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Pride of Baghdad

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'Pride of Baghdad' by Brian K. Vaughan is a graphic novel inspired by real events, depicting the fictional account of four lions escaping Baghdad zoo after the bombing in 2003. The book explores themes of war, humanity, and the consequences of conflict through the eyes of these animals, giving them personalities and emotions that resonate with readers. The writing style captures the dialogue between the animals in a way that imagines how they might interpret their circumstances, while the art beautifully portrays the city of Baghdad as a compelling character in itself.

Characters:

The lion characters are emotionally complex, although other characters lack depth, affecting the overall moral complexity.

Writing/Prose:

The writing effectively blends character-driven storytelling with a focus on thematic depth relating to war and humanity.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot presents an abrupt and unsatisfying conclusion that aims to reflect the chaos of war, but leaves readers feeling unfulfilled.

Setting:

The setting is post-invasion Baghdad, where the zoo serves as a critical backdrop for the unfolding story.

Pacing:

The pacing is brisk, allowing for a quick read while still delivering significant emotional moments.

Notes:

Pride of Baghdad is written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Niko Henrichon.
The story is inspired by real events involving lions escaping the Baghdad Zoo during the 2003 US invasion.
It is told from the lions' perspective, making them the main characters.
The graphic novel consists of 136 pages and can be read in about an hour.
The artwork is highly praised for its beauty and emotional depth.
The story explores themes of war and humanity without being overly political or simplistic.
Some readers found the ending to be sudden and lacking emotional payoff.
The dialogue is crafted to be fitting for the characters and situation, despite some criticisms.
The book has been recognized as one of the best graphic novels of the last decade.
It's designed for older teens due to its themes and some violence.
The book emphasizes the emotional journey of the animal characters, making the reader invested despite the short format.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include violence, the aftermath of war, animal suffering, and themes of cruelty.

From The Publisher:

In the spring of 2003, a pride of lions escaped from the Baghdad Zoo during an American bombing raid, roaming the streets in a desperate struggle for their lives. "Pride of Baghdad" raises questions about the true meaning of liberation-can it be given or is it earned only through self-determination and sacrifice? And in the end, is it truly better to die free than to live life in captivity?

Ratings (2)

Loved It (1)
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Reader Stats (3):

Read It (2)
Not Interested (1)

About the Author:

Brian K. Vaughan is the Eisner and Harvey Award-winning co-creator of many critically acclaimed comic books, including Saga, Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina, Runaways, and Pride of Baghdad. A professional comics writer since his days as an undergraduate film student at New York University, Brian has written every major DC and Marvel character from Batman to the X-Men. He's also written several screenplays, stage plays and short stories, but mostly, he likes to work on the funnybooks. He also served as writer and story editor on the hit TV series Lost.

Niko Henrichon is a Canadian comic book artist best known as the artist of the critically acclaimed graphic novel Pride of Baghdad written by Brian K. Vaughan. His first major work was the Vertigo original graphic novel titled Barnum! written by Howard Chaykin and David Tischman. Henrichon's pencils have also been seen in the pages of Superman from DC Comics, Star Wars Tales from Dark Horse Comics, and Micronauts from Marvel Comics.

 
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