SelfMadeHero lands English rights to acclaimed graphic novel “Guantánamo Kid”

By John Freeman on October 9, 2018

UK independent graphic novel publisher SelfMadeHero has acquired world English language rights to a landmark graphic biography about Guantánamo Bay, the United States detention camp in Cuba.

Guantánamo Kid: The True Story of Mohammed El-Gharani is a compelling, deeply moving story about one of Guantánamo Bay’s youngest detainees. Mohammed El-Gharani was incarcerated for almost eight years, between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one, before being released without charge.

Published last year as Guantanamo Kid – L’histoire vraie de Mohammed el-Gorani by French publisher, Dargaud, Guantánamo Kid is written by the journalist and researcher specialised in Sudan, South Sudan and Chad, Jérôme Tubiana. He first told El-Gharani’s story in a diary piece for the London Review of Books.

Jerome has worked as a researcher specialising mostly on conflict in Darfur as well as other parts of Sudan (South Kordofan and Blue Nile) and South Sudan, for various NGOs, most notably the International Crisis Group (for which he has been Sudan Senior Analyst 2012-15). Prior to that he has been working as a journalist and photographer, covering in particular conflict in the Horn of Africa.

Along with his work for the London Review of Books, he’s author of various articles in magazines such as Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy and Le Monde diplomatique, and books, notably Chroniques du Darfour, published by Glénat in 2010.

It is illustrated by French artist Alexandre Franc, author of a number of graphic novels, Les Penates with Vincent Sorel for Casterman, Les Satellites with Claire de Gastold for Gallimard/ Bayou, and Cher Régis Debray with Régis Debray for Futuropolis. He’s perhaps best known for his work on the digital comic strip Professeur Cyclope.

Rights to Guantánamo Kid were acquired from Sophie Castille at Mediatoon.

“We’re thrilled to have secured the rights to this graphic biography,” says Emma Hayley, SelfMadeHero’s MD. “In Guantánamo Kid, Jérome Tubiana tells a harrowing and important story based on his many meetings with Mohammed El-Gharani.

“The graphic novel will be a good vehicle for highlighting the issues raised by El-Gharani’s imprisonment, torture and interrogation”.

• Guantánamo Kid: The True Story of Mohammed El-Gharani will be published in the UK and US by SelfMadeHero in Spring 2019 | SelMadeHero is online at selfmadehero.com

Guantánamo Kid: The True Story of Mohammed El-Gharani © Jérôme Tubiana & Alexandre Franc

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John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.