|
ROAD TO AMERICA graphic novel
Recommended (8/10)
|
Drawn & Quarterly
Writers: Baru & Jean-Marc Thevenet
Artist: Baru
Colors: Daniel Ledran
Letters: Dirk Rehm
Price: $14.95 US/$22.95 CAN |
I must thank Drawn & Quarterly for passing this graphic novel along for review. It exposed me not only to the talents of a creator from overseas, but also for an enlightening and educational reading experience. This volume reprints the serialized English translation of the story from the Drawn & Quarterly anthology series, and it reads quite well as one unit. This bit of historical drama is unlike anything else one would find on the shelves of a comic-book shop.
Decades ago, Said Boudaif yearns to be a champion boxer, and circumstances fal into place to allow that to happen. He leaves behind the strife and politics of his homeland -- Algeria -- when he moves to France to box professionally, but his Arab heritage, the ideological and military conflict in Algeria and the darker side of a resistance movement follow him everywhere he goes. His life, his sport and even his love become tied up in a conflict Said wants nothing to do with.
Baru's art may be cartoony and exaggerated, but he captures the humanity and the period of history he's exploring incredibly well. The muted colors reinforce the atmosphere of maturity in the artwork. My only problem with Baru's style is his character design. Early on, it's difficult to tell the main character apart from a couple of the minor players. That confusion fades as the book progresses, though.
Those who read my reviews regularly know that I love to see political elements in plots, and there's plenty of the political in this book. Baru and Thevenet provide an interesting look at Algerian and French history, and it's an eye-opener. I knew nothing of the French/FLN conflict, and I found it interesting. I saw some parallels between that situation and the Quebecois separatist movement here in Canada.
The reason this is such a compelling story is the inherent dichotomy in the protagonist. Said is a fighter who wants nothing to do with a fight, namely, the brewing conflict between the French and his own people. Said must fend off outside influences -- from the political to the hedonist -- in order to stay true to his passions and ambitions, and he feels completely overwhelmed. Such a strong character inevitably leads to a strong story.
Note: This graphic novel was not among this week's new releases.
Email Don MacPherson comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.
|
