The Rolling Stones in Comics! (NBM Comics Biographies) by Céka

​  Céka did a lamentable job with Michael Jackson bio, but this one was pretty decent. Which is to say I learned a lot about the band. These are such strange books, they appear as graphic novels, but content wise they are a mix of biographical essays, quotations and photographs. In fact, the graphics are just a small portion of the total, created by a variety of different artists in a verity of different styles, each one to reference some significant juncture in Rolling Stones’ life. Because of the variety, some of this comic art entries land nicer than others. Some veer too far into cartoonism. Although all have fun interesting colors.
   This was a commemorative read, of sorts. RIP Charlie Watts. The band itself has exhibited a striking longevity, a very lively and kicking bunch of senior citizens and the book is actually from a few years ago, when Watts was still alive. Mick Jagger is pushing eighty and is still at it, not too shabby for a guy who once said he wanted to quite the business at 33.
     So, what do we learn from this book outside of the admiration society style biographical narrative? Well, from a modern hyperwoke perspective one can say that a bunch of Englishmen got together, appropriated a variety of black music such as blues and jazz, took a name heavily associated with black culture (slavery link, didn’t know about this at all, very interesting reference) and spun it into decades worth of musical gold, fame and fortune.
      But really, the more music biographies you read (or watch the cinematic adaptations of), the more you realize it’s literally the same story over and over, just with different players. The exact same curves on the narrative trajectories. Tragically predictable, but those who ride them out apparently become legends, so…who can resist.
      Overall, a decent book for someone who wants to learn about the band quickly, overview style. Nowhere near as much fun as a Rolling Stones concert, but you know, medium limitations.