Johnny Cash: I See a Darkness (GN)

Graphic novel name: Johnny Cash: I See a Darkness
Artist and writer: Reinhard Kleist
Publisher: Abrams Comic Arts
An imprint of ABRAMS 115 west 18th street, New York, New York 10011
Cover illustrated @ 2007 by: Reinhard Kleist
ISBN: 978-0-8109-8463-9
English version – 2009. First published in Germany by Carlsen Verlag GmbH in 2006
Format: black and white illustrations to go with text.
207 pages told in three parts.
Part one 1935- 1856
Part two – 1957-1967
Part three – January 1968
Cost at time of publication in US - $ 18.95
Non-fiction and biographical
Reviewed by: Allen Klingelhoets


The graphic novel gives lots of insights about how Johnny Cash got his start in music business. How even in the early days Johnny met Elvis Presley. The graphic novel tells how drugs and alcohol nearly killed Johnny Cash. The art of Reinhard Kleist was very visually dark. I think corresponded with darkness Johnny Cash felt in early career. He was not happy in first marriage. The story showed how his career sky rocketed. He though was emotionally crippled by drugs and alcohol.

The story tells how in Johnny’s youth death of his older brother would haunt him well into adult life. His brother was shown to be spirit guiding Johnny during difficult times. I think like Jesus helping individuals during difficult times. His brother was helping Johnny bear his cross during difficult times of addiction. I got to see terrible addiction times before Folsom Prison concert. I got to see Johnny hit rock bottom with addition. I saw how Johnny went into addiction breaking withdrawal.

I saw how June Carter Cash helped Johnny by attempting to throw drugs down toilet. Times were dark for Johnny Cash. His first marriage was failing. I think this again is why Reinhard Kleist did not choose to use colors other than black and white.

I read “Johnny Cash; I See a Darkness” story five times. I gained something more each time read graphic novel. I liked how got to see how Johnny Cash first met June Carter. The world would one day see them as husband and wife. How Johnny would break free from drug addiction. How he was released from “Demon in a Bottle” called alcohol. I recalled coming book cover of Iron Man from my child-hood from Iron Man comics called “Demon in a Bottle”.




The story about Johnny Cash tells how he became a legend in life.

The book concluded with 8 full page size pages of gallery art about Johnny Cash.

This is what front cover says about Johnny Cash graphic novel.

Johnny cash was a seventeen-time Grammy winner who sold more than 90 million albums in his life time and became an icon of American music in the twentieth century. Graphic novelist Reinhard Kleist depicts Cash’s eventful life from the early sessions with Elvis Presley in 1956 through the 1968 concert in Folsom Prison, his spectacular comeback in the 1990’s and the final years before his death in 2003.

Already a best seller and award winner in Europe “Johnny Cash: I See a Darkness vividly portrays the unpredictable, turbulent life of loner, patriot, outlaw, and music business rebel with all the drama and character befitting the man who became a legend in his own lifetime.

Allen concluding note:

I also noticed in the bibliography section

I See a Darkness is a song written by William Oldham.


Allen Klingelhoets