Pride of Baghdad

This may be the first graphic novel review where I will comment first on the art before the scripting. That's simply because this is the first time I've ever considered that artwork is perfect. I've read somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 graphic novels and Pride of Baghdad is without question the most beautiful. Every pencil line seems perfectly placed - breathtaking panoramas of Baghdad and, most impressively, animals that display emotion on their faces and through body language in a way I didn't know was possible. I've noticed other reviewers complaining that this story seems "thin." Well, I agree to the extent that it only takes about an hour to read. (Although you could spend hours examining the artwork.) However, not all great stories need to last hours and hours. I honestly think that there is no graphic novel writer today who does characterization better than Brian Vaughan. In only a short 136 pages, many of which are nearly absent of dialogue, Vaughan makes the reader completely emotionally invested in each of the four main characters. Vaughan's ability to make the reader identify is absolutely uncanny and the only thing I can think to compare it with is Grant Morrison's We3. The plotting and dialogue are both adequate for the task, but this is really a story about characters. The only complaint I can muster is that Pride of Baghdad pretty much hits you over the head with the author's politics. Usually, this is a complete turn off for me, even if I happen to agree with the author's message. In this case, however, Vaughan does service to both view points on several political issues before letting you know where he stands. Most importantly though, I think he leaves some grey room. Most importantly, the viewpoints are all presented as reasonable in their own right. Like Ex Machina, this is a story for adults who are willing to think a little.

CGS had a podcast recently giving their Top 5 Graphic Novels, and this was one of them. The story sounded interesting, unique and being based on a true story I bought it. It is now my #1 graphic novel. There is nothing to flaw this book, but I would say if you don't like seeing animals being hurt - then be prepared. Honestly, I'm one of those people who cannot stand watching/reading seeing animals being hurt but do not flinch when, for example, I see the same happen to a human in a movie or book. But, the art is so good and not overly graphic, and the story cannot be missed. Considering the animals are given such personality, I was saddened by the story but it wasn't too much of a kick in the guts so don't be put off by what potentially might happen to the pride of lions. Given it is something different to the usual 'capes and cowl' books, you should not miss this. A MUST BUY!

The art itself is wonderful, and it’s printed very clearly and with high quality. The ending is harsh and unexpected, but somewhat bittersweet as well. Overall a sad but lovely short read.

An incredibly clever conceit and some truly beautiful art come together to form what is often heralded as one of the best (and most important) graphic novels of the last decade. It's even inspired by real events! And we all know that works inspired by real events are more meaningful, right? So it could be that I came in to this book with impossibly high expectations, but nonetheless, I came away feeling slightly disappointed. First, what works: as I said, it's a very clever idea and by and large it works. 'Pride of Baghdad' functions as something of a modern allegory about war and is largely successful at not coming across like a polemic. It's hamfisted at times (more on that later), but rarely distractingly so. I've read some reviews that criticize BKV's dialogue, which I thought was just fine and totally suited to the story. One reviewer in particular called 'Pride' out for making its characters too human, which made the story unbelievable or too cartoonish. I feel you couldn't miss the point by a wider margin. This *is* a cartoon, no different in style than, say, 'The Lion King.' Of course, substantively the two works couldn't be more dissimilar, and 'Pride' mostly succeeds at living up to its conceit. What really floored me about 'Pride,' however, was the art, which was masterfully rendered, from the inking style to the subdued (but incredibly visually compelling) colors. I was impressed by the artist's take on the animals, and how well he was able to imbue them with intelligence and humanity, which went a long way toward making this book work. Even more impressive, however, was the depiction of Baghdad itself. The city really came to life, and became as much a compelling character as our four protaganists. Honestly, I would say this book is worth the cover price for the artwork alone, which is why it's getting four stars rather than three. Where the book doesn't quite work is its ending. Now, I fully understand that the way things go down is meant to represent the senselessness of war and the thoughtlessness of its perpetrators, and for that to work, what happens *should* be sudden and disorienting. Here, however, it simply doesn't quite work. Such endings can be sudden and disorienting and feel like a sock in the gut while still feeling emotionally satisfying. You can ever trick or shock the reader as long as it feels earned. Unfortunately, that's not the case here, and the reader is left feeling sort of jerked around. I'm pretty much always down on works that don't reward the audience (in some way--it doesn't have to be via a happy ending) for their emotional investment. In the worst cases, if there is no reward, you just feel sort of used, the butt of a particularly mean practical joke. You feel like the author wasn't engaging in good faith and doesn't respect your intelligence. I'm not going to say that 'Pride' is quite so demeaning or deceitful as all that, but the ending doesn't feel earned, and there is no emotional payoff. It's also where the book is the most heavy handed, where it comes closest to bludgeoning the reader with its perspective on war and humanity. More thorough characterization would have gone a long way toward making 'Pride' more successful. I wish that our protagonists had been given a bit more room to breathe, so that when they finally meet their untimely demise, it hits us like it should. There's also the unfortunate problem of using rape as an easy substitute for back story, which the media in general and comics in particular seem to do a rather lot. (This is a topic I hope to explore further in the near future.) I also wish that BKV had given just a fraction of humanity and character to the faceless soldiers at the end, since doing so would have complicated things in a meaningful way--if we relate to the villains, if we see them as human, it is harder to dismiss them. If we see the villains as aspects of ourselves, we are forced to engage with them. By making the US soldiers literally faceless, 'Pride' makes such moral gray area impossible.

I understand why I bought this comic, and I don't regret it in the least. I expected a decent story, with great dialogue and characters that will do everything in their power to gain my amore and die. So that's what I got. The message was pretty self-evident, and even for a shallow pool of retard that only takes things at face value such as myself, I could see the connection it was trying to draw between the lions' sad fate and the state of Iraq after the war. I noticed how their sudden freedom left them lost and disorganized. I was actually expecting it to be more preachy, but fortunately I was spared the rod and instead saw cool pictures of lions doing cool things... up until they get shot. I would really recommend this to the casual reader, but if you read too much into it, then prepare to be disappointed.

Brilliant. Masterful storytelling, and artwork is just aawww! 5stars!

Beautifully drawn and written, "Pride of Baghdad" captivates us from the first page, making us care for the four lions trying to survive in the streets of a city thorn by bombings.

A tremendous parable about the collateral damages of modern war. Brian K Vaughan masterfully depicts the horrors and consequences of the Iraq war through the eyes of a pride of lions, yet the truths and dangers that ensue are all too human and vivid. This is not for children, but is a must-read for any young adult who wishes to feel the impacts of war, and the price of "freedom".

It makes you think differently over animals. Great storytelling too! Short read though, that is why it is 4 stars.

Vale muito a pena. Uma abordagem interessante dos conflitos no oriente médio. Arte sensacional e roteiro bem amarrado. Por um preço de até 30,00 vale muito.