At Age 204, Charles Darwin Gets Animated

Check out scenes from the new comic “Darwin: A Graphic Biography” by Eugene Byrne and Simon Gurr

Leah Binkovitz

February 12, 2013

Eugene Byrne and Simon Gurr wanted to celebrate Darwin’s lifelong spirit of curiosity and bring the message to kids with their new graphic novel. Darwin: A Graphic Biography

He occasionally went to extreme lengths to collect and document his findings. Darwin: A Graphic Biography

His time spent traveling helped him produce The Origin of Species. Darwin: A Graphic Biography

In 1835, he traveled to the Galapagos Islands where his theories developed further. Darwin: A Graphic Biography

His father had plans for him that Darwin did not share. Darwin: A Graphic Biography

During the five years of travel, Darwin filled his notebook with observations. Darwin: A Graphic Biography

Given the opportunity to travel with the HMS Beagle, Darwin discovered a whole new world that piqued his interest. Darwin: A Graphic Biography

For this year’s celebration of Charles Darwin’s birthday, check him out in a new graphic novel that’s as smart and entertaining as he was. Journalist Eugene Byrne and illustrator Simon Gurr teamed up on their third historical graphic novel to tell the naturalist’s tale of discovery and personal evolution (get it?). Beginning with the days when young Darwin was a curious boy whose failure to succeed in the medical field irked his father, the novel shows that it was the naturalist’s curiosity and persistence that allowed him to eventually flourish. A botany professor invited him to travel aboard the now-famous HMS Beagle.

Enjoy some select scenes from Smithsonian Books’ new, Darwin: A Graphic Biography.

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