Andrew Aydin

Andrew Aydin
Aydin at a book signing for March: Book One at Midtown Comics in Manhattan
Born	(1983-08-25) August 25, 1983 Atlanta, Georgia
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Trinity College (BA) Georgetown University (MA)
Occupation	Political aide, Graphic novelist

Andrew Aydin (born August 25, 1983) is an American politician and award-winning comics writer, known as the Digital Director & Policy Advisor to Georgia congressman John Lewis, and co-author, with Lewis, of Lewis' #1 New York Times bestselling^[1] autobiographical graphic novel trilogy March—with Representative John Lewis, which debuted in 2013 by Top Shelf Productions.

Early life

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.

Career

An Atlanta native, Aydin grew up reading and collecting comic books. After college, upon taking a job with Congressman Lewis, Aydin learned that the civil rights legend 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 decided to write a graphic novel together about the civil rights era. The March series was born in 2013.

Aydin wrote his master’s thesis on the history and impact of Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story. His best-selling graphic novels March: Book One and March: Book Two are taught in high schools and colleges across the country. Aydin frequently lectures about the history of comics in the civil rights movement and has appeared as a guest on The Rachel Maddow Show, National Public Radio, CBS This Morning, CNN, and the BBC. He is a presenter at the San Diego Comic-Con and at U.S. corporations.

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."^[2]

Aydin currently serves as Digital Director & Policy Advisor to Representative Lewis in his Washington, D.C. office. Previously, he served as Communications Director and Press Secretary during Rep. Lewis' 2008 and 2010 re-election campaigns. Prior to joining Rep. Lewis' staff, Aydin served as District Aide to Representative John B. Larson (D-CT) and as Special Assistant to Connecticut Lieutenant Governor Kevin Sullivan.

Civil rights comics

In August 2013, Top Shelf Productions published the first book in the March trilogy, a black and white graphic novel about the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, told through the perspective of Lewis, written by Lewis and Aydin, and illustrated and lettered by Nate Powell.^[3] The book had its genesis in Lewis' 2008 reelection campaign, when Lewis told Aydin about the The Montgomery Story and its influence on the civil rights movement.^[4] 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,^[5] 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.^[6]

March: Book One holds an average 9.4 out of 10 rating at the review aggregator website Comic Book Roundup, based on five reviews.^[7] In addition to receiving positive reviews,^[8][9] it won numerous awards and accolades,^[10][11][12] and was selected for college-level reading lists.^[13][14] and Marquette University.^[15] March: Book Two was released in 2015. In May 2016, NYC Public Schools announced that the March trilogy was added to the systemwide 8th Grade "Passport to Social Studies" curriculum. ^[16]

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.^[17][18]

Awards and honors

Aydin is the recipient of the 2014 Coretta Scott King Book Award Author Honor,^[19] the 2013 Gem Award (Independent Graphic Novel of the Year)^[20] and the 2014 YALSA Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens.^[21]

In March 2014 Aydin and co-authors received a Special Recognition award at the 2014 Robert F. Kennedy Book Awards.^[22]

That same year, Aydin’s work on March was nominated for two Eisner Awards: Best Publication for Teens & Best Reality-Based Work.^[23] Aydin's work was also nominated for two Harvey Awards: Best Graphic Album – Original & Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation.^[24]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Andrew Aydin.

• Appearances on C-SPAN