LON CHANEY SPEAKS

A graphic novel debut: the life of the legendary silent-film actor Lon Chaney (the original Phantom of the Opera and Hunchback of Notre Dame), as imagined by an artist whose work recalls the style and skill of early-era New Yorker cartoonists. From the artist: "'No one will ever love me!' This was this near-universal fear that makes Lon Chaney's characters continue to resonate with us today. On their surface, most of them are distinctly unlikeable: they are monsters, outcasts, criminals. But through his unique magic, Chaney makes them empathetic. He pioneered the craft of makeup artist long before that term ever existed, and he used his expertise to hide himself from public view--what if nobody loved him?" And of course, his son, Lon Chaney Jr., went on to make history playing The Wolfman and other monsters in the legendary Universal films. "I'm a lifelong fan of 1920s films, and so for me this book is a dream come true: a thoroughly researched, lively, empathetic biography of a screen icon who haunted my childhood. Lon Chaney was wholly devoted to--immersed in and perhaps engulfed by--his art. This fascinating tale is lovingly told, chock-full of details, and snappily rendered, with nods to classic cartooning throughout." -Ivan Brunetti, artist and author.