A novel about the triumph of graphic novels and the highs and lows of DIY art.
A person without comics is blind.
Those without comic books are blind.
In 1954, the German-American psychiatrist Fredric Wertham wrote "Seduction of the Innocent", a pamphlet that led to unprecedented self-censorship within the comic industry in the USA with the subsequent creation of the Comic Code.
Essen-Katernberg, Germany, mid-teens: Marthe is studying at the Academy of Visual Arts and Graphic Storytelling and lives in a shared flat, which is also the home of the student publishing house Bolsterbaumhaus. She draws autobiographical animal comics, hates Donald Trump, has sex with Kurt, gets together with Oleg and sells pornographic Bible comics at the weekly market. She also manages the cruise comic "Combo" by artist Amadea. A few months later, it comes to light that 16-year-old illustrator Urs Mærzwald has drawn from "Combo" in his hyped debut and bestselling graphic novel "Onesie Canyon". While the Bolsterbaumhaus becomes the focus of an overheated public debate about the plagiarism case, existential struggles take place behind the curtain, shaking Marthe and her friends to the core.
In fast-paced, addictive language, Marc Degens tells of the triumph of graphic novels and the highs and lows of DIY art. "Seduction of the Innocent" is an extremely human comedy about the intoxication of the possible, the pitfalls of independent publishing and the fine line between plagiarism and homage.
Marc Degens, born in Essen in 1971, is a writer and program director of the publishing house SUKULTUR, which he co-founded. His first literary works were song lyrics for bands in which he played a drilling machine. He became famous with the column "Unsere Popmoderne" (Our Pop Modernity), which appeared for ten years in the FAZ and then in Volltext. Marc Degens lived in Armenia for three years and in Canada for four years and has lived in Berlin again since 2024. "Verführung der Unschuldigen" is his fifth novel and his first book published by Ventil Verlag. www.mdegens.de
Afterwards - store party! SEQUENTIAL ART has been seducing the innocent for 18 years and is enthusiastic about subcultural comics & graphic novels as well as offbeat literature. For 8 years in the store at Barni 24. We celebrate ourselves and we celebrate independent publishers and bookshops as part of the "Week of Independent Bookshops - WUB" We look forward to seeing you! Music: querbeet.
