I was busy when this book arrived, so I didn’t read it as quickly as I could have. I eventually did have the time while on a flight and immediately regretted having not picked it up earlier. This is a fascinating look into the life of Steve McQueen in both text and graphics.
Steve McQueen: Full Throttle Cool is a graphic novel written as a biography about the actor/racer. From his hardscrabble, tough beginnings to his fast-paced rise to stardom, the book covers his life as he found heights and pitfalls. Somewhere in there, he discovered racing.
I’m not sure whether I’m an actor who races or a racer who acts.
McQueen became famous in films like Bullitt and The Great Escape and, my personal favorite, Papillion. He was also an all-around gear head and a serious race car driver. When he finally produced and starred in Le Mans, McQueen was already at the pinnacle.
There’s no doubt that Steve McQueen is an American icon. When his cars, left from his estate after he died, come up for auction, there is a lot of public interest. Even now, years after his death, his film roles and Hollywood racetrack lifestyle are emulated and loved by millions.
This is an excellent look into his life, told through words and art. Well worth the read. Steve McQueen: Full Throttle Cool was written by Dwight Jon Zimmerman, who you might recognize from other graphic novels, and was illustrated by Greg Scott, long-time comic book artist whose worked at places like Marvel and DC Comics. You can find the book on Amazon.
We’d like to thank the Zimmerman, Scott, and Motorbooks (the publisher) for sending us this novel for review.
