Pride of Baghdad

So, Borders sent me a 40% off coupon I just couldn't resist and I have to say I'm glad I didn't. While at the store tonight I stumbled upon a couple of different comics I thought looked really interesting, so went ahead and bought both. The first was "Pride of Baghdad" written by Brian K. Vaughan with art by Niko Henrichon. The second was "The Filth" written by Grant Morrison with penciling by Chris Weston and ink by Gary Erskine. After I got home I started and finished "Pride" and wow. It was really lovely.

It's based on the true story about four lions that escaped the Baghdad Zoo in 2003 after an American bombing raid. This is the illustrated story of their brief journey into freedom as told from their perspective. While the story was satisfying, I have to say I'm more in love with the art. It's gorgeous. See:









Stunning, right? The colors are just so lush, perhaps, is the word I'm looking for. Well, lush in some panels and very subdued in others. It all works out to illustrate what is already a great story in a really delightful way. I could really just sit and look at the pages in this comic for days. At some point in the near future I'll see if "The Filth" turns out to be as good a time as "Pride of Baghdad" was.

In other news about things I'm reading: I'm a bit further into An Arsonist's Guide to Writers Homes in New England by Brock Clarke and I've started to reread Lolita by Vladimir Nabakov. After those are finished up it's on to Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow and whatever is next on my book club's agenda after Lolita.

Happy reading!