War. Huh. What is it good for? Inspiring graphic novels it seems. As often is the case, great events boil down to ordinary people and the decisions they make. The following novels focus on ordinary people whose lives were changed by war or even helped instigate it. If you haven’t read some or one of these novels, like peace, give it a chance.
Maus
(Art Spiegelman, 1972-1991)
Art Speigelman’s account of his father’s experiences in World War II manages to educate, amuse and break the reader’s heart all at once. In his honest and hard-hitting biopic, Jews are depicted as mice and Nazis as cats, allowing him to chronicle the travesties that occurred in the era without turning the reader off.
Speigelman doesn’t pull any punches when describing the relationship between him and his father. His frustration at his father’s unwillingness to let go of the past is obvious and a short interlude that deals with his mother’s death, which was originally published early on in Speigelman’s career, is harrowing, especially given that it is drawn with 'humans' rather than animals.
Maus is both a tribute to a survivor and a cathartic tool that Speigelman uses to chronicle his father’s experiences of the war and how he feels towards him. Rather than focusing heavily on the war that shaped his father’s life, he hones in on how he survived, making it one mouse’s tale.
The book has won numerous awards, including a Pulitizer Prize and is often described as the most important graphic novel ever. This is not just lip service, the book is a must-read for graphic novel fans and anybody looking for their next read should be pointed in the direction of this classic.
Persepolis
(Marjane Satrapi, 2000)An autobiography of the author’s childhood and teenage life in Iran, Persepolis shows the world of war through the eyes of a child.
Chronicling Satrapi's youth, from the age nine until her early twenties, the book shows life under the rule of the Shah and during the Iran-Iraq war, focusing on how a child copes with constant upheaval and a repressive political environment.
Forced to grow up far too quickly, Satrapi is sent to live in Vienna alone and faces the prejudices of other students. She gets involved in an unhealthy relationship and ends up on the streets for several months. She eventually finds out that her family has been looking for her and manages to get home to Iran. Upon her return, the changing Iran jars with her Western education and experiences.
Filled with asides on the history of Iran and its troubled politics, Persepolis provides readers with an honest account of what life was like in a country unable to express itself freely. From children buying bootleg tapes of American rock music to adults having illicit parties that were often broken up by the police, the entire country is forced to suppress and hide any leanings toward Western culture. In the end, Satrapi has to make a choice about how she wants to live the rest of her life. Should she should adhere to her country’s beliefs at the expense of her personal dreams.
A chapter of the world’s history that is sometimes overlooked, the story provides the right balance between educating the reader and giving a personal insight to what life was like in Iran in the seventies and eighties.
Blood Upon The Rose
(Gerry Hunt, 2009)Blood Upon The Rose covers the Irish Easter Rising that took place in 1916. With the centenary of this event only a few year’s away, it’s important that a pivotal moment in Irish history was chronicled in an accessible way for a new generation.
The story of the week-long siege in Dublin and the men and women who died for Irish freedom is gutting and a harsh lesson in history. They knew that they were going to fail and therein lies their victory, they had nothing to lose and managed to hold the might of the British army at bay for a full week with limited resources. Within six years, Ireland was declared a free state with its own government.
The graphic novel is not without its flaws; it starts on the day of the Rising and ends as soon as the failing rebellion is over, expecting the reader to know the background information. While this history is taught in Irish schools, it may mean nothing to an international audience.
Some pages of explanation regarding the events that lead to the Rising would go a long way to enhance the story. It does briefly go through the aftermath and what happened to the leaders of the rebellion, but the story can lack context, and the novel would be richer if it contained more of what happened after the Rising and how it was a turning point in Irish history. That said, the artwork is perfect for the story’s era – dark, grimy and harsh – and should be read by anyone with an interest in Irish history.
Making history more accessible is never a bad thing, and these three collections highlight strifes that may not be as well known in other countries or give a new perspective on an event that is known the world over. Unfortunately, apart from Maus, graphic novels that deal with history are not always given the credit they deserve and there is certainly a case to be made for some collections to become part of the school cirriculum.
