In trying to introduce Angélique Roché, I found it hard to outdo the intro on her website:
Angélique Roché is a versatile writer and producer known for her work in journalism, graphic novels, and literature. Her writing is characterized by its blend of historical context and personal storytelling, aiming to educate and inspire readers. During her career, she has worked as a journalist, producer, and author for various platforms, including Harper’s Bazaar, NBC News, and Marvel Studios. Roché’s commitment to storytelling is evident in her work, where she strives to make history accessible and impactful for future generations.
Staying true to that mission, Angélique has teamed up with Oni Press to create the recently released graphic novel “First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth,” telling the inspiring story of Dr. Opal Lee and her fight to gain national recognition for Juneteenth. So, it is with great pride that we welcome the incredibly talented Angélique Roché to GVN Talking Comics.
GVN: Thank you, Angélique, for sharing a bit of your day with us. Since this is our first opportunity to chat, let’s start with your creative beginnings. You have worked in a wide range of professions before you transitioned into the entertainment field. This included work in the political arena. As you proceeded in your scholarly studies, did you have a certain path you had originally set for yourself, or did you leave yourself open to what became available to you? (Your resume is very impressive, both scholastically and professionally.)
From Lawyer, to Poet, to Actress and Storyteller
Angélique: When everyone starts out, they have dreams, paths, and plans for their life, for the most part. My parents often remind me that I wanted to be a lawyer, poet, and actress when I was younger. In a way, I’ve had a chance to do all of those things and more. Even my transition into entertainment began in high school drama club and choir. In college, I regularly performed in plays, was a spoken word poet, and got day roles as an extra in movies like Ray. But, even with all that, I couldn’t have imagined all the incredible experiences I’ve had from red carpets and live stages to being a professor, writer, creative director. That is because, at some point, I realized that my core passion was storytelling. Once I knew that, I was able to allow myself to follow a more uncharted path.
How Talking to Dr. Lee Shaped the Narrative
GVN: There are so many subjects we could discuss, but I want to get right into your upcoming graphic novel: “First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth.” The timely and topical biography chronicling the inspirational journey and resilient determination of Dr. Opal Lee, known as the grandmother of Juneteenth. In a previous discussion, you mentioned the “unique relationship” formed when a writer is entrusted with someone’s life story. How did your personal interviews with Dr. Opal Lee shape the narrative voice of the book?
Angélique: While First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth is about more than just Dr. Lee, she is the heart and soul of the story. It was not just my privilege but in many ways, my responsibility to be a conduit for translating her story and her voice for the reader. That is why Dr. Lee and her family were adamant about finding the right author to tell this story to ensure it was not just a story about Ms. Opal but that it was Ms. Opal’s story. That meant not just listening to her, hearing her story, but understanding her “why.” Dr. Lee is fiercely committed to family, and she comes from a family that is fiercely committed to community uplift through service, education, and financial stability. She is also a woman who loves God, a voracious reader and listener of music, who has an infectious smile, and a firm but gentle tenacity about her that shaped her path and those around her. Those are things you can only learn about a person by spending time with them, seeing how they treat others, and watching them interact with the world. That required me to do something that not many people enjoy (but I do), stepping out of me comfort zone and allowing myself to see the world through her eyes.
Little Things Stand Out
GVN: As you worked on this project, it was created with support from Dr. Lee’s granddaughter, Dione Sims. What specific family stories or insights did this provide that might be a surprise to readers?
Angélique: My favorite things about Dr. Lee, which some people may find surprising, are really the little things. Her brain never stops. She gives her cellphone number to anyone who asks, and she always answers. She has been a deaconess at her church for over five decades. She insists on getting in and out of cars and up stairs by herself, and she still reads the Sunday funnies. And she will tell you, while her mother and her daughter were and are wonderful chefs, that gene skipped a generation.
Using the Framework of the Graphic Novel
GVN: You have a history of collaborating on comics in different mediums. For this biography, why was the graphic novel format the right choice to tell this 100-year life story spanning from 1926 to 2026?
Angélique: No medium would have been more appropriate or accessible for an intergenerational audience than a graphic novel. Many readers do not have the historical background or lived experiences of growing up in the early 1900s. That includes growing up without running water, living through the Great Depression, Jim Crow, pushing back against segregation, or lives impacted by the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. This format allows more than Ms. Opal’s story to guide us through this history, but her voices and the imagery of what life in the United States was like over ten decades.
Collaborating with Three Great Artists
GVN: For “First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth,” you work with three distinct artists (Alvin Epps, Bex Glendining, and Millicent Monroe). How did you collaborate with them to ensure the visuals remained consistent while covering the different historical eras?
Angélique: So I have to shout out my incredible editor, Megan Brown, for keeping the trains moving on scripts, pages, and reviews, including bringing me in when big historical questions came up. I absolutely cannot take credit for that heavy lift. But, to ensure that the process was as smooth as possible, in addition to panel descriptions, a secondary script was created for the artists that included, more detailed descriptions and references images of people, places, era specific clothing, hair styles, and technology like cars, radios and TVs to ensure that the artists could maximize their creativity with worrying about the question of historical accuracy. That way, a lot of the imagery that the artists may or may not have been familiar with was communicated visually as well.
The Impact of ‘First Freedom’
GVN: You’ve spoken about the importance of this book in a climate where history is being “redacted in real time.” (A sad but unfortunate fact). How does Dr. Lee’s story serve as a tool for modern activism, and what would you hope young readers take from this book?
Angélique: There is so much that I hope that ALL readers, young and old, can take from this book and Dr. Lee’s story. But perhaps the most important thing is that we are all the heroes that we have been waiting for, and that each of us has an incredible amount of power to make a difference in the world.
Looking for ‘First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth’
GVN: Thank you once again, Angélique, for your time. Before we conclude, I would like to give you a chance to discuss your book one last time, as well as any upcoming projects you’d like to share.
Angélique: I definitely have a couple of projects I am working on, but none that I can discuss right now. I do want to remind everyone that First Freedom is out now, wherever books are sold, and encourage them to request the book at their local library and share it far and wide.
Oni Press ‘First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth‘ by Angélique Roché, Alvin Epps, Millicent Monroe, and Bex Glendining is available now where all great books are sold.
First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth SC/HC
Writer: Angélique Roché
Artists: Alvin Epps, Millicent Monroe, and Bex Glendining
Cover artist: Alvin Epps
Format: Softcover
SC Price: $19.99 US/$26.99 CAN
HC Price: $29.99 US/$39.99 CAN
Page count: 208
Full Color/Partial/B&W: Full color
Trim size: 6 x 9
ISBN: 978-1-63715-777-0
HC ISBN: 9781549307911
eISBN: 978-1-63715-778-7
On-sale date: 2/10
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 60 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove headfirst over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 21-year-old young man with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
