We asked Scoop photographer Michael Solof, who is also a DJ on the internet radio station Beatlesarama (and a Beatles scholar to the nth degree) to take a look at it and give us his thoughts.

The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story
Dark Horse Comics/M Press; multiple formats

The Beatles.

Those two words carry so much weight behind them. Just take a second and think of all the things they mean to you. But to one man, they meant so much more. The new graphic novel The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story published by M Press does an incredible job of telling that tale.

Written by award winning Broadway producer Vivek J. Twiary, with art by painter Andrew C. Robinson and cartoonist Kyle Baker, this graphic novel wonderfully covers all aspects of Brian’s relationships with not only the Beatles but also many other luminaries of the time such as Ed Sullivan and Col. Tom Parker (of Elvis fame).

One of my favorite moments in the book, and there are quite a few, is when Brian sees, hears, and experiences the Beatles for the first time. It’s a universal moment that we can all relate to, when an unexpected event happens…  Time seems to stop, and a foundational change occurs which makes you forever look at life in a different way.

For Brian, seeing The Beatles in the Cavern Club on November 9, 1961 was just such a life changing moment, and it’s captured beautifully by Robinson’s art as the scene plays out over a series of panels. I really enjoyed the way this book captured many of those crucial moments in his life. He was a visionary, who upon seeing them that first time fell in love with the boys and instantly began to dream of how things could be for them even though he had no idea how to accomplish it.

At its core, this book is about dreams and searching, and particularly searching while constantly struggling with personal demons. Throughout the book, Brian imagines himself as a Spanish Matador, giving the world a grand show along with something to believe in, something to unify them, something to give them hope.

And yet, even though he devoted his life to managing the group, guiding them from a rowdy bar band to the cultural tidal wave they became, he still kept secrets that few knew. Secrets, that raised him to amazing heights while crushing him with their unfathomable weight.

The book gives insights into the many personal struggles he confronted throughout his short, 32-year life, the greatest of which was being a gay man in a time and place where that was forbidden by law and punishable by jail.

Brian was forced to live two lives: one, managing the most popular band in the world, always in the public eye, and the other a lonely, pressure-filled one, involving unhealthy personal relationships, unimaginable business demands, and the constant strain of media attention, all held together by an ever increasing dependency on drugs.

Tiwary does a phenomenal job of capturing all the highs and lows of Brian’s relationship with the lads.

His obvious love of the material shows through as he expertly draws on many first person accounts. He gets the details right. Written in an easy-to-read manner full of both emotional depth and warm humor, The Fifth Beatle portrays the band and their manager in an engaging style.

Just as Brian work complimented The Beatles, Andrew Robinson’s art, supported at times by Kyle Baker’s, stunningly captures the overall excitement of the era, while allowing you to feel the emotional impact of the more delicate moments of Brian’s life. The way Robinson is able to capture these intimate moments is both astounding and ultimately very revealing and touching.

One great example is a lovely scene that takes place early in their career as they travel at night to a gig in the back of a van. Brian and the lads are all huddled around staring at a map of Europe, flashlight in hand, the boys dreaming of being millionaires. It’s Brian who brings them down to earth, focusing them on their current task at hand, conquering Britain and becoming “The Toppermost of the Poppermost!!!”

The way the panels are drawn makes you feel like you are right there with them. The excitement of the scene is palpable and infectious. I found myself smiling along with them. I couldn’t help it (and didn’t want to!).

Not only is Robinson able to convey the fun of moments like these, but he also nails the much harder to portray moments like Brian’s pressure filled meetings with Ed Sullivan, the chilling effect of John F. Kennedy’s assassination and an oh-so-creepy business lunch with Col. Parker.

In cases where I have to review things such as this story, being a huge Beatles fan is not always a good thing. I’ve read tons of books. I’ve listened to hundreds of interviews. I’ve seen just about every documentary on the lads that is to be seen. In other words…it takes a lot to impress me.

This book did.

Ultimately, The Fifth Beatle is a wonderful study of both loneliness and hope. It is a beautifully written and illustrated story about a man who was at the very center of the storm that was The Beatles. A man who constantly longed for, but never seemed to find the love and acceptance that he so freely gave to others. It is a wonderful tribute.

Don’t forget you can catch Solof on Off The Beatle Track, his weekly internet radio show, Saturdays at 1 PM ET (10 AM PT) on Beatles-A-Rama.com.