March (comics)

March (comics)
source
Name	March
Caption	Cover of March: Book One
Author	John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell
Illustrator	Nate Powell
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Graphic novel, Memoir, Non-fiction comics
Publisher	Top Shelf Productions
Pub date	2013–2016
Media type	Print (hardcover & paperback)
Isbn	978-1-60309-300-2 (Book One)
Followed by	Run

March (comics) March is a graphic novel trilogy and memoir by U.S. Congressman John Lewis, co-written with his aide Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell. The series chronicles Lewis's lifelong involvement in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, from his youth in rural Alabama to his leadership in the pivotal Selma to Montgomery marches of 1965. It serves as a primary source and powerful educational tool, using the accessible medium of comics to document the struggle for racial equality and nonviolent resistance in American history.

Publication history

The idea for March originated with Andrew Aydin, who was inspired by the 1958 comic book Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story. He persuaded Congressman Lewis, a key figure in the movement, to collaborate on a modern graphic novel memoir. The trilogy was published by Top Shelf Productions (an imprint of IDW Publishing) between 2013 and 2016. March: Book One was released in August 2013, followed by Book Two in January 2015, and Book Three in August 2016. The series was critically acclaimed and became a bestseller, widely adopted in school curricula. A sequel series, Run, began publication in 2021, continuing the narrative of Lewis's life after 1965.

Plot summary

The narrative of March is framed by the day of the 2009 presidential inauguration of Barack Obama. From this starting point, Lewis recounts his life story. Book One details his childhood on an Alabama farm, his early exposure to racial segregation, his awakening to activism through hearing Martin Luther King Jr. on the radio, and his involvement in the Nashville Student Movement and the 1960 Nashville sit-ins. Book Two focuses on the Freedom Rides of 1961, the founding of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, where Lewis gave a speech. Book Three covers the 1964 Freedom Summer, the 1965 Selma voting rights campaign, the violence of Bloody Sunday on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and the subsequent passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Main characters

The central figure is John Lewis himself, depicted from a determined young activist to a seasoned leader. Key historical figures from the movement are prominently featured, including his mentor Martin Luther King Jr., fellow SNCC co-founder Diane Nash, and activist James Lawson. The narrative also highlights other important individuals such as Rosa Parks, Fannie Lou Hamer, Malcolm X, and President Lyndon B. Johnson. The books portray the collective effort of organizations like the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).

Historical context and accuracy

March is celebrated for its rigorous historical accuracy, serving as a first-hand account from a major participant. The events depicted are meticulously researched, drawing from Lewis's personal experiences, archival materials, and historical records. The trilogy accurately portrays the strategy and philosophy of nonviolence, the brutal opposition from segregationist officials like Bull Connor and George Wallace, and the internal debates within the movement. It provides an unflinching look at the violence faced by activists, including beatings, arrests, and the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham. The books function as a primary source for understanding the tactics, sacrifices, and key victories of the Civil Rights Movement.

Themes and analysis

The dominant theme of March is the power and discipline of nonviolent resistance as a tool for social change. It explores the concept of "good trouble, necessary trouble"—a phrase Lewis famously used. Other central themes include the moral imperative to fight injustice, the importance of grassroots organizing, and the courage of ordinary people. The graphic novel format amplifies these themes; Nate Powell's artwork viscerally conveys the emotional intensity, physical danger, and collective solidarity of the movement. The use of stark black-and-white imagery powerfully contrasts the moral clarity of the activists with the darkness of Jim Crow oppression.

Reception and legacy

March received universal critical acclaim, winning numerous awards including the National Book Award for Young People's Literature (for Book Three), the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award, and several Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards. It became a #1 New York Times bestseller and has been integrated into educational programs across the United States. The trilogy's legacy is significant: it has introduced a new generation to the Civil Rights Movement through ance,