A biography by a British graphic novelist of Elon Musk is struggling to find an English-language publisher due to feared “legal consequences”.
Elon Musk: Investigation into a New Master of the World is the latest graphic novel by Darryl Cunningham, from West Yorkshire. Cunningham, 64, has written and illustrated seven nonfiction books on topics ranging from the 2008 global economic meltdown (Supercrash), to Russian leader Vladimir Putin (subtitled The Rise of a Dictator).
His first book, Psychiatric Tales, which drew on his time working on an acute psychiatric ward, was called an “unsettling but rewarding experience” in an Observer review in 2010.
Although his previous books have all found publishers in the UK and America, there has been silence on the Elon Musk project, despite the fact that it has already been translated into French and published in France to positive reviews.
His French publishers, Delcourt, shopped it around at the Frankfurt book fair last month, and French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche called it “rich and thought-provoking”.
Cunningham said in a post on his Patreon website last week: “Its publication in other countries looks unlikely. I’m told that there was interest from various international publishers at the recent Frankfurt book fair, but there was concern over possible legal consequences.”
He told the Observer: “I’m surprised publishers are so seemingly cautious of publishing the Musk book when there are already many books published on Musk and various aspects of his businesses.
“Delcourt had lawyers go over every single word and picture to make sure there were no problems. I didn’t use any information that hadn’t been published elsewhere, much of it from the book by Musk’s own mother, Maye.
“But it looks like we live in a climate of fear where the worst people have immense power, and because of this there’s a tendency for the individuals, institutions, businesses and the state to run for cover.”
Cunningham praised Delcourt, who also put out the French edition of his book on Putin, for “having the courage” to publish the book.
It was published in France in May, and Cunningham added that so much has happened since then – including Musk being appointed by incoming US president Donald Trump to jointly head up his new Department of Government Efficiency – that Cunningham is already working on updates for subsequent editions.
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The book is certainly no glowing hagiography. Drawing on various sources, Cunningham tells the life story of Musk, going back to his parents, Errol and Maye, and Musk’s grandfather, who Cunningham says was “a bit of a white supremacist”.
He charts the rise of Musk to the “billionaire class” through his various business dealings including acquiring Tesla, SpaceX and Twitter, which he renamed X.
Cunningham said: “Knowing what I know about the man, my conclusion is that it’s incredible that such a mediocre figure can amass such wealth, but it was ever thus.”
Musk did not respond to a request for comment.