Powell, Nate - March, issue 3, page 242 (Dec 2009)

Another stunning page from the graphic novel, March. By way of background, March was the graphic novel by Georgia U.S. Representative John Lewis, co-author Andrew Aydin and artist Nate Powell. March chronicled Lewis’s life growing up in Alabama and his pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement, including the 1963 March on Washington. It won the 2016 National Book Award.

This page features Lyndon B. Johnson's words the day of the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 at the Capitol. I'll highlight my favorite among them: 'The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.'

While I had read March as it was originally released, and enjoyed it greatly at the time, I recently sought it out again as an attempt to cleanse the palette of the current day's political environment. The passage of the 1965 Voting Right Act took years of fierce dedication and determination from people of character & integrity who were willing to commit to a cause bigger than themselves, many of whom gave their lives to secure its passage.

I was able to pick pages up directly from Nate Powell while at OAX 2026 (among some other pieces from March that I am in the process of posting to CAF). He was an absolute delight and I was able to catch some time with him discussing the creation of the book.

As I'm sure everyone knows, Nate is one of the artists repped by Sean Watkins' Athenaeum Comic Art. It was hard to pull away from the Athenaeum booth while at OAX given the quality of artists in attendance and the art brought along for the show. I wish I had been able to...I'd be staring at less of a hole in my bank account if I had! All worth it for great art and the great stories such art accompanies.

Thank you Nate & Sean!