A Beautiful, Bitter-Sweet Biography: Reviewing ‘In Search of Gil Scott-Heron’

In Search of Gil Scott-Heron is no ordinary biography, but rather a very personal journey by writer, Thomas Mauceri (with help from translator, James Hogan), and his quest to meet his idol. A man who was a titan of the music industry but who, sadly, died somewhat diminutively as we learn in the opening pages of this gorgeous, heartfelt graphic novel. Mauceri presents this opus from his own point of view and his own relationship with the godfather of rap (a title he never warmed to) and social activist. A man Mauceri tantalisingly got close to through snatched phone calls here and there, but whom he was never to meet in person. A man, however, who had the unenviable task of calling Gil’s family and friends to inform them of his death. A rather somber start, but certainly pulling at the reader’s emotions from the very get go. 

While the book’s narrative focusses on Mauceri’s own life, his formative years, and his discovery of Gil’s music while at college, we also get cutaway scenes depicting Gil’s own life, which are chosen purposefully to mirror Mauceri’s own experiences as a young black man facing the same obstacles Scott-Heron also experienced and the problems Gil’s generation faced, and which he railed against through his music, never really went away; social divisions, racism, political unrest and more. Gil’s fight was now Mauceri’s fight also, as we witness the young student facing racism, overt and subconscious, while also discovering the music of Scott-Heron while at university.

Being French means after his studies, Mauceri returned to France, but each time he returned to the United States, that’s when his story would starts up again. And each time it seems he is reminded of Gil Scott-Heron in some way or other. And so, as well as an appraisal of Gil Scott-Heron’s life, works and legacy we get an appraisal of a changing America, as well as a look back at its dark past and the inequalities African Americans have always endured. Fuel for a fiery young Scott-Heron, as well as fuel for the young black filmmaker, Mauceri.

Seb Piquet’s artwork on this book is a marvel to behold, especially when laying out those powerful spalsh pages I mentioned earlier. His style is somewhat loose and exaggerated for effect with colours that imply most of the book has been water-coloured. It’s full of detail, full of life, full of character. It is certainly very stylised and spot on with depictions of people and places. In some ways, it almost acts as a travelogue to some of the most amazing places in both the US and Europe. And some of the more darker places too. 

It’s an emotional, personal book, with each failed attempt to meet his hero quashed, you cannot help but root for Mauceri. And while his observations of a contemporary society in turmoil are also Scott-Heron’s, the overall tone of the graphic novel is one of admiration and legacy-building. It’s a passionate, informative, evocative and loving tribute to a man who is as relevant today as he was when he first started writing and recording so many decades ago now.  

In Search of Gil Scott-Heron is out now from Titan Comics