Hedy Lamarr: An Incredible Life

by William Roy, Sylvain Dorange (Illustrator)

Overview

Hollywood icon by day, unsung science genius by night.

From her native Austria to the limelight of Hollywood, Hedy Lamarr was constantly bombarded with societal limitations and personal obstacles—including her own beauty. Only through courage, ambition, and intellect would she rise to become both a cultural icon and an unparalleled inventor whose creations would alter the course of history. Creators William Roy and Sylvain Dorange use the graphic novel medium to recount the biography of a genius inventor who happened to be “The Most Beautiful Woman in the World”.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781594656194
Publisher:	Humanoids, Inc.
Publication date:	11/06/2018
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	7.70(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 18 Years

About the Author

William Roy, a passionate, self-taught artist, began his creative career as an editor and a director of documentaries. In 2014, he published his first graphic novel, De Père en FIV (La Boîte à Bulles), an autobiographical account of his experiences with IVF. He then followed up with Hedy Lamarr: An Incredible Life, illustrated by Sylvain Dorange, a project he had been inspired to write for a very long time. William Roy currently resides in Paris.

Editorial Reviews

12/10/2018

Actress Hedy Lamarr was known as “the most beautiful girl in the world,” according to Roy and Dorange, but they reveal in this amiably meandering biography that there was much more to her than beauty. Lamarr was also an amateur inventor whose patent for frequency-shifting technology was later a cornerstone for Wi-Fi. Roy repeatedly hammers home Lamarr’s struggles with sexism and the ways in which she was dismissed both for her gender and her beauty. He also emphasizes the double standard Lamarr dealt with regarding sexuality, as she was lauded for her glamour but condemned for her sexually charged earlier films and the number of sexual partners she had. Dorange’s playful and colorful art evokes Hollywood glitz but also sensitively documents emotionally intimate moments, such as Lamarr’s father encouraging her curiosity or her son informing her that she’s being honored for her inventions. The book’s climax occurs when the U.S. military turns down Lamarr’s technology for torpedoes, urging her instead to help her adopted country by going on savings bond drives. That experience leads her away from discussing her inventions publicly, and she depends on her looks for the rest of her life despite aspiring to be a producer. The book is entertaining but focuses too much on the sexist forces Lamarr dealt with, never fully establishing her as a personality in her own right. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

"“Of all the complex lives movie stars have lived, arguably none have been more complex, contradictory and fascinating than that of Hedy Lamarr...Hedy Lamarr: An Incredible Life, tells the actor’s story anew, and in the process, brings her astonishing accomplishments to life once again.... [as] a fast-paced, fun biography.”" - THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER "***Featured on Forbes Best Graphic Novels of 2018***" - Forbes "“A fascinating tale ... Thoroughly recommended.”" - TRIPWIRE "...the gorgeous comic from Humanoids is a celebration of the life and work of Lamarr." - NERDIST

From the Publisher

"...this graphic novel is wonderful. It’s a really accessible format that all ages can enjoy."

FANGIRL NATION

A fascinating tale ... Thoroughly recommended.

TRIPWIRE

"...the gorgeous comic from Humanoids is a celebration of the life and work of Lamarr."

NERDIST

Of all the complex lives movie stars have lived, arguably none have been more complex, contradictory and fascinating than that of Hedy Lamarr, the so-called “most beautiful woman in the world” was was simultaneously the star of such films as Samson and Delilah and Boom Town and also the co-creator of work that would later be used in the creation of Bluetooth technology. A new graphic novel from Humanoids, Hedy Lamarr: An Incredible Life, tells the actor’s story anew, and in the process, brings her astonishing accomplishments to life once again…. [as] a fast-paced, fun biography.

HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

"...an enjoyable tribute."

FORCES OF GEEK

"...a graphic novelization of her life from writer William Roy and artist Sylvain Dorange that you’ve gotta see."

io9

"William Roy’s sophisticated, smartly-written graphic novel moves at a brisk, energetic pace. It not only chronicles Hedy’s independence, drive, creativity, and intelligence but also accentuates her many significant yet little-known achievements beyond tinseltown."

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