Bobby Fischer: The Knight Who Killed the Kings
This is the place where you can find and read each chapter of the Graphic Novel “Bobby Fischer: The Knight Who Killed the Kings.” You can also find the links for the YouTube videos done by Kevin Butler. Feel free to share with a friend or leave a comment if you enjoy it.
“You make a move where your opponent will be, not where he is”
Chapters
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 Click on the links below to download each chapter as a PDF file. |
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Videos
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That was excellent! Can’t wait for the next chapter.
Glad you liked it. Chapter 2 is even more awesome
Just beginning to look over ALL of your site…Bobby Fisher was excellent, a lot was being said between the chapter’s written dialogue me thinks. The artwork by Rivenis was super made me think of my ol’ motion picture storyboards – don’t know why but consider it a further compliment…
Will look over your blog etc later when I have a little more time.
Thanks for your encouraging compliment, Bruce.
The reason the story reminded you a movie sequence is because I tell it visually. I’m glad you noticed that.
This was a great chapter! Honestly, the cover looks brilliant and the illustrations are great. My only little nitpick is the story seems to make a lot of jumps, however, I don’t know how one could get around that. Either way, when this is complete and the hardcover is ready, I’ll be purchasing it as a gift for a teacher of mine. Keep it up! Any ideas on how many chapters this work will be? Any estimates on completion? Again, can’t wait for the hardcover!
John,
I, too, love Rivenis’ artwork. The guy is amazing and his work is exceptional. The hardcover would be very sexy, and I’m sure that your teacher will love it.
I intentionally wrote the first chapter this way: When you hold the book, you will be turning the first pages quickly (because of the short dialogue) and at the end, as the dialogue becomes longer, you’ll slow down, you’ll change your pace. So, I wanted the reader to start jumping, and then slow down. But the other chapters have different timeline as the story begins to have a plot. And, although we didn’t have a plot at the beginning of chapter 1, we did have some important “memories” from Fischer’s childhood—and a look at his character!
This story concludes in 10 chapters. I haven’t decided yet if I’ll divide the final chapter into smaller chapters or not. So, things may change as we go along.
Thank you for your interest and for giving me an excuse to explain some things.
Mr. Theocharous,
Surely! Thinking about it, I will definitely be getting several copies for some very close people and myself
Ah, now it makes sense. It is quite a refreshing approach, and the reasoning to it is sound. I mean, I really did feel Fischer’s character with your story, and the images added to that excellent intimate emphasis.
Of course Fischer’s history is known, but I’m extremely interested in how Rivenis and yourself will forge a strong account of Fischer’s story in an exciting and very original way. It certainly is promising and truly does hold so much potential!
Comics is a medium that demands the participation of the reader in a completely different way. So if you feel something, or if you make voices or sounds, if you play little movies between the panel spaces, it is because you have extended imagination. But if the reader doesn’t want to participate in this story’s journey, there’s nothing Rivenis or I could do to change that.
Fischer’s story, as you said, is well known, but it is difficult to portray it as a fiction story. For example, the movie Pawn Sacrifice (http://scriptshadow.blogspot.com/2009/12/pawn-sacrifice.html) had a very weak script at the early stages of development. I hope that they’ve fixed the problematic story elements.
But doing the story in this medium, I found that there are powerful possibilities to depict Fischer’s character and story, and I’m sure the readers will find the story of this graphic novel as much exciting and inspiring as I do.
Great Job… Very enjoyable. Looking forward to the coming capthers
Thanks for reading, Morgan.
Xenios, you have great talent, all very interesting and nicely done, really great job:)
Thanks for the comment, Leszek. You know, Rivenis and I are working really hard for this project and we both appreciate your appreciation for it.
This is absolutely beautiful, I can’t even describe it. Words are ineffable.
Are you guys planning to have this printed onto hard copies?
I would buy one.
I love how you guys are portraying bobby’s personality, and accuratly presenting his journey through chess. He was the greatest.
You guys keep up it
Thanks for the complements. Although this book is not meant to be—or to be read as—a webcomic, I’ve decided to publish it here for free until its completion. The final result is going to be a hardcover, high quality printed, tangible book, and you will be able to get a copy from amazon.com or bookdepository.com (where they offer free shipping worldwide).
As you said, this book shows Fischer’s journey in the world of chess, and with chapter 4, the reader will be able to enter that world and follow Bobby (and Spassky) to the bitter end.
This was posted 17th March 2012, at the end of Chapter Four, with Chapter Five onwards yet to be published.
This is fascinating and very well presented. Congratulations.
A huge question mark is how close to the truth it is and will be later. Could you clarify that, please? To explain the source of my concern, if it helps with your reply, this is labelled a novel, suggesting fiction, but the real Bobby Fischer is clearly the main character. I’m concerned that unless truth is meticulously adhered to, Fischer’s image will unfairly suffer. But if truth is meticulously followed, it won’t qualify as a novel, will it? Would a true depiction in this drawn format not be more accurately described as a ‘graphic biography’, or something along those lines?
My main concern is Fischer’s image. The poor guy has, to some extent, been misunderstood over the years, IMHO.
Thanks.
Cassie,
You ask, “A huge question mark is how close to the truth it is and will be later. Could you clarify that, please?” and you also mention, “… this is labelled a novel, suggesting fiction, but the real Bobby Fischer is clearly the main character.”
During my research on Bobby, I concluded that there are two kinds of truths: truths with a lower case ‘t’, and Truths with an uppercase ‘T’.
Many analysts of Bobby’s games, as well as his few biographers, but also those who met him—all these are saying truths about Bobby, that is, events, behaviors, sayings, discussions, conversations, feelings, memories, anecdotes, events, descriptions, revelations, disclosures, that more or less are true and real.
In my opinion, if someone wants to explore (publicly through a medium) the Truth, he should do it through, what McLuhan calls, a Hot—not Cool—medium. (Marshall McLuhan will appear in Chapter 6 to explain Fischer’s approach to chess!!)
In novels, movies—art in general—when it is raining, the rain means more than just a mere meteorological condition. Fiction often reveals Truths dressed as “lies” (I prefer different words than lies like ‘imagination’, ‘art’, ‘illusion’, ‘inspiration’, etc.). Fischer’s life—if it is seen through a Hot medium—reveals a staggering Truth. That’s what I’m trying to do with this comic (as best I can).
Your concern about Fischer’s image is valid. The huge debasement of his name, mainly from the media, unjustly painted a disappointing caricature of a mad man. But I hope that this book, will show a different, more colorful (though black and white) image of the man.
Cassie, thank you for your interest in this project. It is very much appreciated.
Fun stuff guys. Lots of great elements there.
Mike Magnan
Thanks, Mike.
Thanks, Mike.
This is fantastic; my two favourite pass times merged into one, absolute bliss. Thank you so much for this I am very much anticipating the next chapter. Can not wait!
You’re welcome, Joe. Chapter 5 is coming in a few weeks.
it i9s very nice
i like it
Thank you!
When is the next chapter coming?
I’m publishing chapter 5 next week.
Chapter six was AMAZING, when is the next one coming?
Jarrod, I think you meant to say “Chapter five” (not six). Well, anyway, thanks for reading. I also love this chapter myself!
Chapter six is coming this fall, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as well.
I’ve repeatedly enjoyed all of it so far. Can’t wait for more. It’s truly amazing. Wonderful idea. UNWORLDLY!! Impeccable depiction. Keep up the good work.
Taufiq, thank you for the encouragement. I really am most grateful.
I’m sure were all waiting eagerly for the next chapter. Any ideas as to when that might be?
Chapter 6 took longer to be completed; that’s mainly my fault as I was focusing my attention on some other things the last couple of months.
Expect a publication of chapter 6, by the end of this month or the first weeks of November the latest.
Thanks for the interest, Taufiq.
I love the chapters! However, I would just like to point out that in chapter 2, I believe that the move Bobby and Tal were discussing in the hospital is Qc6+. But other than that, I can’t wait for the next chapter!
I notice that you put “Kingscrusher” on what looks like a cigar box in chapter 5.
I really loved the comic. It extracts so much from Fischer’s life events. Also the drawings are so impressive and like the “darkish” theme it has.
Good job fellows!
(btw, I was refered here from “thechesswebsite” youtube channel.)
Awesome! Where’s chapter 6? Can’t wait to read it
@Richard Farcet:
Thanks for reading the chapters. I believe they are talking about a king move, and you can see this in the two panels in page 9 of the second chapter. Remember that Fischer was using the old algebraic notation. So he wanted to move his king to the second square of the queen file.
@Grant Li:
Dear friend, you have quite an eye for details! I’m glad you noticed this. I like putting these small details here and there.
@Ahmed Shalaby:
Thank you for the comment, Ahmed. I hope that you’ll like Chapter 6 also.
@Andre:
Chapter 6 is now up. Please let me know if you like it, as I find this chapter very interesting.
I want to thank all of you for the encouraging comments, which I always welcome and find very inspiring.
This is a fictional story ? Or those things actualy happened ?!
The story is fictional, but it’s based on the events that took place back then…
Although this Graphic Novel cannot be seen as a historic one, you can read and view in it the events that actually happened. In addition, a lot of Truths are covered.
It is amazing, accurate and with a dark side to it.
I am looking forward to see the rest.
You should translate it into other languages as well.
Super indeed.
I’m glad you like this project, Serena. Thanks for the suggestion!