The Beatles taught us that love is all you need.
More than forty years after breaking up, the rock band from Liverpool continues to fascinate and inspire people with their body of music. Fans love the group’s deep, introspective lyrics, groundbreaking accomplishments in the studio and their messages of peace and love. But there is one aspect of the Beatles’ story that tends to be overlooked.
Brian Epstein discovered the Beatles and became their manager in 1961. In the span of five years, he took the band to “the toppermost of the poppermost” and helped them become famous before dying of a drug overdose at the age of 32 in 1967. Following the Beatles’ disbandment, Brian became a mere footnote in their impressive story. Now, he is the focus of a graphic novel written by Vivek Tiwary. Published by Dark Horse Comics,
The Fifth Beatle is being adapted as a film by director Peyton Reed.
Rather than a “rags to riches” narrative, the graphic novel is more of a character study of Brian, who was never truly able to be himself. Born into a Jewish family, he was forced to hide the fact he was gay, because homosexuality was outlawed in 1960s conservative-minded England. Unable to find his niche in the military and drama school, Brian sells records at his father’s NEMS music store in Liverpool. He hears about the Beatles’ popularity and sees them performing at the Cavern Club.
After deciding to manage the band, Brian is determined to make the Beatles “bigger than Elvis”, but most record labels dismiss his ambitious vision with laughter. When producer George Martin signs the band to Parlophone Records, the group begins their rise to fame in the United Kingdom and America. As the Beatles’ popularity grows, Brian has to deal with his own problems while handling the group’s financial interests. Being gay, he has to keep quiet about his private life, while struggling with a drug addiction. When the Beatles stop touring in 1966, he begins to worry about his role in the group as they become a studio band.
As the “Fifth Beatle” of the title, Brian himself comes off as a likeable, flawed protagonist. While much of the plot focuses on the Beatles’ success, he remains the heart and soul of the story. Brian genuinely cares about the band, and all four members view him as a friend. When faced with his own mistakes, he strives to do the right thing, and he hopes the group will go on forever. Brian’s relationship with his father Harry and mother Queenie is a stable and loving bond between parents and son. One of the more tender moments is when Brian agrees to be godfather to John’s newborn son, Julian. It is a heartfelt scene, because Brian longs for a family of his own while having to keep quiet about his sexuality.
Having researched the story for twenty years, Tiwary depicts the supporting characters in Brian’s life with accuracy. John Lennon’s acerbic wit and sensitive nature is displayed in his dealings with Epstein- whether discussing business or on a holiday to Ibiza, Spain. He tends to joke and tease Brian, but they are shown to have a solid friendship. Of all the Beatles, the most fleshed-out is Paul McCartney, whose earnestness and interest in the music business shows ambition. His desire to learn more sparks many discussions with Brian regarding their future; this leads to an important moment in the story’s climax. Although they don’t get much focus, George Harrison’s cheeky sense of humor and Ringo Starr’s easygoing, loveable charm are presented.
The Fifth Beatle is presented as a straightforward story with fantasy moments to illustrate Brian’s life. In a rare example of artistic license, original drummer Pete Best is briefly shown with the band, but his dismissal is not depicted (Tiwary has stated the sacking of Best will be dealt with in the film adaptation). Another amusing scene has Ed Sullivan conducting business negotiations via a ventriloquist dummy. The final scenes are intercut with a groggy Brian trying to sleep while having vivid hallucinations. Perhaps the most heartbreaking moment occurs with his assistant Moxie wonders about how Brian could have been saved from his tragic fate.
Of the artwork, Andrew Robinson and Kyle Baker’s style is vivid and impressive, especially in capturing Brian’s story and the period known as the “Swinging Sixties.” The graphic novel starts in grimy, rainy Liverpool, which is depicted in bleak tones of black, blue and grey. From there, the art progresses to brighter tones the Summer of Love’s colorful vibrancy. Specifically, the use of a matador baiting a bull makes for a compelling metaphor for Brian’s character arc. When Brian meets Elvis Presley’s manager to discuss business, the Colonel is presented as a gluttonous Svengali in an exaggerated style. In one humorous scene, Baker pays homage to the 1960s Beatles cartoon by having the band being chased through the Philippines.
The Fifth Beatle is a stellar graphic novel and one of the more interesting depictions of the Fab Four. By focusing on Brian Epstein, Tiwary succeeds in telling a human story about a person who wanted love but never received it.
Special thanks to author Vivek Tiwary for allowing permission to use
The Fifth Beatle cover.