Stories of War
Saturday is International Read Comics in Public Day. I will definitely take part, and thought it appropriate to discuss a couple of graphic novels, to read either on Saturday, or any day. They are amazing.
by Emmanuel Guibert
This nonfiction graphic novel is unique in that it combines the art of Emmanuel Guibert (also the author) with the black and white photographs of Didier Lefevre. Guibert writes of a mission in 1986 during which photographer Lefevre was hired by Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF - Doctors Without Borders) to document their journey into northern Afghanistan. Lefevre, the doctors, guides, and interpreters all had to deal with the not just the physical hardship of the journey itself, but with the ongoing war in this area.
Throughout this novel, readers will see photographs of the people who went on this arduous mission and others they encountered along the way, as well as of many people who had been hit by shrapnel or injured in some other way. This graphic novel did not sensationalize war. In a meaningful, powerful way, with the pairing of Guibert's drawings and stark reality that is Lefevre's photographs, this work will raise awareness regarding the horrors that occur in northern Afghanistan on a daily basis, and also about the MSF organization.
by Emmanuel Guibert
Another novel by Guibert, this nonfiction piece chronicles the war experiences of Alan Cope, a man whom Guibert ended up developing a deep friendship with. Cope told Guibert not just of his life during WWII, but also of his time after when he served as a chaplain in Europe, and then returned to California.
This graphic novel is interesting because it does not glorify war, or tell the story of a man beaten down by battle. It simply takes one through the events of Cope's young life in a sort of nostalgic way, where you feel that he has truly grown from his experiences, and become a more giving person. Readers will also get this feeling from the beautiful, yet simple ink-wash panels. As I got further and further into this novel, I truly felt the closeness between Cope and Guibert, and it is a shame that Cope did not get to see the finished product.
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