By Water: The Felix Manz Story

by Jason Landsel, Sankha Banerjee (Illustrator)

Overview

ACTION-PACKED GRAPHIC NOVEL PERFECT FOR FANS OF THE BOXERS AND SAINTS SERIES 

• New York Public Library “Spring 2025 Picks for Teens”

Five hundred years ago, in an age marked by war, plague, inequality and religious coercion, there were people across Europe who dared to imagine a society of sharing, peace, and freedom of conscience. These radicals were ready to die for their vision. They were executed by thousands – by water, by fire, and by sword – in both Catholic and Protestant states. Their story comes to life in this graphic novel, the first in a series that dramatically recreates a little-known chapter in the history of the Reformation.

By Water is the historically accurate account of young people standing up for their convictions against the corrupt political and religious leaders of their day.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781636080536
Publisher:	Plough Publishing House, The
Publication date:	03/21/2023
Series:	Heroes of the Radical Reformation , #1
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	7.62(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Jason Landsel is a New York-based writer and illustrator with a lifelong fascination with the history of social and religious radicalism. He is a regular contributor to Plough Quarterly and a member of the Bruderhof, an Anabaptist community movement that traces its roots to the Radical Reformation.

Sankha Banerjee has illustrated graphic novel adaptations of The Count of Monte Cristo and The Wind in the Willows as well as graphic historical biographies of Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., and the Wright Brothers. His works have been exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Lyon, France and the India International Centre in Delhi. He is an assistant professor in the Department of Multimedia and Animation, St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, India.

Richard Mommsen is a scriptwriter, videographer, podcast producer, and director of the Bruderhof’s historical archives.

Editorial Reviews

An ambitious biography – in graphic-novel style – of an early Anabaptist martyr. Intriguing watercolors – evocative of both Hieronymus Bosch and 1970s pop art – precede the opening pages. … The chapters that follow use accessible language and abundant visual cues in softly colored, action-packed art. Other historical figures come into play as Manz journeys from eager university student to zealous reformer to renegade leading an intentional Christian pacifist community. Under penalty of death, Manz refuses to stop performing adult baptisms – considered heretical – and he utters some of Jesus’ final words as he dies.” —Kirkus Reviews 

“Opens a fascinating window into the Reformation, not only as a period of great religious upheaval, but also as the growing pangs of a society struggling to emerge from the past.” —Mark Russell, Eisner Award-winning author, Not All Robots and My Bad

“Tense, compelling, and informative … in an exciting narrative style that delivers information as a seamless part of the action. … A remarkable graphic novel.” —Foreword Reviews 

“Visually arresting... The Felix Manz story could have easily devolved into a dense, boring history lesson. Instead, it's a stylishly dynamic exploration of a tempestuous internal life… An urgent and relevant saga.” —Comic Book Couples Counseling 

“A lesser-known chapter in the history of Protestantism, the story of Felix Manz is an absorbing journey of enlightenment, rebellion, and sacrifice. … The art by Banerjee is gorgeous; evocative of illuminated manuscripts, stained glass, and the mosaics that make up the medieval art of the age.” —School Library Journal 

“Landsel and his team breathe new life into a high-stakes tale that can come across as dusty and distant if left to the realm of history books. The tone and word choices are appropriate for most teens — and most adults — though they carry an edge that makes sense for a story of life and death.” —Anabaptist World 

“By Water is a book driven by its art. From manuscript illuminations to woodcuts and portraiture, many of the images and scenes are drawn from real pieces from the 16th century....I found By Water to be a delight.” —Christian Century   

From the Publisher

2022-12-14
An ambitious biography—in graphic-novel style—of an early Anabaptist martyr.

Intriguing watercolors—evocative of both Hieronymus Bosch and 1970s op art—precede the opening pages. Each of nine subsequent chapters begins with one calligraphic title page and one page of pseudo-medieval art. The first chapter grabs readers’ attention by depicting beheaded saints—heads held in their hands—and showing several frames of a gang of boys beating another boy and calling him a bastard. A young, bloodied Felix Manz speaks plainly of his absentee father, who was a priest. A double-page spread gives an overview of the setting of Manz’s childhood in the church-ruled city of Zurich, known for its mercenary fighters. Readers meet Manz’s devoted mother, join a crowd celebrating Zurich’s patron saints, learn of Manz’s privileged schooling, and glimpse his nascent religious fervor. The chapters that follow use accessible language and abundant visual cues in softly colored, action-packed art. Other historical figures come into play as Manz journeys from eager university student to zealous reformer to renegade leading an intentional Christian pacifist community. Under penalty of death, Manz refuses to stop performing adult baptisms—considered heretical—and he utters some of Jesus’ final words as he dies. Despite the thoughtful introductory note from Landsel and abundant backmatter, readers who lack a background in Christian theology and Reformation-era history may be perplexed.

Engaging but best understood by initiates. (historical figures, timeline, historical notes, Felix Manz’s hymn, bibliography) (Graphic nonfiction. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews