Corinne Maier and Anne Simon are two of the most compelling names creating graphic biographies at the moment. And after delving into the history of Sigmund Freud and Karl Marx in their previous Nobrow graphic novels, they’re turning to another great 20th century thinker for their latest project: Einstein. Accessible to all ages, these books provide a deep look into the origins and accomplishments of these historical figures, rendered with a rich, expressive art style that makes these people and their surroundings come to life. Maier’s words and Simon’s visuals blend together beautifully on the page, making for an especially engaging read that never feels like homework.
These preview pages from Einstein highlight the artistry of this creative team, but they also reveal the attention to detail in offering a well-rounded depiction of the central figure. Before jumping into Einstein’s childhood, the story explores differing opinions about the man and his legacy, setting up plot points that will gain more attention over the course of the book. Maier and Simon condense a lot of information on each page by using a 12-panel grid, but the tight structure also serves a greater narrative purpose in this preview. Simon intensifies the feeling of freedom when Einstein ventures away from the city by doing away with the grid for a more fluid page design without individual panels. These kinds of informed creative decisions are a major reason why readers should check out Einstein when it hits stores in June.