Pride of Baghdad

by Brian K. Vaughan, Niko Henrichon (Illustrator)

Overview

"Deeply moving."—LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK REVIEW★"Lavishly drawn, and devastating…. Vaughan has his marvelously imagined characters debate the concept of freedom versus desire for safety…the total effect is memorable."—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, starred★"This is an important work, strongly recommended for all adult collections."—LIBRARY JOURNAL, starred "Seems destined to cement the reputation of Brian K. Vaughan as one of the best writers to grace the medium in many years."—VARIETYThe startlingly original look at life on the streets of Baghdad during the Iraq War inspired by true events arrives in a stunning new softcover edition. In his award-winning work on Y: THE LAST MAN and EX MACHINA (one of Entertainment Weekly's 2005 Ten Best Fiction titles), writer Brian K. Vaughan has displayed an understanding of both the cost of survival and the political nuances of the modern world. Now, in this provocative graphic novel, Vaughan examines life on the streets of war-torn Iraq. The experience is made all the more evocative by the lush, spectacular artwork of Niko Henrichon.In the spring of 2003, a pride of lions escaped from the Baghdad Zoo during an American bombing raid. Lost and confused, hungry but finally free, the four lions roamed the decimated streets of Baghdad in a desperate struggle for their lives. In documenting the plight of the lions, 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?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442064041
Publisher:	Baker & Taylor, CATS
Publication date:	07/02/2009
Pages:	136
Product dimensions:	6.75(w) x 10.50(h) x 0.75(d)

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.

Editorial Reviews

In the spring of 2003, as a bomb raid ripped through Baghdad, the Baghdad Zoo is hit and a pride of four lions—two females, Safa and Noor; a male, Zill; and a cub, Ali—is freed. With no cage and no keepers, the lions fend for themselves in the war-ravaged city. Having been kept in the zoo, the lions had always dreamed of freedom; once outside, they see the true horror in the world. This truly exceptional graphic novel questions the war in the Middle East, and what freedom really is. The dynamics that Vaughan creates between the two females of the pride are outstanding, and truly reflect how a family could act in this scenario. Henrichon's art is simply amazing; each page transports the reader to each scene, making for a strong visceral connection between the reader and the story. The anthropomorphized lions are exquisitely developed and evocative characters who will haunt the reader. This is a book to be read on many levels, and it should appeal to a wide range of readers. Designated by the publisher as a book for older readers, there are depictions of violent scenes, though set in the context of war and the fight for survival. This is one of the most important books of 2006; every library should own a copy.

KLIATT - Jennifer Feigelman

During an American bombing raid in 2003, four lions escaped from the Baghdad Zoo. That true story is the basis for this excellent fable by Vaughan (Ex Machina; Runaways) and Henrichon in which the animals can talk to one another and discuss the relative merits of captivity and life in the wild. After they're unexpectedly freed, Zill, the alpha male; his one-eyed ex-lover, Safa; his current lover, Noor; and Noor's cub, Ali, must fend for themselves in an unfamiliar land: the ruined city. They discover dangers both man-made and—despite Noor's insistence that animals can rise above their baser natures—among their own kind. This graphic novel works as an adventure story; a meditation on the pursuit, the problems, and the meaning of freedom; and a thoughtful allegory about the war in Iraq, with every scene having a deeper subtext. Vaughan's lions, with distinctive and well-rounded personalities, inspire sympathy; Henrichon's animals are expertly rendered, and his coloring is lush (with some gore in the battle scenes). This is an important work, strongly recommended for all adult collections.
—Steve Raiteri

Library Journal

Gr 9 Up
A heartbreaking look at what it's like to live in a war zone. Inspired by true events, this story tells of four lions that escape from the Baghdad Zoo during a bombing raid in 2003 and encounter other animals that offer unique perspectives, such as a tortoise that survived World War I. They begin to question the nature of freedom. Can it be achieved without being earned? What is its price? What do the lions owe the zookeepers who took care of them at the cost of keeping them in captivity? Where should they go? What should they eat? The four lions soon realize that a desert city is nothing like the grassy savannas of their memories. Their experiences mirror those of the Iraqi citizens displaced by the conflict. The book succeeds as a graphic novel and as an account of the current crisis. Henrichon's full palette emphasizes browns and grays that evoke the sands of the country, while his long brushstrokes and careful attention to detail reflect the precise and minimalist dialogue that Vaughan uses. An allegorical tale with compelling and believable characters, Baghdad makes it clear that without self-determination, there can be no freedom
—Erin DenningtonCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal