My friends over at Civil War Historian magazine’s Message Board directed me to a very impressive-looking graphic novel project that is underway depicting the controversial life of Confederate General Patrick Cleburne.

It is titled “CLEBURNE The Graphic Novel” and is being produced by Justin Murphy. After visiting the author’s mySpace page and viewing the scrollable interior thumbnails of the comic, I must say that I am VERY impressed. Civil War comics have disappointed me in the past, but this truly is a graphic novel of epic proportions.

According to Justin Murphy’s blog bio: The controversial and true story of Irish immigrant and Confederate General Patrick Cleburne and his plan to enlist slaves to fight for the South during the American Civil War. According to Cleburne’s proposal all African Americans who served the Confederacy as soldiers would receive their freedom upon enlistment. This was a revolutionary concept for its day and sent Cleburne’s life spiraling down a perilous road. Set during the critical year of 1864, and culminating in the bloody Battle of Franklin, CLEBURNE is a tale of unbeatable courage in the face of racism, conspiracy and war. CLEBURNE is a 200-page, full color Graphic Novel with a creative team that includes author & artist Justin Murphy (a 2006 award winning playwright at the New York International Fringe Festival), inker Al Milgrom (a Marvel Comics veteran who has worked on books like The Incredible Hulk & X Factor), and colorist J. Brown (Marvel Comic’s Civil War & Captain America). Upon publication date of November 2008 readers will be able to find CLEBURNE at their local comics shops and bookstores or online at: www.rampartpress.com.

I can’t wait to get a copy of what looks to be a highly original and wonderfully illustrated story of one of the south’s greatest patriots.