The Fifth Beatle (miniseries)

The Fifth Beatle is a graphic novel created by writer Vivek Tiwary, artist Andrew Robinson, and cartoonist Kyle Baker. It first appeared in Italy to mark the tenth anniversary of that country’s Rolling Stone magazine, and Dark Horse Comics released it in November 2013. The story recounts the true story of Brian Epstein, the Beatles’ manager, who earned the nickname “the Fifth Beatle” because he found the band in Liverpool and was the key figure behind their global rise.

Though many record labels rejected them, Epstein believed the group would become “bigger than Elvis.” He overhauled their public image, making them wear suits and ties while keeping their signature mop-top hairstyles. He then skillfully promoted their careers, notably securing a series of headline spots on *The Ed Sullivan Show* by offering to pay for the band’s travel and accepting a very low fee—a move that generated huge publicity for their first U.S. tour. As the Beatles grew famous, Epstein struggled with his homosexuality at a time when it was still illegal and meeting places for gay men were scarce, as well as with drug addiction. After the band stopped touring in 1966, he worried about their future and his own role with them.

A film adaptation was announced in 2013, and Sonar Entertainment later optioned the rights to develop *The Fifth Beatle* as a multi-part television event. Tiwary will write the series and serve as executive producer. The series has also secured rights to Beatles songs from Sony.

In October 2016, a trade paperback edition titled *The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story* was released, featuring new art and concept material from Kyle Baker.

*The Fifth Beatle* became a *New York Times* bestseller, reaching number one in its third week. *USA Today* described scenes as “touching” and noted some “fanciful aspects.” It was a finalist for the 26th Annual Lambda Literary Award in the new “Best LGBT Graphic Novel” category (2014), and a finalist in Foreword Review’s 16th Annual Book of the Year Awards. Andrew Robinson was nominated for the 68th National Cartoonist Society Divisional Reuben Award for “Best Graphic Novel” and won that award in May 2014. The book received two Eisner Award nominations in April 2014—for Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (Robinson) and Best Reality-Based Work—and won the Eisner for Best Reality-Based Work in July 2014.