See sample pages from this book at Wink.
In 1982 John Belushi died from an overdose in a bungalow at the Chateau Marmont when he was 33 years old. At his memorial service, his friend and collaborator, Dan Akroyd, said Belushi was “a brilliant performer, writer, tactician, business strategist…a good man – and a bad boy.” Released today, this graphic novel biography called Belushi: On a Mission from God, written and illustrated by two Italian truefans of Belushi, presents us with the story of a man whose level of self-destructive behavior moved in lockstep with his rapid rise to international superstardom. Author Schiavone doesn’t bother explaining why Belushi abused drugs when he had everything else going for him – because the why is not especially interesting. “Real greatness gives license for real indulgence,” explained Ackroyd at the memorial service, “whether it's as a reward, as therapy or as sanctuary.” This is true for many great entertainers, and Schiavone wisely chose not to devote space exploring this aspect of Belushi’s life, choosing instead to focus on what made the comedian unique – his brand of humor that was fresh and absurd, yet comforting and deeply resonant at the same time. Manera’s fine-lined pen and ink illustrations capture the essence of Belushi and his manic short life.
