Listen, I’m a huge fan of The Twilight Zone. I’m talking the classic show with Rod Serling – I never really watched the 1985 reboot, and I still haven’t ponied up for CBS All Access to check out Jordan Peele’s new series.

But the OG show that ran for five seasons from 1959 to 1964? Yeah, it was a pinnacle of television storytelling that still, in my opinion, hasn’t been topped.

So I was slightly taken aback that I hadn’t heard anything about Koren Shadmi’s new book The Twilight Man: Rod Serling and the Birth of Television. A graphic novel that tells Rod’s story from 1943 through his death in 1975? Seems right up my alley.

And, to no one’s surprise, it absolutely is!

The book opens with an already successful Serling on a long flight, sharing a drink and a conversation with his seatmate. She asks him about his story, and through flashbacks, we watch Serling’s life unfold – from his enlistment in the army and experiences in WWII to his burgeoning career writing for radio to his skyrocketing success in television.

Throughout, we not only get an astonishing view into Serling’s personal life but also an insight into how his industry evolved and changed so dramatically during his career. Serling found success at the tail end of radio’s dominance and was perfectly positioned to carve out his own niche during the early, experimental years of television.

The Twilight Zone was still a tough sell, but once it hit – boy, did it hit.

Shadmi’s book is entirely in black and white, which is totally fitting for Serling and The Twilight Zone. It might seem like a bold choice, but it’s stunningly perfect. And Shadmi’s art, on the whole, is phenomenal.

If you’ve ever watched The Twilight Zone, you’re incredibly familiar with what Rod Serling looked like. Shadmi captures his likeness really well and then uses our familiarity with Serling as a gateway into his life, which is probably remarkably less familiar.

If you’re a fan of the original show (or any of its later incarnations) or of Rod Serling’s writing, you owe it to yourself to check out The Twilight Man. It’s an incredibly fascinating look at an incredibly fascinating person – and it’ll make you feel ridiculous inadequate to see just how much Serling achieved in his too-brief 50 years.