Overview

Eric Orner, the acclaimed cartoonist of one of the country's most popular and longest-running gay comic strips, The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green, presents his debut graphic novel--a dazzling, irreverent biography of the iconic and iconoclastic Barney Frank, one of the first gay and out congressmen and a front-line defender of civil rights. What are the odds that a disheveled, zaftig, closeted kid with the thickest of Jersey accents might wind up running Boston on behalf of a storied Irish Catholic political machine, drafting the nation's first gay rights laws, reforming Wall Street after the Great Recession, and finding love, after a lifetime assuming that he couldn't and wouldn't? In Smahtguy: The Life and Times of Barney Frank, one of America's first out members of Congress and a gay and civil rights crusader for an era is confirmed as a hero of our age. But more than a biography of an indispensable LGBTQ pioneer, this funny, beautifully rendered, warts-and-all graphic account reveals the down-and-dirty inner workings of Boston and DC politics. As Frank's longtime staff counsel and press secretary, Eric Orner lends his first-hand perspective to this extraordinary work of history, paying tribute to the mighty striving of committed liberals to defend ordinary Americans from an assault on their shared society.

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9781250191588

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Reviews

Smahtguy restored my battered faith in the American political process. Barney Frank's relish for the thankless work of governance is deeply inspiring, all the more so because it came at the expense of his personal life. Orner's masterful visual storytelling, inexhaustible graphic detail, and witty vignettes makes all the procedural nitty gritty read like a thriller. --Alison Bechdel, author of The Secret to Superhuman Strength Smahtguy is the story of Barney Frank but also the story of the transformation of America. Eric Orner's cartooning captures both the frenetic energy of Frank's times and the person he was: a young man willing to work for civil rights that didn't include him, who grew to fight not just for others but for himself, too. Unforgettable, complicated, and powerful, like the man himself. --Alexander Chee, author of How to Write an Autobiographical Novel Gasp and guffaw at the amazing life story of Barney Frank, a mild-mannered graduate student from Jersey who is transformed into a liberal superhero, struggling to save the world as it blunders from crisis to crisis. Smahtguy is (literally!) the great civic-minded comic book of our time. --Tom Frank, author of The People, No A terrific graphic novel about one of the genuine heroes of the gay liberation movement. Smahtguy is funny and touching and remarkably substantive, a lovely tribute to a great American pioneer. --Charles Kaiser, author of The Gay Metropolis All too often history sits on the page like a day-old latke. But in Eric Orner's hands, the story of one of the most compelling and effective members of Congress--cranky, brilliant, passionate Barney Frank--crackles to life through vivid, emotion-packed words and illustrations. I got to the last page of Smahtguy--and read it again. --Eric Marcus, founder and host, Making Gay History podcast An insightful, funny, and wonderfully drawn recounting of the life and times of a memorable figure on America's political stage, from the Freedom Summer of 1964 through the Great Recession. --Katie Couric, award-winning journalist Eric Orner's political bildungsroman is full of stunning panels packed with lush detail. He knows how to make you laugh out loud and break your heart, and there's nobody I trust more to lead me through Barney Frank's extraordinary career and life. --J.A.K. (Jason Adam Katzenstein), author of Everything's an Emergency In this beautifully crafted work, Eric Orner presents an unlikely hero: schlubby Massachusetts congressman Barney Frank. Eschewing policy wonk blather, Smahtguy leads us directly to the center of the maze of D.C. politics, deftly revealing Frank's complex inner life and relentless drive to improve the world. Orner's drawing style is perfect for his subject, making for a very human story that, in the hands of lesser talents, might seem as dry as the Congressional Record. --Mimi Pond, author of The Customer is Always Wrong A rollicking take on one of the most endearing and impactful members in the history of Congress. --Dave Eggers, author of The Every

There's one thing that's unfortunate about Smahtguy, Eric Orner's sweeping new graphic novel about the life of former Mass. Rep. Barney Frank. It's this: Smahtguy's subject is so powerful, its story so engagingly told, that reviewers will probably concentrate on its success as a narrative . . . And that will be a shame. Smahtguy isn't just a great story, it's an enveloping visual experience crafted by a terrific artist with an amazing line . . . His glowing yellows, salmon pinks and electric blues blaze off the page, setting his book apart from (and hopefully setting a new standard for) today's graphic novels . . . This book--like Frank's life--is so epic, people will doubtless be finding new aspects to appreciate for years to come. --NPR In Smahtguy, Orner skewers authority with gleeful abandon. --Tablet An astute, richly detailed profile of political and gay rights icon Barney Frank . . . witty, empathic . . . Orner has a gift for capturing a sense of place, be it the halls of Congress, Boston streets on a sultry summer's evening, or a depressed whaling town, all rendered in archly funny, colorful cartooning . . . Orner achieves an exceptional balance of poignant biography, warts-and-all character study, and salty political satire. Political bios don't get much better than this. --Publishers Weekly (starred review) Pleasing . . . lively . . . The best part is the unquiet agitation that made Frank, eloquent and stubborn, a bulldog of a fighter, representing not just his district, but great masses of disenfranchised, marginalized people . . . Fan of Frank will be delighted, and those who don't realize the extent of his legacy will learn much. --Kirkus Reviews Astonishingly thorough and heartfelt . . . By the end you may, like many of Barney Frank's constituents, find yourself loving his unkempt, hardworking gruffness, and cheering when he finally finds happiness in his personal life . . . Smahtguy is a smart pick for fans of political biographies. --Booklist Most impressive . . . Orner has set up a graphic novel with as quick and urgent a tempo as his subject. It is packed with so many assorted details, all neatly presented, sometimes even itemized within a panel. All the better to evoke the whirlwind of activity . . . Politics is not romantic and can kill idealists. But if you're willing to roll up your sleeves and do the work, then there's a chance to make a real difference. That's the greatest lesson from Barney Frank and it adds up to a very compelling life story which Orner so vividly tells in this book. --Comics Grinder Fascinating . . . a great mix of wonk, humor, and heart . . . The art is fantastic, up there with March. --Graphic Policy Smahtguy restored my battered faith in the American political process. Barney Frank's relish for the thankless work of governance is deeply inspiring, all the more so because it came at the expense of his personal life. Orner's masterful visual storytelling, inexhaustible graphic detail, and witty vignettes makes all the procedural nitty gritty read like a thriller. --Alison Bechdel, author of The Secret to Superhuman Strength Smahtguy is the story of Barney Frank but also the story of the transformation of America. Eric Orner's cartooning captures both the frenetic energy of Frank's times and the person he was: a young man willing to work for civil rights that didn't include him, who grew to fight not just for others but for himself, too. Unforgettable, complicated, and powerful, like the man himself. --Alexander Chee, author of How to Write an Autobiographical Novel Gasp and guffaw at the amazing life story of Barney Frank, a mild-mannered graduate student from Jersey who is transformed into a liberal superhero, struggling to save the world as it blunders from crisis to crisis. Smahtguy is (literally!) the great civic-minded comic book of our time. --Tom Frank, author of The People, No A terrific graphic novel about one of the genuine heroes of the gay liberation movement. Smahtguy is funny and touching and remarkably substantive, a lovely tribute to a great American pioneer. --Charles Kaiser, author of The Gay Metropolis All too often history sits on the page like a day-old latke. But in Eric Orner's hands, the story of one of the most compelling and effective members of Congress--cranky, brilliant, passionate Barney Frank--crackles to life through vivid, emotion-packed words and illustrations. I got to the last page of Smahtguy--and read it again. --Eric Marcus, founder and host, Making Gay History podcast An insightful, funny, and wonderfully drawn recounting of the life and times of a memorable figure on America's political stage, from the Freedom Summer of 1964 through the Great Recession. --Katie Couric, award-winning journalist Eric Orner's political bildungsroman is full of stunning panels packed with lush detail. He knows how to make you laugh out loud and break your heart, and there's nobody I trust more to lead me through Barney Frank's extraordinary career and life. --J.A.K. (Jason Adam Katzenstein), author of Everything's an Emergency In this beautifully crafted work, Eric Orner presents an unlikely hero: schlubby Massachusetts congressman Barney Frank. Eschewing policy wonk blather, Smahtguy leads us directly to the center of the maze of D.C. politics, deftly revealing Frank's complex inner life and relentless drive to improve the world. Orner's drawing style is perfect for his subject, making for a very human story that, in the hands of lesser talents, might seem as dry as the Congressional Record. --Mimi Pond, author of The Customer is Always Wrong A rollicking take on one of the most endearing and impactful members in the history of Congress. --Dave Eggers, author of The Every

Smahtguy restored my battered faith in the American political process. Barney Frank's relish for the thankless work of governance is deeply inspiring, all the more so because it came at the expense of his personal life. Orner's masterful visual storytelling, inexhaustible graphic detail, and witty vignettes makes all the procedural nitty gritty read like a thriller. --Alison Bechdel, author of The Secret to Superhuman Strength Smahtguy is the story of Barney Frank but also the story of the transformation of America. Eric Orner's cartooning captures both the frenetic energy of Frank's times and the person he was: a young man willing to work for civil rights that didn't include him, who grew to fight not just for others but for himself, too. Unforgettable, complicated, and powerful, like the man himself. --Alexander Chee, author of How to Write an Autobiographical Novel Gasp and guffaw at the amazing life story of Barney Frank, a mild-mannered graduate student from Jersey who is transformed into a liberal superhero, struggling to save the world as it blunders from crisis to crisis. Smahtguy is (literally!) the great civic-minded comic book of our time. --Tom Frank, author of The People, No A terrific graphic novel about one of the genuine heroes of the gay liberation movement. Smahtguy is funny and touching and remarkably substantive, a lovely tribute to a great American pioneer. --Charles Kaiser, author of The Gay Metropolis All too often history sits on the page like a day-old latke. But in Eric Orner's hands, the story of one of the most compelling and effective members of Congress--cranky, brilliant, passionate Barney Frank--crackles to life through vivid, emotion-packed words and illustrations. I got to the last page of Smahtguy--and read it again. --Eric Marcus, founder and host, Making Gay History podcast An insightful, funny, and wonderfully drawn recounting of the life and times of a memorable figure on America's political stage, from the Freedom Summer of 1964 through the Great Recession. --Katie Couric, award-winning journalist Eric Orner's political bildungsroman is full of stunning panels packed with lush detail. He knows how to make you laugh out loud and break your heart, and there's nobody I trust more to lead me through Barney Frank's extraordinary career and life. --J.A.K. (Jason Adam Katzenstein), author of Everything's an Emergency In this beautifully crafted work, Eric Orner presents an unlikely hero: schlubby Massachusetts congressman Barney Frank. Eschewing policy wonk blather, Smahtguy leads us directly to the center of the maze of D.C. politics, deftly revealing Frank's complex inner life and relentless drive to improve the world. Orner's drawing style is perfect for his subject, making for a very human story that, in the hands of lesser talents, might seem as dry as the Congressional Record. --Mimi Pond, author of The Customer is Always Wrong

Author Information

"Eric Orner is a former Congressional aide to Barney Frank and the acclaimed author of The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green, one of the country's most popular and longest-running gay comic strips. A feature film of the same title appeared in 2005, the same year that Orner retired the comic strip. Orner has also published comic strips and illustrations in the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the New Republic. His cartoon story ""Weekends Abroad"" was included in Houghton Mifflin's Best American Comics 2011. Orner lives in New York and Smahtguy is his first graphic novel."

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