View source for The Fifth Beatle (graphic novel)

{{short description|2013 graphic novel by Vivek Tiwary, Andrew Robinson and Kyle Baker}}
{{Infobox graphic novel
| title     = The Fifth Beatle
| image     = TheFifthBeatleBook.jpg
| caption   =
| publisher = [[Dark Horse Comics]]
| date      = November 2013
| writer    = [[Vivek Tiwary]]
| artist    = Andrew Robinson<br>[[Kyle Baker]]
}}
'''''The Fifth Beatle''''' is a [[graphic novel]] by writer [[Vivek Tiwary]], artist Andrew Robinson, and cartoonist [[Kyle Baker]].  It debuted in Italy as part as the tenth anniversary of the country's ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine and was published by [[Dark Horse Comics]] in November 2013.<ref name="BleedingCool">{{cite web | url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/12/30/vivek-tiwarys-odyssey-writing-the-fifth-beatle-look-it-moves-by-adi-tantimedh | title=Vivek Tiwary's Odyssey Writing The Fifth Beatle Graphic Novel And Film – Look! It Moves! | date=30 December 2013 | publisher=Bleeding Cool | access-date=25 February 2014}}</ref>

==Story==
The novel tells the true account of [[Brian Epstein]], the manager of [[The Beatles]], considered to be and coined as the "[[Fifth Beatle]]", so-called as he was the one who discovered the Liverpool band and was the driving force behind their worldwide success.

Despite being turned down by several record companies, Epstein believed the group would be "bigger than [[Elvis Presley|Elvis]]." To that end, Epstein seriously cleans up the band's public image, such as having them wear suits and ties as well encouraging them to continue their distinctive mop-top hairdos. So prepared, Epstein is able to masterfully promote their careers, with a major triumph being negotiating a series of headline appearances on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' by offering to cover the band's travelling expenses and accepting an unusually low payment for the appearances, which produced spectacular publicity for the band's first American concert tour. As the group grew in popularity, Epstein struggled with his sexuality, being gay at a time when it was still criminalized, and there were few options for gay men to meet publicly, and his drug addictions. After The Beatles ceased touring in 1966, he feared about their future, and his role with the group.

==Television adaptation==
After a film adaptation was announced in 2013,<ref>{{cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/the-fifth-beatle-movie-to-start-production-in-2014-1200919934/ |title='The Fifth Beatle' Movie to Start Production in 2014 |work=Variety |date=December 4, 2013}}</ref> [[Sonar Entertainment]] optioned the rights to ''The Fifth Beatle'' for development as a multi-part television event series. Tiwary will pen the series adaptation and serve as executive producer.<ref name="Deadline Hollywood">{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2016/03/the-fifth-beatle-the-brian-epstein-story-the-beatles-novel-series-sonar-entertainment-1201715561/ | title='The Fifth Beatle' Novel Optioned By Sonar For Series Development | work=Deadline Hollywood | date=7 March 2016 | access-date=7 March 2016}}</ref> The series has also acquired rights to Beatles songs from [[Sony]].

==Paperback edition==
In October 2016 ''The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story'' was released in trade paperback. The new paperback edition included new art and concept material from artist [[Kyle Baker]].<ref name="DarkHorse">{{cite web | url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Blog/2019/1-new-york-times-bestseller-fifth-beatle-heads-pap | title=#1 'NEW YORK TIMES' BESTSELLER 'THE FIFTH BEATLE' HEADS TO PAPERBACK | publisher=Dark Horse Comics| access-date=20 March 2015}}</ref>

==Reception==
''The Fifth Beatle'' was released and became a ''New York Times'' Best Seller.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2013-12-29/hardcover-graphic-books/list.html | title=Best Sellers: Hardcover Graphic Books | work=The New York Times | date=29 December 2013 | access-date=25 February 2014}}</ref> It climbed to number one in its third week. ''USA Today'' called scenes of it "touching," as well as having some "fanciful aspects."<ref name="USAToday">{{cite web | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2013/11/18/the-fifth-beatle-graphic-novel/3509135 | title=Brian Epstein's dreams remembered in 'The Fifth Beatle' | work=USA Today | date=18 November 2013 | access-date=25 February 2014 | author=Truitt, Brian}}</ref>

''The Fifth Beatle'' was named as a finalist for the prestigious 26th Annual [[Lambda Literary Award]] ("The Lammys") for "Best LGBT Graphic Novel".  2014 marks the debut of the Graphic Novel Category.<ref name="LamdbdaLiterary.org">{{cite web | url=http://www.lambdaliterary.org/features/news/03/06/26th-annual-lambda-literary-award-finalists-announced/ | title=26th Annual Lambda Literary Award Finalists Announced | date=6 March 2014 | publisher=Lambda Literary| access-date=6 March 2014}}</ref>  On March 14, 2014 ''The Fifth Beatle'' was named a finalist in Foreword Review's 16th Annual Book of the Year Awards.<ref name="forwardreviews.com">{{cite web | url=https://botya.forewordreviews.com/finalists/2013/press-release/ | title=Foreword Review's 16th Annual Book of the Year Awards | publisher=Foreword Review| access-date=14 March 2014}}</ref>

In March 2014, Andrew Robinson, artist of ''The Fifth Beatle'', was nominated for the 68th Annual National Cartoonist Society Divisional Reuben Award for "Best Graphic Novel."<ref name="Reuben.org">{{cite web | url= http://www.reuben.org/2014/03/2013-ncs-divisional-nominees/| title= 2013 NCS DIVISIONAL NOMINEES!| publisher=Reuben.org| access-date=27 March 2014}}</ref>  On May 25, 2014 it was announced that Robinson was selected as the Reuben Award Winner for "Best Graphic Novel."<ref name="ComicsReporter.com">{{cite web | url= http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/wiley_miller_wins_reuben_award_ncs_divisional_awards_announced_last_night_a/| title= NCS Divisional Awards Announced | publisher=comicsreporter.com| access-date=25 May 2014}}</ref>

In April 2014, ''The Fifth Beatle'' received two [[Eisner Award]] nominations in the categories of Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art) for Robinson and [[Eisner Award for Best Reality-Based Work|Best Reality-Based Work]].<ref name="comic-con.org">{{cite web | url= http://www.comic-con.org/awards/will-eisner-comic-industry-award-nominees-2014/| title= Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees 2014| publisher=comic-con.org| access-date=15 April 2014}}</ref>  On July 25, 2014, ''The Fifth Beatle'' received the Eisner Award for Best Reality-Based work.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comic-con.org/awards/gallery/2014-will-eisner-comic-industry-award-winners |title=2014 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Winners |date=26 July 2014 | publisher=comic-con.org| access-date=24 August 2014}}</ref>

In 2014, ''The Fifth Beatle'' was nominated for the [[Young Adult Library Services Association]] (YALSA) Award under the category "Great Graphic Novels for Teens".<ref name="ala.org">{{cite web | url= http://www.ala.org/yalsa/ggnt/nominations/| title= 2014 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Nominations| publisher=American Library Association| access-date=12 May 2014}}</ref> The winner of this award will be announced in January 2015.{{update inline|date=December 2020}}

''The Fifth Beatle'' creative team, including Tiwary, Robinson and Baker, have been selected as guests at the 14th annual [[Library of Congress]] [[National Book Festival]] on August 30, 2014 in Washington, D.C. U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] and First Lady [[Michelle Obama]] were honorary chairs for the event.<ref name="loc.gov">{{cite web | url= https://www.loc.gov/bookfest/authors/| title= Library of Congress Book Festival| publisher=Library of Congress| access-date=14 May 2014}}</ref>

In June 2014, ''The Fifth Beatle'' was nominated for a True Believers Comics Award for "Favourite 2013 Original Graphic Novel".<ref name="truebelieverscomicawards.com">{{cite web | url= http://www.truebelieverscomicawards.com/vote.html| title= True Believer Awards| access-date=16 June 2014}}</ref>

''The Fifth Beatle'' was also announced as an INDIEFAB 2013 GOLD Winner for Graphic Novels & Comics.<ref name="INDIEFAB">{{cite web | url= https://indiefab.forewordreviews.com/winners/2013/graphic-novels-and-comics-all/| title= Indiefab Awards| access-date=30 June 2014}}</ref>

In July 2014, ''The Fifth Beatle'' was nominated for two [[Harvey Award]]s, "Best Graphic Album - Original" and "Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation".<ref>{{cite web |last=Hauman |first=Glenn |url=http://www.harveyawards.org/2014/07/16/announcing-the-2014-harvey-award-final-ballot/ |title=Announcing the 2014 Harvey Award Final Ballot! |publisher=Harvey Awards |date=16 July 2014 |access-date=24 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720163521/http://www.harveyawards.org/2014/07/16/announcing-the-2014-harvey-award-final-ballot/ |archive-date=20 July 2014 }}</ref>  On September 6, 2014 at [[Baltimore Comic-Con]], ''The Fifth Beatle'' won two [[Harvey Award]]s for "Best Graphic Album - Original" and "Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation".<ref name="washingtonpost.com">{{cite news | url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/09/07/2014-harvey-awards-broadway-producers-the-fifth-beatle-yields-humbling-twin-honors-full-winners-list/| title= 2014 HARVEY AWARDS: Broadway producer's 'Fifth Beatle' yields 'humbling' twin wins [+FULL WINNERS LIST]| newspaper= The Washington Post| access-date=7 September 2014}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
* {{official website|http://thefifthbeatle.com/}}

{{The Beatles literature}}
{{Dark Horse Comics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fifth Beatle}}
[[Category:2013 graphic novels]]
[[Category:2013 LGBTQ-related literary works]]
[[Category:Biographical graphic novels]]
[[Category:Music-themed comics]]
[[Category:Books about the Beatles]]
[[Category:Graphic novels set in the 1960s]]
[[Category:Graphic novels set in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Dark Horse Comics graphic novels]]
[[Category:Eisner Award winners]]
[[Category:2010s LGBTQ novels]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of the Beatles]]
[[Category:LGBTQ-related graphic novels]]