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Andrew Aydin
Aydin at a book signing forMarch: Book OneatMidtown Comicsin Manhattan
Born(1983-08-25)August 25, 1983(age 40)
Atlanta, Georgia,U.S.
Alma mater
Occupation(s)Political aide,Graphic novelist
AwardsInkpot Award(2017)[1]

Andrew Aydin(born August 25, 1983) is an American comics writer, known as the Digital Director & Policy Advisor to Georgia congressmanJohn Lewis,and co-author, with Lewis, ofMarch,Lewis' #1New York Timesbestselling[2]autobiographicalgraphic noveltrilogy.

Early life

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Aydin was born inAtlanta, Georgia.He attendedthe Lovett Schoolin Atlanta, Georgia, earned a Bachelor of Arts fromTrinity Collegeand a Master of Arts in public policy from Georgetown University.,[3][4]

Career

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After college, Aydin served as District Aide to RepresentativeJohn B. Larson(D-CT) and as Special Assistant to Connecticut Lieutenant GovernorKevin Sullivan.

In 2007, Aydin began working for Georgia congressmanJohn Lewis.In the summer of 2008, while on Rep. Lewis' reelection campaign, Aydin learned that Lewis had been inspired as a young man by a classic 1950s comic book,Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story.They discussed the impact that comic books can have on young readers and soon Aydin had the idea that Lewis should write a comic book about his time in the civil rights movement. Aydin eventually convinced Lewis, who accepted on the condition that Aydin write the comics with him.

Aydin wrote his graduate thesis on the history and impact ofMartin Luther King and the Montgomery Story.Until 2012, no history ofMartin Luther King and the Montgomery Storyhad been written, and most versions of how the comic was created listed Al Capp as the actual creator. As part of his graduate degree at Georgetown University, Aydin wrote the first long-form history of The Montgomery Story as his graduate thesis. With the help ofCarlow UniversityProfessor Dr. Sylvia Rhor and comic book iconEddie Campbell,Aydin established most of what we know about the comic's creation and use. In August 2013, Aydin published a shortened version of his thesis as the feature article inCreative Loafing'saward-winning "Future of Nonviolence" issue, which was guest-edited by Lewis and Aydin.[5][6]

Aydin has appeared as a guest onThe Rachel Maddow Show,Morning Joe,National Public Radio,CBS This Morning,CNN, and the BBC.

Aydin served as Digital Director & Policy Advisor to Representative Lewis in his Washington, D.C. office until Lewis's passing in 2020.

Marchtrilogy

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Aydin atBookExpo Americain 2018

In August 2013,Top Shelf Productionspublished the first book in theMarchtrilogy,a black and whitegraphic novelabout theCivil Rights Movement,told through the perspective of Lewis, written by Lewis and Aydin, and illustrated and lettered byNate Powell.[7]The book had its genesis in Lewis' 2008 reelection campaign, when Lewis told Aydin aboutThe Montgomery Storyand its influence on the civil rights movement.[8]Aydin, who had been reading comics since his grandmother bought him a copy ofUncanny X-Men#317 off aPiggly Wigglyspinner rackwhen he was eight years old,[9]found a digital copy of the book on the Internet and spent years tracking down an original print copy on eBay.The Montgomery Storydirectly influenced on the creation ofMarch.[10]

President Bill Clinton has said of Congressman Lewis that, through March, "he brings a whole new generation with him across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, from a past of clenched fists into a future of outstretched hands." Apple CEOTim Cookhas said that March is "a very unique way to present what is probably the most important story of my entire lifetime. My hope is that everyone reads this, and I would love to see the day that it is required reading in every school."[11]

March: Book Oneholds an average 9.4 out of 10 rating at the review aggregator website Comic Book Roundup, based on five reviews.[12]In addition to receiving positive reviews,[13][14]it won numerous awards and accolades,[15][16][17]was selected for college-level reading lists[18][19]and by first-year reading programs in 2014 atMichigan State University,Georgia State University,andMarquette University.[20]March: Book Onereceived an "Author Honor" from theAmerican Library Association's 2014Coretta Scott King Book Awards.Book Onealso became the first graphic novel to win aRobert F. Kennedy Book Award,receiving a "Special Recognition" bust in 2014.

March: Book Twowas released in 2015 and became both aNew York Timesbestseller for paperback graphic novels andWashington Postbestseller for paperback nonfiction books. At San Diego Comic Con in July 2016,March: Book Twowon the Will Eisner Comic Industry Award for "Best Reality Based Work."

The release ofMarch: Book Threein August 2016 brought all three volumes into the top 3 slots of theNew York Timesbestseller list for graphic novels for 6 consecutive weeks. In November 2016,March: Book Threewas awarded theNational Book Awardin Young People's Literature,[21]becoming the first graphic novel to receive a National Book Award. In January 2017 at theAmerican Library Association's annual Midwinter Meeting the third volume was announced as the recipient of the 2017Printz Award,theCoretta Scott King Award,theYALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction,and theSibert Medal.It was the first time a single book won four A.L.A. awards.[22]The trilogy received theCarter G. Woodson Book Awardin 2017.[23]

In May 2016, NYC Public Schools announced that theMarchtrilogywas added to the systemwide 8th Grade "Passport to Social Studies" curriculum.[24]In October 2016, Atlanta Public Schools announced theMarch trilogy'saddition to English curriculum.[25]

Awards and honors

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Aydin and his co-authors onMarchwere recipients of the 2014Coretta Scott King Book AwardAuthor Honor,[26]the 2013 Gem Award (Independent Graphic Novel of the Year),[27]and the 2014 YALSA Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens.[28]

In March 2014 Aydin and his co-authors received a Special Recognition award at the 2014Robert F. KennedyBook Awards.[29]

That same year,Marchwas nominated for twoEisner Awards:Best Publication for Teens & Best Reality-Based Work.[30]Marchwas also nominated for twoHarvey Awards:Best Graphic Album – Original & Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation.[31]

References

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  1. ^Inkpot Award
  2. ^"Best Sellers - The New York Times".The New York Times.RetrievedFebruary 8,2014.
  3. ^Bio
  4. ^"Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Graduate Tells Story of Courageous Young Civil Rights Leader".Georgetown School of Continuing Studies.Georgetown University.Retrieved15 January2018.
  5. ^Aydin, Andrew (1 August 2013)."The comic book that changed the world: Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story's vital role in the Civil Rights Movement".Creative Loafing.Archivedfrom the original on 6 September 2013.Retrieved29 May2022.
  6. ^Michaud, Debbie; Williams, Wyatt (1 August 2013)."Congressman John Lewis takes over Creative Loafing".Creative Loafing.Retrieved7 July2015.
  7. ^Cavna, Michael (August 12, 2013)."In the graphic novel 'March,' Rep. John Lewis renders a powerful civil rights memoir".The Washington Post.Archived fromthe originalon 29 October 2013.Retrieved25 October2013.
  8. ^Hughes, Joseph."Congressman John Lewis And Andrew Aydin Talk Inspiring The 'Children Of The Movement' With 'March' (Interview)".Comics Alliance.Archived fromthe originalon 18 September 2013.Retrieved16 September2013.
  9. ^Herbowy, Greg. "Q+A: Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin & Nate Powell".Visual Arts Journal(Fall 2014).School of Visual Arts:48–51.
  10. ^Hughes, Joseph."Congressman John Lewis And Andrew Aydin Talk Inspiring The 'Children Of The Movement' With 'March' (Interview)".Comics Alliance.Archived fromthe originalon 18 September 2013.Retrieved16 September2013.
  11. ^"A text titled Biography".Andrew Aydin.Retrieved13 October2015.
  12. ^"March: Book One #1 Reviews".Comic Book Roundup.Retrieved26 October2014.
  13. ^Johnson, Jim (14 August 2013)."March: Book One".Comic Book Resources.Retrieved14 August2013.
  14. ^Sharma, Noah."March (Book One) - Review".Weekly Comic Book Review.Retrieved20 August2013.
  15. ^"Coretta Scott King Book Awards - All Recipients, 1970-Present".American Library Association.5 April 2012.Retrieved4 December2014.
  16. ^MacDonald, Heidi (21 March 2014)."March Book One is first graphic novel to win the RFK Book Award".Comics Beat.
  17. ^Staeger, Rob (10 October 2014)."The 10 Most Subversive Comics at New York Comic Con".The Village Voice.
  18. ^"About the Book".City of East Lansing & Michigan State University. Archived fromthe originalon 12 January 2015.Retrieved14 December2014.
  19. ^"Fall 2014 Selection".Georgia State University.Archived fromthe originalon 20 December 2014.Retrieved4 December2014.
  20. ^"About the Book".Marquette University, Office of Student Development.Retrieved4 December2014.
  21. ^Crucchiola, Jordan (November 16, 2016)."Here Are the 2016 National Book Award Winners".Vulture.Archivedfrom the original on December 12, 2023.RetrievedDecember 12,2023.
  22. ^Russo, Maria (2017)."Children's Book Awards Highlight Race — and Politics".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2017-12-11.
  23. ^"Carter G. Woodson Book Award and Honor Winners".National Council for the Social Studies.RetrievedJanuary 3,2019.
  24. ^"Congressman John Lewis' graphic novel will now be taught in New York public schools - Blavity".
  25. ^"Atlanta schools to use Lewis' civil rights book in English classes".myajc.Retrieved2017-12-11.
  26. ^"The Coretta Scott King Book Awards".18 January 2009.RetrievedMarch 7,2014.
  27. ^"Diamond Comics Distributors Award Winners Announced".
  28. ^"Great Graphic Novels 2014".YALSA. 30 January 2014.RetrievedMarch 7,2014.
  29. ^"March: Book One wins Robert F. Kennedy Book Award -- Special Recognition!".Retrieved10 July2014.
  30. ^"2014 Eisner Award Nominees Announced".Comic Book Resources.15 April 2014.Retrieved14 October2015.
  31. ^"The 2014 Harvey Award Nominations are Revealed".IGN.16 July 2014.Retrieved14 October2015.
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