There are a few writers here at Multiversity Comics who are synonymous with not only good writing, but great writing. Writers who we as fans are more than willing to put blind faith under any endeavor. For me this means writers like Grant Morrison, Geoff Johns, Mark Millar, or Ed Brubaker. However, one name I consistently and foolishly always underestimate is that of Brian K. Vaughan.
By now I’m sure we all know that name. Brian K. Vaughan is an award winning writer of the hit series Y: The Last Man and is currently penning (and, from my understanding, wrapping up) Ex Machina, and he’s also known for creating characters like The Hood and Runaways for Marvel. Vaughan is also well known for his work on the television series LOST. He’s done work on high profile characters for both major comic companies, including Wolverine and Batman. But in the fall of 2006, Brian K. Vaughan released a graphic novel on Vertigo entitled Pride of Baghdad. At the time of it’s release, certain things should have gone off in my head. 1) It’s Brian K. Vaughan. 2) It’s a Vertigo title. However, neither did, and three years later I purchased it, at which point it sat on my shelf for some time. However, this Sunday morning I pulled it out, sat down, and read it cover to cover. And just like that, I found my favorite graphic novel of the past decade.
It should be noted that when it comes to comics, I don’t often read graphic novels. It’s not that I have anything in particular against them but I have always found myself drawn to single issue format of comic books. I’ll buy trades left and ride, but for the most part I will tend to stay away from original graphic novels unless I hear particularly moving word of mouth in support of any given title (or if David tells me I should read it). Therefore, on the occasion that I will sit down and read an original graphic novel, it should be noted that there is “something” about it. And as I finished reading Pride of Baghdad, all I could think to do is kick myself in the shins for not paying attention to this sooner. Pride of Baghdad is, to borrow a phrase, a heartbreaking work of staggering genius, 100%. It is simply one of the most amazing things I’ve read lately, and a story that truly left me sitting in my seat, pausing on what I had just read. Suffice it to say, after reading Pride of Baghdad, I knew I couldn’t read any more comics for the rest of the day, because this is a book that is hard to follow. All I could do is immediately come to my computer and write out my thoughts.
Pride of Baghdad is not a conventional story in what we’re accustomed to with Vaughan. There are no super powers. There are no verbose main characters. There are no hidden literary references that help reveal hidden meanings in the story. There are simply four lions. When I first heard that concept, that the story was about four lions who escaped from the Baghdad Zoo in 2003 (true story), I thought to myself, “How on Earth could that really make an intriguing tale? Yeah, it’s BKV, but how?” How foolish I was! The best way to think about it is this: remember, when we were young, we’d watch a Disney film about a young deer running through the woods, and we didn’t truly understand the gravity of the movie at the time? How deep the story truly was? Pride of Baghdad is that, except now we are old enough to read it, fall in love with the wonder and childlike reverence of it, but know that in reality this book is something so much more. Pride of Baghdad is almost like a Disney movie made specifically for adults, and it is a wondrous yet saddening reflection of the world we live in. As I said – it’s heartbreaking, and it’s genius.
So let me briefly dispense some of the books plot in order to pull you in if you have not read it yet. When Pride of Baghdad was described to me, it was simply “a pride of four lions escaping from the Baghdad Zoo.” This description is a bit unfair. Pride of Baghdad is a book about four lions escaping yes, but what most brief descriptions fail to mention is that Pride of Baghdad is about four lions escaping during the bombings of Iraq by the US military in April of 2003. As our people flew over the war torn country, a small pride of lions took to the world outside of their original home: an old lioness, the alpha male and his chosen mate, and a young cub. The four lions, all with very differing opinions, leave the zoo in search of a better life in the foreign world outside.
To say that Brian K Vaughan’s writing knocks it out of the park is to put it all INCREDIBLY lightly. When I made reference to Disney before, I wanted to call to attention how those movies, all usually no more than an hour and a half at length, created characters that stay with us, lessons that we never forget, and stories that touch us truly. Vaughan, in just 136 pages, has created a story so moving that I highly doubt this is a book I will lightly forget in the passing of time. It broke my heart when I reached the midway point of the book and I knew there was only one way the story could end, even without knowing the truth behind the tale. While the story is of course exaggerated at points and artistic liberties are very obviously taken along the book, it is without a doubt that these four lions will always have a place in the hearts of those that read the book.
Of course, the obvious metaphors the book puts forth are nothing to take lightly, Disney or not. As the lions are given their freedom faster than they had originally planned (as one of the lions had been formulating a plan of escape), it is without a doubt that we can read the book as a comment on the liberation of Iraq as a whole. The older lioness remembers what the world was like before she lived in the zoo, and she regularly states that it is better to stay with the evil that they know rather than attempt to face their own absolute freedom again. The younger lions rebel against her, wanting freedom more than anything, but once it’s given all are left confused. There is no one there to provide for them anymore, and they all are left to hunt on their own and provide for themselves. Their encounters with an angry bear as well as a “wise” old turtle only further illustrate the environment that they have been thrust into. It’s a new world for the lions, and none of them are quite ready for the cost of freedom. As is stated in the book, “Freedom can’t be given, only earned.”
Of course the story wouldn’t be half what it is without the incredible artwork by the relatively unknown Niko Henrichon. Before this book I had never even heard of him, and unfortunately now that I have and I have seen what he’s capable of, I can see there isn’t a lot left for me to go out and find. He mostly does covers (although he has done full interiors before) and he’s only done one other graphic novel before this one. After finishing Pride, though, I can tell you that this is a horrific shame. While I of course do not know why he does not do more work in comics, I can tell you that I wish he would. His artistic renditions inside the book help make the story so emotional. We can possibly never truly understand the emotions of an animal when it’s not done in an overly cartoonish fashion, but Niko’s lions are so full of rich emotions without ever crossing the line of becoming too childlike. His two-page spreads and full page works are absolutely breathtaking, especially one near the end that I’d hate to spoil (yet it is definitely something to look forward to). I was really upset when I couldn’t find more of his work outside of this book, but knowing that I have 136 pages of rich and breathtaking artwork is a small comfort.
All in all, I can’t really express the absolute amazement I felt when reading Pride of Baghdad. As I said, I usually shy away from original graphic novels, but this one had me hook, line and sinker by the end of it. I find myself so enamored with the book that I wish to actively thrust it upon anyone who hasn’t read it. It’s a book that any comic book reader should own, and it’s also a book that anyone who feels anything towards the current political climate of the world must read. I would say that this is by far one of the best comics I’ve ever read, immediately placing itself above Y: The Last Man in my mind of Vaughan’s greatness as well as moving itself right next to WE3 in line with my all time favorite comics. I’ve said it once, but I’ll say it again: it’s a heartbreaking work of staggering genius.
If you only read a small handful of original graphic novels in your life like me, I can only hope that this will be one of them.
