The story of Stagger Lee; Stack-o-Lee; Stacker Lee; the names changes depending on the teller or singer of the folk song that stems from a true story. Lee Shelton killed Billy Lyons in a turn of the century (20th century) bar fight over a Shelton's Stetson hat. The story has been differently interpreted over the years by musicians ranging from prison inmates, Ma Rainey, Bama, Bob Dylan, Nick Cave, the Clash, and countless others. The book is a bit confusing at first because the authors intertwine a fictional love story, but once you get into it, it's a good read. Illustrations are not up to Spielgelman caliber, but are original, creative, and well-done. ( )

The historical events that inspired the famous song are fictionalized, and different versions of the song examined in this compelling and beautifully drawn graphic novel.

In 1895, Lee Sheldon shoots his friend, Billy Lyons, in an argument that started with politics and ended in a fight over a Stetson hat. Sheldon, Lyon's politically important family, Sheldon's lawyer and assistant, a cat-house piano player and a mystery woman all become involved in the Lyons shooting. Interspersed with the narrative, McCulloch and Hendrix illustrate different versions of "Stagger Lee" -- the song inspired by the shooting -- and how race, gender and class all influence the interpretations.

I was genuinely surprised by how much I liked this book. This is not a period or a genre I'm usually interested in, but MuCulloch's unusual structure, and sense of narrative flow kept things interesting. Hendrix's soft-edged, sepia toned drawings bring the various personalities to life. ( )

Not much to say about this one, I only made through the first five pages. What little I read made it out to be a bland political whitewashing of a once-dramatic bit of American folklore worthy of Zora Neal Hurston. No thanks. ( )

A very interesting addition to blues literature. It builds on a previous study, which in turn built on some fine original research and was the best part of the earlier book. Makes the story come alive, and the graphic novel form either really fits this kind of thing or is a new format I just hadn't run across before much. Fun music history, which I've recommended to several friends. ( )

The evolution of the folksong about a killer so bad he can scare the devil is traced back to the original 1895 St. Louis barroom shooting. Woven together with the folklore study is the author's story based on the historical events and the similar evolution of the songs "Frankie and Albert" and "Duncan and Brady," which have their roots in the same place and time period. ( )