compelling from front to back. I finished it in one night because I couldn't put it down. The art style, while simplistic, was well done and didn't distract me from the dialogue. It's great if you're a history buff and want to add this to your collection.

Most of the previous reviews have touched upon how well this book has covered its subject matter and there is no disagreement here.A few mentioned the artwork but not enough. Brown's work is astounding. In the introduction to Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography, Brown mentions the influence of Herge's Tintin and Harold Grey's Little Orphan Annie on his work and his wondrous black and white, six panel pages are truly an homage those great comics he cites.For both story and artwork, five stars are too little for Brown's beautiful comic-strip biography. This book belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in either history or graphic novels/comic strips.

Here's the plot (Americans, watch out for spoilers. Canadians, don't worry. You learned all of this in grade school.):In 1885, Ottawa confronted a serious uprising by Metis (“half-breeds” in French, not polite) and other Catholic, French-speaking settlers in what’s now southern Manitoba, on the Red River (the boundary between Minnesota and North Dakota, further south). At the time there were no provinces west of Ontario, but Ottawa had big plans and - according to Chester Brown's interpretation - sparked a crooked land rush to attract English-speaking settlers out west to screw the Metis out of their excellent farmland.The Metis rebelled under the banner of a crazy visionary named Louis Riel, who received direct instructions from God.This was a long way from Ottawa, and “the English” had no way of projecting their power that far west to crush the rebellion and keep the Metis from seceding and forming a little Ukraine for themselves in the middle of the Wheat Belt. So the money guys in the East realized that this was their chance to get federal backing for what would become the Canadian Pacific Railroad. They persuaded Ottawa that if the tracks could be laid quickly, they could get redcoats out there in force. And lo, it happened.The brilliant Chester Brown renders this conflict with restraint. Too much restraint. Is it a slam to mention that Brown is Canadian? Everything happens in six panels to a page. It is minimalist and beautiful, but we sometimes wish he'd blow out a battle scene or another highly emotional moment to at least a half page. It seems as though he's striving for a journalistic sort of objectivity in the scenic depiction, while the larger narrative is completely tilted towards the Metis and against the federals.But that is a quibble. Like a fine sonneteer, Brown embraces the restrictions and still succeeds. There is something eerie and convincing about a long-distance gun battle in the snowy woods where the sounds aren't BANG! and KAPOW! but PK .. PK .. PK.

Hardly remember learning about the Hudson Bay Company in school so was interesting how much detail Chester Brown dove while viewing the life of Louis Riel a Metis individual. Mistreated since the beginning of their birth as a direct result of colonization Louis Riel attempts to gain rights for his people little steps at a time within the Red River settlement. Would reccomend to anyone who enjoys historical graphic novels.

I wish there were more books like this out there because it would make history a much more digestible and accessible subject matter. That is, Chester Brown writes with the authority of a historian, but the delivery of a story-teller. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in historical biographies or just looking for a good story.

Brilliant book on a subject i had no previous knowledge of. Chester Brown somehow condenses a lifetime story into a simple easy to follow narrative.Highly recommend for chester brown fans, anyone interested in alternative comics, and really anyone interested in Canadian history.

I have bought this book so many times over the years, and always gift it away. It's beautiful and harrowing. It gets me every single time I get to the page where Louis Riel takes the stand and sits - frame after frame ...oh I won't ruin it. Riel is rendered more troubled and complex - and all the more heroic as well as likeable - than any history textbook allows. It is a story we should all know. And an amazing way to portray history. If you can though, see if you can get the edition right from the press, Drawn & Quarterly...

perfect, bought for a gift, very happy.

Brown shows here what a monstrous talent he is, going from his minimalist autobio that made him (in)famous to this biography of Louis Riel, his longest work yet, in a fine Harold Gray-inspired style. Looking forward to Paying For It, his next graphic novel and the first not to be serialized first, on his experiences with prostitutes.

Absolutely stunning. It was my first graphic novel and I loved it. The narrative is wonderful and the illustrations do a great job of complementing the story. I had no prior interest in Riel and this really inspired an interest in the man. I highly recommend this book.

Brown retells the history of Louis Riel using his unique drawing skills. Each of the characters are given blank eyes and expressionless faces, as well as enormous hands and small heads - deliberate choices by the artist.The story is a bit dusty for most of the book. This law was passed which meant this border changed which meant this happened which meant people had to move until this law was passed, blah blah. Unless you're really into 19th century Canadian history regarding the Metis people you'll gloss over these sections. Maps are included to show the shifting borders.What's interesting is when Louis Riel loses his mind and believes he's a prophet from God. There are some brilliant sections like the siege or when Louis and his men are held captive. There's quite a comedic scene with one of the racist prisoners shouting expletives (you just see "XXX" in the caption baloon) and coupled with his blank face and cavernous mouth it made me laugh."Louis Riel" shows a more confident storyteller in Brown and his drawing style has developed since "I Never Liked You". It's a good, thorough read and reminded me of Rick Geary's work which is also brilliant.