 Pride
of Baghdad
DC Comics / Vertigo Comics
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Artist: Niko Henrichon
FC, 136 pgs
$26.99 CAN / $19.99 US
Animals as characters with real motivations
by Rob Armstrong
Like many BKV fans, I ordered Pride of Baghdad as soon as it was announced
based solely on it being another BKV work. After reading it, I found many other
reasons to recommend it to others. The book is full of ‘surface versus
substance’; its pieces (art, dialogue, plot) can be read for the story
as presented, or considered more deeply.
Intro to Niko Henrichon. I don’t know much about Niko
Henrichon; quick research found that his previous works are Star Wars Tales
#18 and Barnum, a Vertigo limited series which garnered praise.
While BKV’s story is moving and poignant, it’s Henrichon’s
striking art which brings the story to such a prominent level. Handling the
penciling, inking and coloring chores, Henrichon is able to show us a world
that is realistic and beautiful. It isn’t easy making a lioness’s
face show emotions, yet the subtle lines of his drawings keep the realism (animals
don’t frown or smile, after all) while communicating the sentiment.
The book is a joy to look at, especially the two page spreads. While the spreads
aren’t necessarily loaded with information or detail, they are stunning
in their rendition and coloring. The orange of the zoo, the blue of the palace,
the red of the city scenes – Henrichon’s palate is lovely.
Talking animals for the rest of us. Using other literary works
as reference, BKV wrote the story not as ‘funny animals trying to survive
in crazy man’s world’ but as characters with their own motivations:
Noor wants to leave the zoo, and take her young cub with her. She yearns to
‘earn’ her freedom by conspiring with the other zoo animals, noting
that freedom can’t be given, only earned. Safa is an older lioness, who
remembers the roughness of the wild more than Noor. Zill is the adult male,
worried about his next meal. Ali is the male cub, a bit too reminiscent of any
lion cub from any cartoon movie but will still tug your heartstrings.
The villainous monkeys, the cranky river turtle, the psychotic bear, the trusting
antelope – the book is full of great characters. Use them as a means to
study human relationships, or enjoy their appearance.
Entertaining story with deeper sociopolitical statements - but only
if you want it. The story itself is fun, suspenseful, wonderful and
heart breaking. Since Pride of Baghdad is based on a true story of
four lions that escaped the Baghdad Zoo after the initial bombing/invasion of
Iraq in April 2003, the beginning and ending were already known. Even though,
I still gasped when the end came, striking me more deeply than I expected.
If looking for commentary on the American war in Iraq then the dialogue by
the lions, as well as their journey itself, can be used as metaphor for the
conflict, the history of Iraq, the story of its people.
Vaughan’s story. He tells a touching story of four beings
who just want to be free, yet he sets it against a controversial landscape.
BKV reports that, after hearing of the four lions’ story, he contacted
volunteer rescue veterinarians who went to Iraq to care for the zoo animals.
BKV has said, in interviews, that he often writes based on real world issues
he is upset about. He also researched the country’s history, the invasion,
the region, lions. This is a writer who not only feels for his subjects, he
learns about them and uses the knowledge in subtle ways.
If Pride of Baghdad becomes a classic of sequential storytelling,
I won’t be surprised.
4.5 of 5
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