Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (vol. 1)
By Marjane Satrapi
As our nation emerges from years of isolation from Iran and attempts to engage a nation whose actions are frightening, this autobiographical graphic novel serves as an excellent primer on the history of Iran’s theocracy. For readers not tuned into graphic novels, don’t be deceived by the comic book format. Satrapi, born in 1969, is a child of the revolution but also the child of progressive, well educated parents who are at first elated by the overthrow of the Shah. They are quickly disillusioned when the Islamic regime evolves into the same sort of totalitarianism and fear suffered under the Shah. Marjane’s story continues in Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return.
- Phyllis
Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography
By Brown, Chester
How many of us think graphic novel when they think historical biography? Forget Doris Kearns Goodwin, if you want a slice fascinating history check out Chester Brown’s Louis Riel: A Comic Strip Biography.
Riel was a French-speaking populist leader that led an armed rebellion against the English-dominated Canadian government. Arguably pushed into role of public spokesmen, the religiously intense (perhaps insane) Riel is the most interesting person you never learned about in school. (Did you learn anything about Canadian history in school?) In contrast to the violent tumultuous subject matter, Brown’s pages are each broken into six uniform squares. By strictly adhering to the comic strip format Brown represents visually, and simultaneously comments upon, the academic distance of the historian.
Don’t let the format turn you off – this is art and reading for thinking adults. Truth is always stranger than fiction, but you’ve never seen it presented quite this way before.
- Bryan
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