Ben Passmore Book Signing at Multiverse
Multiverse–a local book and comic book store in Northwest Philly–is hosting writer and artist Ben Passmore for the release of his newest graphic novel, Black Arms To Hold You Up: A History Of Black Resistance, a New York Times Best Graphic Novel Of The Year (2025) and New York Public Library Best Book of the Year.
The book’s story starts in the summer of 2020, and downtown Philly is up in flames. “You’re not out in the streets with everyone else?” Ronnie asks his ambivalent son, Ben, shambling in with arms full of used books: the works of Malcom X, Robert F. Williams, Assata and Sanyika Shakur, among others. “Black liberation is your fight, too.”
So begins Black Arms to Hold You Up, a boisterous, darkly funny, and sobering march through Black militant history by political cartoonist Ben Passmore. From Robert Charles’s shootout with the police in 1900, to the Black Power movement in the 1960s, to the Los Angeles and George Floyd uprisings of the 1990s and 2020, readers will tumble through more than a century of armed resistance against the racist state alongside Ben—and meet firsthand the mothers and fathers of the movement, whose stories were as tragic as they were heroic. What, after so many decades lost to state violence, is there left to fight for? Deeply researched, vibrantly drawn, and bracingly introspective, Black Arms to Hold You Up dares to find the answer.
Passmore will be visiting Multiverse (8026 Germantown Ave) on Saturday, February 28th from 1-3pm to sign copies of his book. Join us to get a copy and the chance to chat with Passmore about creating comics.
Multiverse specializes in uplifting unique stories, particularly those centering characters historically marginalized in books and comics. Co-owners Gralin and Sara Hughes established the store in October 2023 to offer a space where a wide spectrum of fans are welcome and a “multiverse” of possibilities are provided. Since that time they have welcomed thousands of visitors and produced dozens of store events annually.
More details about the event can be found at multiversephilly.com/events/benpassmore