On September 13, 2006, it was released by DC Comics ' Vertigo imprint.
Pride of Baghdad
Cover of Pride of Baghdad
Summary (No spoilers at all)
Pride of Baghdad tells the story of a group of four lions who escaped Baghdad Zoo when it was hit by an American bombing run. The four lions are all very diverse in terms of personality: Zill, the alpha male, is pessimistic and instinct-driven, but very passionate for the lions under his mane. Safa, the sagest of the group, is an old female lioness with a lot of experience; her negative experiences from the wild make her contented with living in the zoo, but she remains cynical and mistrusting. Noor, a vibrant, young lioness with little experience outside of the zoo, is eager to experience the wild. She loathes being under the zookeepers and longs for freedom from the confines of the zoo. Ali, the youngest lion, is an optimistic, if immature, cub. He has a curious mind and is ardent in wanting to try out new things. His innocence and vivaciousness as a youngster show through his bright personality and hopeful attitude.
Throughout their journey, the lions meet different creatures and experience many new things, such as how life is outside the zoo and keeping up values like honor, courage, and sacrifice. As the lions go deeper and deeper into man's world, they begin learning the often differing nature of freedom, experience the harsh and cold horrors of war, the cruel realities of life, and witness the power of cooperation and teamwork.
Art Critique
One thing that truly sets Pride of Baghdad apart was its amazing art. The art was able to capture the whole point of the graphic novel. It was able to portray the emotion in each of the lion's faces. Details such as scarred eyes, bullet-caused holes, and blood-red scratches were made so beautifully that it could've even looked slightly realistic. Every scene was able to show its real mood in every frame. From the sunset, to the night, to the forest, each one had the proper blend of colors that actuall carry on the emotions and feelings into its readers.
Review (Spoilers)
Pride of Baghdad is certainly a good read for almost any comic book fan. Not your everyday superhero comic book, Pride of Baghdad focuses on a reality hidden in deep symoblisms in this comic book.
Pride of Baghdad is about a pride of four lions venturing across Baghdad after the fateful day a bomb landed right where they reside. While they travel along the city, they come across different animals, such as Fajer the bear. As they go on through the city, they finally find themselves staring into a horizon - something that Ali has been looking for, but as they gaze upon its beauty, lightning-fast bullets come piercing into their skin as each one of the lions collapse into death. The comic actually has a very good story in it at the same time symbolizing a greater reality in it. Its characters also had very distinct personalities as you could see how different they react to each other. Something that should also be considered is the way the comic book displays a war-struck setting. You could actually see how devastated that area was. The comic was also able to show a story within the tragedy that happens in Baghdad. The plotline was also very well planned out bringing the animals from the zoo to the area where their lives get cut short.
This comic book's art is very attractive and appealing. Its proper blend of colors entice you to read it even more. Each detail is well given attention to that each frame of the comic book seems so flawless. The setting was very realistic looking has if it was a 2-D version of the real thing.
Overall, Pride of Baghdad was a very good read. Its art was able to bring more life into an already amazing story line.
Rating: 10/10 - Excellent!
Plot Analysis (Spoilers)
The Hero Cycle
Call to Adventure - The lions start talking to each other when they see a plane pass by.
Crossing - As the walls get blown away, the lions finally see a taste of the outside as they start their venturing across the forests and the leftovers.
Helper I - The lions come across a sea turtle who tells them a bit of his past.
Test - The lions come across a group of horses and attempts to chase them.
Helper II - They find Rashid, a beaten up lion. He tells them to get away, but instead find themselves trapped.
Supreme Ordeal - They battle Fajer and start to lose hope, but Zill comes and pushes him into the stampeding horses.
Boon - They're all together staring into a neverending horizon, which they soon get to fly around as their spirits fly away to heaven.
7 Basic Plots
This comic book is undoubtedly a Tragedy. As they get a taste of everything outside the zoo. They go through numerous obstacles. One example is the chasing of the horses. Another is the battle against Fajer the bear. They also meet random strangers such as the turtle and the lion. Although it may seem like a quest, the characters face their death in the end when they each get shot by the American Soldier.
Character Analyses (Spoilers)
There is no particular main character considering they travel as a group, and each of them has their own story to tell.
Safa
Safa, the sagest of the group, is an old female lioness with a lot of experience; her negative experiences from the wild make her contented with living in the zoo, but she remains cynical and mistrusting.
She's been brutally scarred during a night she commemorates; she was raped. She always seems so pessimistic due to her getting used to the zoo captivity. She somewhat has a bit of heart left in her. This was showed when she saved Ali from the knocked up monkeys that were left in the zoo.
Ali
Ali, the youngest lion, is an optimistic, if immature, cub.
He's the curious of the bunch, usually sticking his nose into things.
Noor
Noor, a vibrant, young lioness with little experience outside of the zoo, is eager to experience the wild. She loathes being under the zookeepers and longs for freedom from the confines of the zoo.
She's the risk taker among the group. What she plans is usually out of sync with what the others think.
Zill
Zill, the alpha male, is pessimistic and instinct-driven, but very passionate for the lions under his mane.
He was the one who usually straightens things up when conflicts between Noor and Safa arise.
Symbolisms
The Lions as Iraq, Fajer the Bear as Corruption, The Horses as Success, The Horizon as Hope, American Soldiers as the "end"
After the bombing of Iraq, the country was under shaky standing due to the warfare. They've been released from whatever captivity they were under.
As they go out of the zoo (the captivity), they long for something that would brighten up their days because they were usually pampered by the zoo. Each of the lions could probaby represent a kind of person in Iraq. Ali serves as the youth of Iraqi society. Zill serves as the leader of the society, the ones who envision their success. Noor is the so-called wise one who continues to communicate with others to come together and garner their own freedom. Lastly, Safa is the elderly one who wishes she was back in captivity because she's in a way bitter that this is all happening to them.
While they go about the devastated city, they encounter a group of white horses which they clearly eye as their own food. It's as if the Iraqi society aiming for their own success after they've been completely bombarded with devastating blows. The lions were determined enough to follow the horses everywhere just to achieve pure satisfaction of their hunger. It's somewhat like every country striving to achieve their own success when it comes to economy. Although they worked hard following those horses, they lose them and come across Fajer.
Fajer is a bear who seeks to feast on the lion's meat. He's trying to put an end to their happiness. He somewhat symbolizes the corruption for Iraq. It slowly blankets over them, and their only hope was a slight batte against corruption. The battle was Zill taking down the lion. After they battle the bear, they finally find the horizon. The horizon serves as hope as it lifts up their spirits and makes them feel like they're floating. Although they get the sense of hope, the American soldiers cut short their lives with shots to almost every singe part of the body. This serves as Iraq's "death."
Pride of Baghdad
Pride of Baghdad is an award-winning comic book written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Niko Henrichon .
On September 13, 2006, it was released by DC Comics ' Vertigo imprint.
Pride of Baghdad
Summary (No spoilers at all)
Pride of Baghdad tells the story of a group of four lions who escaped Baghdad Zoo when it was hit by an American bombing run. The four lions are all very diverse in terms of personality: Zill, the alpha male, is pessimistic and instinct-driven, but very passionate for the lions under his mane. Safa, the sagest of the group, is an old female lioness with a lot of experience; her negative experiences from the wild make her contented with living in the zoo, but she remains cynical and mistrusting. Noor, a vibrant, young lioness with little experience outside of the zoo, is eager to experience the wild. She loathes being under the zookeepers and longs for freedom from the confines of the zoo. Ali, the youngest lion, is an optimistic, if immature, cub. He has a curious mind and is ardent in wanting to try out new things. His innocence and vivaciousness as a youngster show through his bright personality and hopeful attitude.Throughout their journey, the lions meet different creatures and experience many new things, such as how life is outside the zoo and keeping up values like honor, courage, and sacrifice. As the lions go deeper and deeper into man's world, they begin learning the often differing nature of freedom, experience the harsh and cold horrors of war, the cruel realities of life, and witness the power of cooperation and teamwork.
Art Critique
One thing that truly sets Pride of Baghdad apart was its amazing art. The art was able to capture the whole point of the graphic novel. It was able to portray the emotion in each of the lion's faces. Details such as scarred eyes, bullet-caused holes, and blood-red scratches were made so beautifully that it could've even looked slightly realistic. Every scene was able to show its real mood in every frame. From the sunset, to the night, to the forest, each one had the proper blend of colors that actuall carry on the emotions and feelings into its readers.Review (Spoilers)
Pride of Baghdad is certainly a good read for almost any comic book fan. Not your everyday superhero comic book, Pride of Baghdad focuses on a reality hidden in deep symoblisms in this comic book.Pride of Baghdad is about a pride of four lions venturing across Baghdad after the fateful day a bomb landed right where they reside. While they travel along the city, they come across different animals, such as Fajer the bear. As they go on through the city, they finally find themselves staring into a horizon - something that Ali has been looking for, but as they gaze upon its beauty, lightning-fast bullets come piercing into their skin as each one of the lions collapse into death. The comic actually has a very good story in it at the same time symbolizing a greater reality in it. Its characters also had very distinct personalities as you could see how different they react to each other. Something that should also be considered is the way the comic book displays a war-struck setting. You could actually see how devastated that area was. The comic was also able to show a story within the tragedy that happens in Baghdad. The plotline was also very well planned out bringing the animals from the zoo to the area where their lives get cut short.
This comic book's art is very attractive and appealing. Its proper blend of colors entice you to read it even more. Each detail is well given attention to that each frame of the comic book seems so flawless. The setting was very realistic looking has if it was a 2-D version of the real thing.
Overall, Pride of Baghdad was a very good read. Its art was able to bring more life into an already amazing story line.
Rating: 10/10 - Excellent!
Plot Analysis (Spoilers)
The Hero Cycle
7 Basic Plots
This comic book is undoubtedly a Tragedy. As they get a taste of everything outside the zoo. They go through numerous obstacles. One example is the chasing of the horses. Another is the battle against Fajer the bear. They also meet random strangers such as the turtle and the lion. Although it may seem like a quest, the characters face their death in the end when they each get shot by the American Soldier.Character Analyses (Spoilers)
There is no particular main character considering they travel as a group, and each of them has their own story to tell.Safa
Safa, the sagest of the group, is an old female lioness with a lot of experience; her negative experiences from the wild make her contented with living in the zoo, but she remains cynical and mistrusting.She's been brutally scarred during a night she commemorates; she was raped. She always seems so pessimistic due to her getting used to the zoo captivity. She somewhat has a bit of heart left in her. This was showed when she saved Ali from the knocked up monkeys that were left in the zoo.
Ali
Ali, the youngest lion, is an optimistic, if immature, cub.He's the curious of the bunch, usually sticking his nose into things.
Noor
Noor, a vibrant, young lioness with little experience outside of the zoo, is eager to experience the wild. She loathes being under the zookeepers and longs for freedom from the confines of the zoo.She's the risk taker among the group. What she plans is usually out of sync with what the others think.
Zill
Zill, the alpha male, is pessimistic and instinct-driven, but very passionate for the lions under his mane.He was the one who usually straightens things up when conflicts between Noor and Safa arise.
Symbolisms
The Lions as Iraq, Fajer the Bear as Corruption, The Horses as Success, The Horizon as Hope, American Soldiers as the "end"
After the bombing of Iraq, the country was under shaky standing due to the warfare. They've been released from whatever captivity they were under.As they go out of the zoo (the captivity), they long for something that would brighten up their days because they were usually pampered by the zoo. Each of the lions could probaby represent a kind of person in Iraq. Ali serves as the youth of Iraqi society. Zill serves as the leader of the society, the ones who envision their success. Noor is the so-called wise one who continues to communicate with others to come together and garner their own freedom. Lastly, Safa is the elderly one who wishes she was back in captivity because she's in a way bitter that this is all happening to them.
While they go about the devastated city, they encounter a group of white horses which they clearly eye as their own food. It's as if the Iraqi society aiming for their own success after they've been completely bombarded with devastating blows. The lions were determined enough to follow the horses everywhere just to achieve pure satisfaction of their hunger. It's somewhat like every country striving to achieve their own success when it comes to economy. Although they worked hard following those horses, they lose them and come across Fajer.
Fajer is a bear who seeks to feast on the lion's meat. He's trying to put an end to their happiness. He somewhat symbolizes the corruption for Iraq. It slowly blankets over them, and their only hope was a slight batte against corruption. The battle was Zill taking down the lion. After they battle the bear, they finally find the horizon. The horizon serves as hope as it lifts up their spirits and makes them feel like they're floating. Although they get the sense of hope, the American soldiers cut short their lives with shots to almost every singe part of the body. This serves as Iraq's "death."
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