Teaching NZ History with Graphic Novels
My nephew thought NZ history was boring until he read these graphic novels - now he’s a history buff!
For some reason our history teacher at PNBHS in the 1960’s seemed to make New Zealand history as boring as possible. We covered the New Zealand Company and the “Land Wars” - no mention was made of Wakefield’s imprisonment for abduction of an under-age heiress, nor of the gripping stories of the Hauhau, much less the extraordinary adventures of Kimble Bent, or the dramatic saga of Titokowarau, or even of the dramatic persuit of Te Kooti and the Ringatu through Te Urewera by bloodthirsty Queenites.
Lately I have begun to read Belich, Cowan, Ross, Gudgeon, Maxwell, Binney and others with growing interest in events of the 19th Century in New Zealand. This interest has inspired me to visit as many of the places where the historical encounters took place as I can - and to document my visits in this blog.
However, although English is my first language, I must admit to finding some of the texts hard going, and keeping up with the names and places confusing.
Then I discovered these two graphic novels in a bookshop - they bring the characters and the stories to life, and so aid one’s imagination when reading the scholarly tomes.
My feeling is that this method of telling the stories of New Zealand history in graphic novel format would be an engaging and appropriate way of introducing schoolchildren (and others) to this most important topic.
Not to mention the jobs the project would provide, as well as a substantial boost to our publishing industry.
So here is a quick look at the two graphic novels I bought. The stories are familiar to those who read NZ history, so I will simply show a few sample pictures along with the blurbs from the book-covers:
“Kimble Bent - Malcontent: The wild adventures of a runaway soldier in old-time New Zealand” - a graphic novel by Chris Grosz.
Published by Random House New Zealand Ltd, 2011
Back page blurb:
TARANAKI, 1860’s: TENSIONS BETWEEN MAORI AND PAKEHA OVER LAND OWNERSHIP ARE RUNNING HIGH. THE HAUHAU ARE STRATEGIZING UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF TITOKOWARU AND FORTIFYING THEIR PA. HER MAJESTY’S 57TH REGIMENT - THE DIE HARDS - ARE PREPARING TO ADVANCE, GOVERNMENT TROOPS BOLSTERED BY KEPA’S FIGHTERS. IT WAS DURING THESE TUMULTUOUS TIMES THAT KIMBLE BENT, RELUCTANT SOLDIER, DESERTED AND GAVE HIMSELF UP T0 TARANAKI MAORI.
Bent soon found himself caught up in some of the most legendary and ferocious battles of the New Zealand Wars, all the while being doggedly tracked as an outlaw with a price on his head. Based on an original book by James Cowan, “Kimble Bent Malcontent” is also the story of Bent’s remarkable life as a Pakeha Maori and his assimilation into tribal life.
Set under the brooding volcanic cone of Mt Taranaki, this book is a retelling in bold graphic style of a true-life New Zealand adventure.
Chris Grosz follows Cowan’s story without omitting any of the hair-raising episodes. His drawing style employs a lot of black so that the illustrations look like wood-cuts.
Again a helpful map is provided:
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| Sid Marsh - "Crow of Whareatua" |
Lately I have begun to read Belich, Cowan, Ross, Gudgeon, Maxwell, Binney and others with growing interest in events of the 19th Century in New Zealand. This interest has inspired me to visit as many of the places where the historical encounters took place as I can - and to document my visits in this blog.
However, although English is my first language, I must admit to finding some of the texts hard going, and keeping up with the names and places confusing.
Then I discovered these two graphic novels in a bookshop - they bring the characters and the stories to life, and so aid one’s imagination when reading the scholarly tomes.
My feeling is that this method of telling the stories of New Zealand history in graphic novel format would be an engaging and appropriate way of introducing schoolchildren (and others) to this most important topic.
Not to mention the jobs the project would provide, as well as a substantial boost to our publishing industry.
So here is a quick look at the two graphic novels I bought. The stories are familiar to those who read NZ history, so I will simply show a few sample pictures along with the blurbs from the book-covers:
“Kimble Bent - Malcontent: The wild adventures of a runaway soldier in old-time New Zealand” - a graphic novel by Chris Grosz.
Published by Random House New Zealand Ltd, 2011
Back page blurb:
TARANAKI, 1860’s: TENSIONS BETWEEN MAORI AND PAKEHA OVER LAND OWNERSHIP ARE RUNNING HIGH. THE HAUHAU ARE STRATEGIZING UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF TITOKOWARU AND FORTIFYING THEIR PA. HER MAJESTY’S 57TH REGIMENT - THE DIE HARDS - ARE PREPARING TO ADVANCE, GOVERNMENT TROOPS BOLSTERED BY KEPA’S FIGHTERS. IT WAS DURING THESE TUMULTUOUS TIMES THAT KIMBLE BENT, RELUCTANT SOLDIER, DESERTED AND GAVE HIMSELF UP T0 TARANAKI MAORI.
Bent soon found himself caught up in some of the most legendary and ferocious battles of the New Zealand Wars, all the while being doggedly tracked as an outlaw with a price on his head. Based on an original book by James Cowan, “Kimble Bent Malcontent” is also the story of Bent’s remarkable life as a Pakeha Maori and his assimilation into tribal life.
Set under the brooding volcanic cone of Mt Taranaki, this book is a retelling in bold graphic style of a true-life New Zealand adventure.
Chris Grosz follows Cowan’s story without omitting any of the hair-raising episodes. His drawing style employs a lot of black so that the illustrations look like wood-cuts.
Maps and battle-site plans help explain the story:
Sid Marsh’s story of some episodes of the Ringatu saga is more interperative, while his drawing-style is more line-based, but equally compelling and dramatic.
“Crow of Whareatua” - a graphic novel by Sid Marsh, published by Lasavia Publishing Co - 2017
www.lasaviapubishing.com
“A strange, compelling re-imagining of a dark time in the history of New Zealand” - Dylan Horrocks
Back page blurb:
“The year is 1869.
Te Kooti Arikirangi te Turuki, founder of the Ringatu religion, commands a deadly Maori guerilla force.
Te Urewera is the battle ground: a wilderness of forest, bird, mountain and waterway.
“Crow of Whareatua” brings to life a one-month period of a brutal war, one which was to shape New Zealand’s destiny”
“Crow of Whareatua” - a graphic novel by Sid Marsh, published by Lasavia Publishing Co - 2017
www.lasaviapubishing.com
“A strange, compelling re-imagining of a dark time in the history of New Zealand” - Dylan Horrocks
Back page blurb:
“The year is 1869.
Te Kooti Arikirangi te Turuki, founder of the Ringatu religion, commands a deadly Maori guerilla force.
Te Urewera is the battle ground: a wilderness of forest, bird, mountain and waterway.
“Crow of Whareatua” brings to life a one-month period of a brutal war, one which was to shape New Zealand’s destiny”
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