INSIGHT COMICS PRESENTS
The Invisible Empire:
MADGE OBERHOLTZER AND THE UNMASKING
OF THE KU KLUX KLAN
Written by Micky Neilson and Todd Warger
Illustrated by Marc Borstel
With a foreword by Karen Green, comics scholar emeritus, Columbia University
Indiana, 1925.
The members of the Ku Klux Klan once called themselves the Knights of the Invisible Empire—an empire that controlled local, state, and federal governments across the United States. The most powerful politicians in the country belonged to the Klan. In 1924, the KKK’s Grand Dragon of Indiana, D. C. Stephenson, even famously declared, “I am the law in Indiana.”
The Invisible Empire tells the frightening story of the Klan’s rise to power in the 1920s, its ruthless agenda of hate, violence, and corruption—and how everything changed when one woman, Madge Oberholtzer, testified against Stephenson. With her dying breaths, Madge exposed the true face of the Klan and changed the way Americans would see the KKK forever.
Madge’s story—the cruelty she suffered and the courage she harnessed—is just as powerful and relevant a century later as it was in 1925. Because Madge’s name has been largely lost to history, The Invisible Empire is a reminder to new generations of her tragic sacrifice, aiming to keep her memory alive in a new era.
About the Contributors:
Micky Neilson is a two-time New York Times best-selling author whose graphic novels Ashbringer and Pearl of Pandaria have both been published in six languages. He has more than two decades of experience in the gaming industry. Recently, Micky was tapped to write the comic book series The Howling: Revenge of the Werewolf Queen, a continuation of the beloved 1981 Joe Dante horror film The Howling.
Todd Warger is an Emmy Award nominee for the documentary film The Mountain Runners. He is a recipient of the Washington State Historical Society’s 2008 David Douglas Award for the documentary film Shipyard. He is also the coauthor of Images of America: Mount Baker. He lives in Bellingham, Washington.
Marc Borstel has worked in the comics industry since 2004. In 2009, he worked on Weapon X for Marvel Comics. His latest work includes Jurassic Park Adult Coloring Book for Dark Horse Comics, World of Warcraft for Blizzard Entertainment, and Grant Morrison’s 18 Days.
Karen Green, MA, MPhil, is a librarian and comics scholar emeritus at Columbia University and a leading voice in politics and feminism.
About Insight Editions:
Celebrated for its unwavering dedication to quality, Insight Editions is a publisher of innovative books and collectibles that push the boundaries of creativity, design, and production. Through its acclaimed film, television, and gaming program, Insight strives to produce unique books and products that provide new ways to engage with fan-favorite characters and stories. Under this program, Insight has published books covering the worlds of Star Wars, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Destiny, Assassin’s Creed, Halo, Diablo, World of Warcraft, and the Harry Potter films, among many others. Insight’s award-winning art, photography, and sports titles celebrate the artistry and history of a wide range of subjects that include the Rolling Stones, John Lennon, Kurt Cobain, Johnny Cash, the San Francisco Giants, and the Dallas Cowboys. Other divisions include a line of deluxe stationery products, as well as a children’s imprint, Insight Kids. For more information, visitwww.insighteditions.com.