Mark Twain Was Right

In the format of a graphic novel and using journalism as a narrative, the story of the 2001 Cincinnati riots—the largest urban unrest since the 1992 Los Angeles riots—is charted in this visual history. The book traces the riot's genesis from the police killing of a 19-year-old African American man to his funeral six days later. What resulted from the killing was a tumultuous cocktail of nonviolent civil disobedience, frustration-fueled looting, and police violence. Told from a series of varying perspectives—activists, community leaders, and bystanders—this is a tale of an inner-city community coming together. An overlooked yet crucial piece of American history is retold in a contemporary format with an engaging narrative.

Dan P. Moore is a comic book author who has published A Guide to Relationships During a Recession and One of Those Beautiful Days. He is an organizer at the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center, which helps low-wage and immigrant workers defend their work rights. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.