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Andrew Aydin

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Andrew Aydin
Aydin at a book signing for March: Book One at Midtown Comics in Manhattan
Born (1983-08-25) August 25, 1983 (age 41)
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 congressman John Lewis, and co-author, with Lewis, of March, Lewis' #1 New York Times bestselling[2] autobiographical graphic novel trilogy.

Early life

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Aydin was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended the Lovett School in Atlanta, Georgia, earned a Bachelor of Arts from Trinity College and 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 Representative John B. Larson (D-CT) and as Special Assistant to Connecticut Lieutenant Governor Kevin Sullivan.

In 2007, Aydin began working for Georgia congressman John 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 of Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story. Until 2012, no history of Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story had 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 of Carlow University Professor Dr. Sylvia Rhor and comic book icon Eddie 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 in Creative Loafing's award-winning "Future of Nonviolence" issue, which was guest-edited by Lewis and Aydin.[5][6]

Aydin has appeared as a guest on The 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.

March trilogy

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Aydin at BookExpo America in 2018

In August 2013, Top Shelf Productions published the first book in the March trilogy, a black and white graphic novel about the Civil Rights Movement, told through the perspective of Lewis, written by Lewis and Aydin, and illustrated and lettered by Nate Powell.[7] The book had its genesis in Lewis' 2008 reelection campaign, when Lewis told Aydin about The Montgomery Story and its influence on the civil rights movement.[8] Aydin, who had been reading comics since his grandmother bought him a copy of Uncanny X-Men #317 off a Piggly Wiggly spinner rack when 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 Story directly influenced on the creation of March.[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 CEO Tim Cook has 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 One holds 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 at Michigan State University, Georgia State University, and Marquette University.[20] March: Book One received an "Author Honor" from the American Library Association's 2014 Coretta Scott King Book Awards. Book One also became the first graphic novel to win a Robert F. Kennedy Book Award, receiving a "Special Recognition" bust in 2014.

March: Book Two was released in 2015 and became both a New York Times bestseller for paperback graphic novels and Washington Post bestseller for paperback nonfiction books. At San Diego Comic Con in July 2016, March: Book Two won the Will Eisner Comic Industry Award for "Best Reality Based Work."

The release of March: Book Three in August 2016 brought all three volumes into the top 3 slots of the New York Times bestseller list for graphic novels for 6 consecutive weeks. In November 2016, March: Book Three was awarded the National Book Award in Young People's Literature,[21] becoming the first graphic novel to receive a National Book Award. In January 2017, the American Library Association awarded March: Book Three the 2017 Printz Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction, and the Sibert Medal. It was the first time a single book won four A.L.A. awards.[22] The trilogy received the Carter G. Woodson Book Award in 2017.[23]

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

Awards and honors

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Aydin and his co-authors on March were recipients of the 2014 Coretta Scott King Book Award Author 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 2014 Robert F. Kennedy Book Awards.[29]

That same year, March was nominated for two Eisner Awards: Best Publication for Teens & Best Reality-Based Work.[30] March was also nominated for two Harvey 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. Retrieved February 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. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  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. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  6. ^ Michaud, Debbie; Williams, Wyatt (1 August 2013). "Congressman John Lewis takes over Creative Loafing". Creative Loafing. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  7. ^ Cavna, Michael (August 12, 2013). "In the graphic novel 'March,' Rep. John Lewis renders a powerful civil rights memoir". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  8. ^ Hughes, Joseph. "Congressman John Lewis And Andrew Aydin Talk Inspiring The 'Children Of The Movement' With 'March' (Interview)". Comics Alliance. Archived from the original on 18 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  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 from the original on 18 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  11. ^ "A text titled Biography". Andrew Aydin. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  12. ^ "March: Book One #1 Reviews". Comic Book Roundup. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  13. ^ Johnson, Jim (14 August 2013). "March: Book One". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  14. ^ Sharma, Noah. "March (Book One) - Review". Weekly Comic Book Review. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  15. ^ "Coretta Scott King Book Awards - All Recipients, 1970-Present". American Library Association. 5 April 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  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 from the original on 12 January 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  19. ^ "Fall 2014 Selection". Georgia State University. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  20. ^ "About the Book". Marquette University, Office of Student Development. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  21. ^ Crucchiola, Jordan (November 16, 2016). "Here Are the 2016 National Book Award Winners". Vulture. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  22. ^ Russo, Maria (2017). "Children's Book Awards Highlight Race — and Politics". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  23. ^ "Carter G. Woodson Book Award and Honor Winners". National Council for the Social Studies. Retrieved January 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. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  26. ^ "The Coretta Scott King Book Awards". 18 January 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  27. ^ "Diamond Comics Distributors Award Winners Announced".
  28. ^ "Great Graphic Novels 2014". YALSA. 30 January 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  29. ^ "March: Book One wins Robert F. Kennedy Book Award -- Special Recognition!". Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  30. ^ "2014 Eisner Award Nominees Announced". Comic Book Resources. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  31. ^ "The 2014 Harvey Award Nominations are Revealed". IGN. 16 July 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
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