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One of the hardest things to do in literature is to write, unfiltered, about yourself. To truly capture who you are and where you came from in a no-holds-barred autobiographical fist fight with your ego is the epitome of storytelling. John Leguizamo takes his beatings and his triumphs and puts them altogether in a wonderful way to make up the bulk of this work, which he would go on to title “Ghetto Klown.” He worked tirelessly to adapt these writings about his life and career to a one-man stage show, followed by an HBO special that aired in 2014. Now, his story has found its true home in a beautifully bound graphic novel from Abrams Books.

Kurt Vonnegut famously said, “Do you realize that all great literature is all about what a bummer it is to be a human being? Isn’t it a relief to hear somebody say that?” Leguizamo seemingly takes these words to heart and crafts an amazing autobiographical story that chronicles his childhood, family life and tumultuous and incredible career in the limelight. For fans of his on-screen and stage work, Leguizamo can seem larger than life to those in the cheap seats. But with GHETTO KLOWN, we are treated to an honest, brutal and comedic portrayal of the trials and tribulations that he went through to become who he is today.

"John Leguizamo has had a life full of incredible experiences, but when boiled down to its core emotions, the honesty he bleeds upon the page allows for anyone to relate. While GHETTO KLOWN did work well performed by a single man, the people and places take on new meanings when they are depicted by the talents of Christa Cassano and Shamus Beyale."

The real treat, however, is how Christa Cassano and Shamus Beyale, two Brooklyn-based artists, are able to bring Leguizamo’s words to life. He is overly descriptive in his narrative, and even acted out many of the scenes depicted within this graphic novel on the stage. Yet Cassano and Beyale seem to have been a fly on the wall when these events actually happened, because their depictions are so vibrant and real that even Leguizamo is impressed by their innate ability to translate his memories onto the page. The truth of the matter is that the artists had access to a ton of photographs, and depictions directly from Leguizamo, but the caliber of their work exceeds the expectations of just a simple biographer.

Cassano opens up the book with the first 60-plus pages, depicting Leguizamo’s rough upbringing, his initial foray into acting, and his first whirlwind marriage. That is a lot of ground to cover, and Cassano paces the action and narrative in a wonderfully fluid way. Her art breathes new life into rare moments from Leguizamo’s childhood, and the reader can connect effortlessly thanks to the warm details she injects into each panel. The unsure looks she gives Leguizamo’s younger self as he gives his “performance” on the number 7 train imbue the character with a real sense of prolific uncertainty. When the reader sees Leguizamo a little older, sporting a manic fro and a chip on his shoulder as large as the collar of his coat, her art helps to accent the true journey he is going through in those important early years of his life.

Beyale also brings his best to the table as his art carries the rest of the book, depicting the ups and downs of that first marriage, and the constant self-deprecating nature of the main character. Leguizamo is incredibly candid about his troubles, both external and internal, and Beyale’s art captures all that raw emotion like lightning in a bottle. There are some interesting Hollywood tidbits peppered into the story as well, which allows Beyale to flex his muscles drawing not only Leguizamo but also Patrick Swayze, Steven Seagal and Al Pacino, who off-handedly is responsible for the title of this book. Beyale’s illustration brings the intensity to new heights when depicting the failure of Leguizamo’s first marriage, the falling out between best friends and family, and the ultimate turn his life takes when he decides to go back to the stage.

John Leguizamo has had a life full of incredible experiences, but when boiled down to its core emotions, the honesty he bleeds upon the page allows for anyone to relate. While GHETTO KLOWN did work well performed by a single man, the people and places take on new meanings when they are depicted by the talents of Christa Cassano and Shamus Beyale. To be so candid, and at times both hilarious and unforgiving, about one’s own life is a daunting task for anyone to take on. Leguizamo gives a true-to-life window into his soul, showing that it takes a special type of clown not only to entertain, but also to come to terms with the beauty and tragedy that make up the best in all of us.

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