Graphic novel looks at original fifth Beatle Stu Sutcliffe

USA Today spotlights "Baby's in Black," by German cartoonist Arne Bellstorf. The book focuses on the love story of original Beatles bassist Stu Sutcliffe and his girlfriend, photographer Astrid Kircherr. The couple met during the Beatles' pre-fame days playing nightclubs in Hamburg.

Sutcliffe, a talented painter, elected to quit the group and stay in Hamburg, planning to marry Astrid, but tragically died of a brain hemorrhage a few months after his bandmates went back to Liverpool.

The book, featuring black-and-white, cartoon-style art, looks interesting and benefits from input from Kircherr, herself.

According to Bellstorf:
 "We both tend to think in pictures, she's a very visual person, and she basically liked the idea of seeing her story being told in little black-and-white panels.
"There was a kind of mutual confidence between Astrid and I from the very beginning, and I soon felt comfortable with telling 'her' story. I mean, love is such a universal thing, and of course I was touched by her tragic love story and could relate to this existential experience of losing someone so young."

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