The Fifth Beatle (graphic novel)

The Fifth Beatle
Date	November 2013
Publisher	Dark Horse Comics
Creative team
Writer	Vivek Tiwary
Artist	Andrew Robinson Kyle Baker

The Fifth Beatle is a graphic novel by writer Vivek Tiwary, artist Andrew Robinson, and cartoonist Kyle Baker. It debuted in Italy as part as the tenth anniversary of the country's Rolling Stone magazine and was published by Dark Horse Comics in November 2013.^[1]

Story

The novel tells the true account of Brian Epstein, the manager of The Beatles, considered to be and coined as the "Fifth Beatle", so-called as he was the one who discovered the Liverpool band and was the driving force behind their worldwide success.

Despite being turned down by several record companies, Epstein believed the group would be "bigger than Elvis." To that end, Epstein seriously cleans up the band's public image, such as having them wear suits and ties as well encouraging them to continue their distinctive mop-top hairdos. So prepared, Epstein is able to masterfully promote their careers, with a major triumph being negotiating a series of headline appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show by offering to cover the band's travelling expenses and accepting an unusually low payment for the appearances, which produced spectacular publicity for the band's first American concert tour. As the group grew in popularity, Epstein struggled with his sexuality, being gay at a time when it was still criminalized, and there were few options for gay men to meet publicly, and his drug addictions. After The Beatles ceased touring in 1966, he feared about their future, and his role with the group.

Television adaptation

After a film adaptation was announced in 2013,^[2] Sonar Entertainment optioned the rights to The Fifth Beatle for development as a multi-part television event series. Tiwary will pen the series adaptation and serve as executive producer.^[3] The series has also acquired rights to Beatles songs from Sony.

Paperback edition

In October 2016 The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story was released in trade paperback. The new paperback edition included new art and concept material from artist Kyle Baker.^[4]

Reception

The Fifth Beatle was released and became a New York Times Best Seller.^[5] It climbed to number one in its third week. USA Today called scenes of it "touching," as well as having some "fanciful aspects."^[6]

The Fifth Beatle was named as a finalist for the prestigious 26th Annual Lambda Literary Award ("The Lammys") for "Best LGBT Graphic Novel". 2014 marks the debut of the Graphic Novel Category.^[7] On March 14, 2014 The Fifth Beatle was named a finalist in Foreword Review's 16th Annual Book of the Year Awards.^[8]

In March 2014, Andrew Robinson, artist of The Fifth Beatle, was nominated for the 68th Annual National Cartoonist Society Divisional Reuben Award for "Best Graphic Novel."^[9] On May 25, 2014 it was announced that Robinson was selected as the Reuben Award Winner for "Best Graphic Novel."^[10]

In April 2014, The Fifth Beatle received two Eisner Award nominations in the categories of Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art) for Robinson and Best Reality-Based Work.^[11] On July 25, 2014, The Fifth Beatle received the Eisner Award for Best Reality-Based work.^[12]

In 2014, The Fifth Beatle was nominated for the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Award under the category "Great Graphic Novels for Teens".^[13] The winner of this award will be announced in January 2015.^{[needs update]}

The Fifth Beatle creative team, including Tiwary, Robinson and Baker, have been selected as guests at the 14th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival on August 30, 2014 in Washington, D.C. U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were honorary chairs for the event.^[14]

In June 2014, The Fifth Beatle was nominated for a True Believers Comics Award for "Favourite 2013 Original Graphic Novel".^[15]

The Fifth Beatle was also announced as an INDIEFAB 2013 GOLD Winner for Graphic Novels & Comics.^[16]

In July 2014, The Fifth Beatle was nominated for two Harvey Awards, "Best Graphic Album - Original" and "Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation".^[17] On September 6, 2014 at Baltimore Comic-Con, The Fifth Beatle won two Harvey Awards for "Best Graphic Album - Original" and "Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation".^[18]

References

1. "Vivek Tiwary's Odyssey Writing The Fifth Beatle Graphic Novel And Film – Look! It Moves!". Bleeding Cool. 30 December 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
2. McNary, Dave (December 4, 2013). "'The Fifth Beatle' Movie to Start Production in 2014". Variety.
3. "'The Fifth Beatle' Novel Optioned By Sonar For Series Development". Deadline Hollywood. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
4. "#1 'NEW YORK TIMES' BESTSELLER 'THE FIFTH BEATLE' HEADS TO PAPERBACK". Dark Horse Comics. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
5. "Best Sellers: Hardcover Graphic Books". The New York Times. 29 December 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
6. Truitt, Brian (18 November 2013). "Brian Epstein's dreams remembered in 'The Fifth Beatle'". USA Today. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
7. "26th Annual Lambda Literary Award Finalists Announced". Lambda Literary. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
8. "Foreword Review's 16th Annual Book of the Year Awards". Foreword Review. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
9. "2013 NCS DIVISIONAL NOMINEES!". Reuben.org. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
10. "NCS Divisional Awards Announced". comicsreporter.com. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
11. "Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees 2014". comic-con.org. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
12. "2014 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Winners". comic-con.org. 26 July 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
13. "2014 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Nominations". American Library Association. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
14. "Library of Congress Book Festival". Library of Congress. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
15. "True Believer Awards". Retrieved 16 June 2014.
16. "Indiefab Awards". Retrieved 30 June 2014.
17. Hauman, Glenn (16 July 2014). "Announcing the 2014 Harvey Award Final Ballot!". Harvey Awards. Archived from the original on 20 July 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
18. "2014 HARVEY AWARDS: Broadway producer's 'Fifth Beatle' yields 'humbling' twin wins [+FULL WINNERS LIST]". The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 September 2014.

External links

• Official website