Marx

Following up on their biography of Freud, Maier and Simon present a strange, surprisingly sweet, and informative biography of Karl Marx (1818–1883), the scourge of capitalists everywhere and the inspiration for generations of communist revolutionaries. The authors give a full account of Marx’s life, from his early encounters with anti-Semitism and censorship to his never-ceasing struggle for the working class. Simon’s whimsical and vivid art is delightful, turning Marx’s travels into thrilling adventures, as when leaves his native Prussia in 1843 with his wife to start a newspaper in Paris. The book also delves into Marx’s private history, from his loving relationship with his daughters to his affair with the family’s maid, and his reliance on his wife’s inheritances to make ends meet. The close of the book, with Marx as a cape-wearing avenger, apologizing for the horrors perpetrated by the Communist regimes of the 20th century, feels awkward. Overall, though, this is an excellent comics biography that shows how well the medium can capture the twists, turns, triumphs, and defeats of a remarkable life. (Oct.)