I'll admit, the Jewish/Palestinian conflict is a complex matter with which I only have a passing familiarity, so I was pleased to find that writer Bruce Jones opened my eyes to another level here by dwelling on those caught in the middle: the Baha'is. Jones's "Enlightenment" is a little heavy-handed, and the parallels -- though somewhat effective in connecting two characters -- seem a little forced. But there's a thought-provoking and soothing quality to the story as well.
Sean Phillips's art on the piece is surprising as well. There's a simpler tone to it than I've grown accustomed to, and I think it's because he's trying to foster a lighter, more hopeful tone here. His work on this story reminds me of Kano's recent efforts on H-E-R-O and Peter (JSA) Snejbjerg's style.
Macan and Zezelj's piece is a briefer addition to the book, but it boasts a reflective, philosophical tone. It's a bit nebulous, but the piece is more about contrasting stark imagery with more joyful ideas. It's effective in its denunciation of war, but we're not really given a character to connect with. As a result, the reader feels a bit distanced from the material, but it still gets its message across clearly.
In this comic book, Brian K. Vaughan offers up what may be the finest published effort he's ever written. And since he's the brains behind Y: The Last Man, that's saying something. He delves into the notion of unpopular patriotism, a concept that's been brought up quite often in America as of late. It's a powerful and thoroughly realistic conversation between a politician and her campaign manager, and it touches on history, personal ethics and the nature of democracy. It explores how politics rewards compromise rather than idealism.
The dialogue is grounded and genuine, but it's brought to life through a haunting and reflective tone in Leonardo Manco's stunning artwork. Manco's better known for the gritty tone and meticulous detail in his work, but he turns the tables here. There's a soft, simple approach at play here that reminds me of such artists as David (Kabuki) Mack and Colleen (A Distant Soil) Doran.
Though the other two stories are well-crafted contributions to this anthology, this issue is not to be missed thanks to Vaughan's and Manco's efforts.
