Comments on: The Man In Black

By: Steffen P. Maarup

Steffen P. Maarup — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:26:58 +0000

I read the German original some time ago, and while it did give me goosebumps a few times, it was because of the subject matter rather than the treatment. Stuff like Cash playing Glen Shirley’s song at the Folsom Prison concert or being rediscovered by Rick Rubin – those are good stories. But Kleist is too faithful to the material, trying to ram too much exposition into the book.
The little comics versions of Cash songs, drawn in various styles, littered throughout the book, don’t contribute anything either.
Finally Kleist’s brushstrokes just aren’t assured enough, and there’s a real outdated early 90s feel to the style.

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:20:04 +0000

Good to know, Mark, cheers, just makes me want to read it all the more

By: Mark Kardwell

Mark Kardwell — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:29:19 +0000

I bought the French edition of this a year or so ago, it’s bloody brilliant. Mixes the truth, the myth, and Cash’s own poetic imagery to perfection.

As good as WALK THE LINE was bad, in fact.

So Hell Yeah, and Self Made Hero are turning into quite the decent little publisher!