Iraq: Operation Corporate Takeover
War on Want / Boychild Books
(w) Sean Michael Wilson
(a) Lee O'Connor

War on Want is an organization that campaigns for workers' rights and against the root causes of global poverty, inequality and injustice. Poverty is political, according to War on Want. War is also one of the chief causes of poverty, but Iraq: Operation Corporate Takeover shows that not everyone is made poorer by conflict. Some corporations thrive off conflict, and in this black and white comic the reader is shown how some American companies are profiting from war, thus growing richer even as the Iraqi people grow poorer.

This graphic novel is a collaborative effort by War on Want and comics publisher, Boychild Books. Boychild's founder, Sean Michael Wilson, is on writing chores and he paints a vivid though one-sided view by telling the story of one Iraqi family. The family members are little more than mouth pieces to tell War on Want's tale of corporate corruption, but it's an eye-opener nonetheless. Iraq: Operation Corporate Takeover isn't compelling storytelling, but it depicts a bleak reality that deserves further attention. (Chad Boudreau)

3 of 5

The Japanese Drawing Room: Victorian Travelers in Japan
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum / Boychild Books
(w) Sean Michael Wilson & Shaun Garner
(a) Sakura Mizuki
BW, 100 pgs $9.99

Sir Merton and Lady Russell-Cotes traveled extensively abroad. The destination that fascinated them most was Japan, which they visited in 1885. During their travels, the two purchased and shipped back to England an extensive collection of Japanese artifacts that would eventually be placed on display in their hotel. The Japanese Drawing Room, as the collection room would come to be called, would become cherished and famous, so much so that it now exists as part of the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum in their native Bournemouth, England.

Lady Russell-Cotes also chronicled the journey in her personal memoirs, which were privately printed in 1898 or early 1899 as "Westward from the Golden Gate". The Japanese Drawing Room graphic novel is an adaptation of those memoirs, with additional details drawn from Sir Merton's autobiography, "Home and Abroad".

Adapted by Sean Michael Wilson and the museum's curator, Shaun Garner, The Japanese Drawing Room offers considerable insight into what was occurring in Japan in 1885, albeit from a personal, British point of view. Lady Russell-Cotes also saw fit to recount key moments of Japanese history, thus adding additional layers of historical context. The end result is an involved personal memoir that allows the reader to learn about different points of Japanese history, but also gain insight into how Japan, its people, customs and history was perceived by two members of British high society.

This graphic novel also features detailed illustrations by manga-ka Sakura Mizuki, who lavishly depicts the look and feel of 19th century Japan, including locations and peoples. The experience is further enhanced with an extensive background provided in the opening pages, and a glossary in the back pages that provides further information on the names, places and events mentioned in the adaptation of Lady Russell-Cotes' memoirs. (Chad Boudreau)

4 of 5