“The Sufi saint Rabi’a Al-Adawiyya was seen carrying a firebrand and a jug of water – the firebrand to burn Paradise, the jug of water to drown Hell…
So that both veils disappear, and God’s followers worship, not out of hope for reward, nor fear of punishment, but out of love.” ― Craig Thompson, Habibi
Stats
5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover, 672 pages
Published September 20th 2011 by Pantheon (first published September 2011)
Harvey Awards Nominee for Best Graphic Album-Original
Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards for Best Writer/Artist (for Craig Thompson) (2012)
IGN Award for Best Original Graphic Novel (2011)
CBH – Best Comics of All Time #94
About
“From the From the internationally acclaimed author of Blankets (“A triumph for the genre.”—Library Journal), a highly anticipated new graphic novel.
Sprawling across an epic landscape of deserts, harems, and modern industrial clutter, Habibi tells the tale of Dodola and Zam, refugee child slaves bound to each other by chance, by circumstance, and by the love that grows between them. We follow them as their lives unfold together and apart; as they struggle to make a place for themselves in a world (not unlike our own) fueled by fear, lust, and greed; and as they discover the extraordinary depth—and frailty—of their connection.
At once contemporary and timeless, Habibi gives us a love story of astounding resonance: a parable about our relationship to the natural world, the cultural divide between the first and third worlds, the common heritage of Christianity and Islam, and, most potently, the magic of storytelling.”
My Thoughts
“You’re more than a story.” ― Craig Thompson, Habibi
When trying to make an argument about why graphic novels are richer, deeper, and more complex than the spandex-clad superhero saving the day; this is the book I hand you. A tome that is nearly 700 pages long and it is filled to the brim with an intricately woven tapestry of middle eastern lore, myth, and culture. It isn’t perfect, but it is incredible.
First, let us talk about the good and when I say it is good, it is really good. This book, if it is anything else is an ode to calligraphy. Calligraphy or caligraphic images permeate the story and the pages. The shape of calligraphic characters is just as important as the number itself. The flow and richness of characters and words change form with the direction of the plot. For example, The word for bird changes the shape of the characters and flows into the shape of an actual bird. Caligraphy fills the scenes, gives shape to the plot, gives meaning to the characters struggles, and fleshes out their personality. The abstractions are weighty and deep but at the center of the swirling calligraphy is a love story. One that spans decades.
It revolves around Dodola and Zam. Two individuals who at the beginning of the story are eking out an existence on a ship buried in the sand stranded in the desert. To feed them, Dodola prostitutes herself out to traveling caravans to bring food to their home. Zam is said to have the power to find water so his family job is to bring water home to them. Both jobs are equally necessary and symbolic in keeping them alive. Like two halves of a coin, this duality is present in much of the book. Armstrong deftly jumps from character to character creating this universe that they live by switching back and forth chapter by chapter. As the story progresses Dodola and Zam are parted after Zam witnesses Dodola getting raped. Zam, contextually, does not understand what he has seen so he renders himself psychologically. This culminates in a choice that he can never come back from.
After their parting, each individual desperately yearns to be with the other so that they are complete. By themselves, they represent only half a person or half a soul. Again the theme of duality is present.
It is hard to believe that Craig Thompson does not know calligraphy, nor has he extensively traveled the middle east. His book is a love note to the beauty of calligraphy as much as it is anything else.
Let’s talk about the not so good. This book is long. Exhaustingly over-long. Even worse, it is so intricately detailed that putting it down will culminate in a lost plot for the reader. I feel like he suffers from what I call Jordanism. Aptly named for Robert Jordan who can never get to the damn point. For me, it was too many side stories and rehashing of similar events. But It could have been edited down and it still would have punched me in the gut. But exhaustive detail is an Armstrong characteristic. It was present in “Blankets” and it is present here. It isn’t bad, just know what you are in for.
Also, there have been write-ups about this being orientalism. I am not going to pretend that I can talk about that effectively. I do not have the experience to be able to relate or review it in that light. However, if you are interested there are scads of articles written about that and regarding Armstrong’s other works. Check it out.
By the end of this book, I guarantee it will be like nothing that you have read before. Whether classifying it as a love story, religious text, or historical doctrine; the story will resonate. Just know what you are in for. You will be rung out by the end of it.
The lovely Katie at Reading Through Infinity Tagged me with this wonderful Christmas Tag. So here goes:
Rules
Link to the person who tagged you.
Link to me, as I’d love to read your answers.
Answer all 10 questions, choosing books for each theme.
Tag five people to do this.
You get up on Christmas morning and your stocking is full! You take it down and start to unwrap the treats inside. The first thing you see is…
An orange! Which book is refreshing and vibrant, both inside and out?
This series made me laugh so hard I guffawed. Laughing to me is the ultimate refresher.
The next thing you see is a bag of chocolate coins. (Yum) Which book have you recently bought that was expensive but totally worth the high price?
I found a first edition hardback signed edition of this in a second-hand shop and purchased it. It is the most expensive book I own. It is a gorgeous, funny, and worthwhile read. Vonnegut really knows how to capture us humans in prose.
You also pull out a bath bomb. Tell us about a book that had explosive action scenes.
The zombie chase scenes in this are grabbing on to the edge of your seat exciting.
Next is a pack of playing cards. Which series won you over?
Absolutely one of my favorites. The first book is slow going and it took me a couple tries to get into it. But, once I was there it became one of my favorite books. Talk about a BAMF.
You also get a candle. Which character is a symbol of hope in their story?
Such courage and fortitude is demonstrated by the nameless main character in this visual story. It exemplifies the strength it takes to be an immigrant in a foreign land. It is a crazy beautiful book.
There are socks inside too. Is there a book that you think really encompasses all the distinctive tropes of its genre?
God I have a love hate relationship with this series. I loved the first books, but the series eventually fell into disrepair. It almost became a parody of itself. Sex, problems, sex, stupid situation no normal person would find themselves in, sex, and then voila the end.
There’s also a notebook. Which author’s writing process do you find most interesting/inspiring?
I don’t know of many writers’ progresses but I do find a lot of authors interesting people. I enjoy the ranting and raving of Christopher Moore and Stephen King quite a bit.
To go with the notebook, there’s a fancy pen. Is there a book or a series that you’d change if you’d written it yourself?
Yes. The Iron Druid’s series by Kevin Hearne. Hearne is a great writer, but that last book felt phoned in. It was a rush to conclusion and a bit of a downer when the rest of the series was very positive. I would have changed the tone of the last book.
There’s also a small bedside clock. Which book took you a long time to pick up but was worth it in the end?
This book took me awhile to get going in. Most of the first fifty pages I was scratching my head saying “what the hell.” Get into it, keep reading and you will see. It is so good.
Your pile is getting really big. You reach in to pull out the last gift and it’s… a lump of coal? You’re a little disappointed. But you look closer and realize there’s a seam running through the coal. You crack it open and sitting inside is a tiny golden snitch. Tell us about a book that surprised you in some way.
Shustermen does not get the glory and recognition he so richly deserves. I started reading this on a lark having no idea what it is about and it was well worth the read. It surprised me how damn good this book is.
Johnny “Is this milk still good?!!”
The victim “Huh?! *sip* Uh…yeah.”
Johnny “THIS LETTUCE! HOW CRISP IS IT? HOW CRISP GODDAMMIT?!
The victim “It’s Fine!”
Johnny “THESE FUDGE-POPS! FREEZER BURN?! FREEZER BURN?!”
The Victim “umm..”
Squee’s Wonderful Big Giant Book of Unspeakable Horrors (Squee!)
by Jhonen Vásquez
About
From the publisher, “Squee’s Wonderful Big Giant Book of Unspeakable Horrors collects together the four issues of the Squee comic book series from SLG Publishing. It also contains reprints from the popular Jhonny the Homicidal Maniac series that didn’t appear in the JTHM: Director’s Cut book.”
My Thoughts
My God! My brain my brain. My poor abused brain. I feel like I should have a few hours of cat pictures after reading this book. I don’t think this is my brand of humor which I normally go for. Mine is more along the line of, “Blacks Books,” This is more Ren and Stimpy? I am having a problem finding something to compare this book too. Very dark satire. It also might be that I need to be in a proper frame of mind to read this, and I wasn’t. It was terrible and abusive and I kept thinking, “that poor kid needs a hug that is not going to turn into molestation or aliens sticking something up his butt.” It is horrific, but not in a horror movie sort of way. More like, “I can’t believe I am reading this. That poor kid. No wonder he neurotic. I would be neurotic too if I had aliens chasing me to do anal probes and giant dust mites waking me up in my sleep.” All the while, nightmares. But it is awesome. The dark humor is still hopeful and you can’t help but cheer Squee on the whole time.
For me the highlight of this book was Pepito. I could get a print of the strip of Pepito being introduced to his class and melting the other kids in the class with his mind when they were jerks. Kinda cathartic I think. I too have wanted to melt classmates in middle school and elementary.
Johnny “Is this milk still good?!!” The victim “Huh?! *sip* Uh…yeah.” Johnny “THIS LETTUCE! HOW CRISP IS IT? HOW CRISP GODDAMMIT?! The victim “It’s Fine!” Johnny “THESE FUDGE-POPS! FREEZER BURN?! FREEZER BURN?!” The Victim “umm..” Johnny “EAT THE FUCKIN’ WEENIE!!!” The Victim “mmph… It tastes okay.” Johnny “Whew! Thanks. I haven’t cleaned my fridge out in a while, and well… You know.
Daytripper
by Fábio Moon, Gabriel Bá, Craig Thompson (Introduction), Dave Stewart (Colours), Sean Konot (Lettering)
About
From the publisher, “What are the most important days of your life? Meet Brás de Oliva Domingos. The miracle child of a world-famous Brazilian writer, Brás spends his days penning other people’s obituaries and his nights dreaming of becoming a successful author himself—writing the end of other people’s stories, while his own has barely begun. But on the day that life begins, would he even notice? Does it start at 21 when he meets the girl of his dreams? Or at 11, when he has his first kiss? Is it later in his life when his first son is born? Or earlier when he might have found his voice as a writer? Each day in Brás’s life is like a page from a book. Each one reveals the people and things who have made him who he is: his mother and father, his child and his best friend, his first love and the love of his life. And like all great stories, each day has a twist he’ll never see coming… In Daytripper, the Eisner Award-winning twin brothers Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá tell a magical, mysterious and moving story about life itself—a hauntingly lyrical journey that uses the quiet moments to ask the big questions.”
My Thoughts
What if you thought about life as just a series of profound moments interspersed with filler? How would you live your life then? Would you look for the moments? Or would you wait for those moments to happen to you? Death is very much a part of life, and you have to die, so you know that you lived. The authors, Fábio Moon, and Gabriel Bá explore these ideas in the form of a spectacular and beautiful graphic novel.
This is one of the most profound and well-written comics I have read in years, maybe my whole life. Cliche I know, but so right. The authors took each of these great moments that the main character, bras, experiences and turns the end of each chapter into a crossroads. Bras dies at the end of each chapter (each moment), but in the next section, he lived. So he dies and lives in each subsequent episode. As a reader, you know what is coming at the end of every chapter, but you want to know what is going to happen. How is Bras going to handle this moment? I know it is a seems a little confusing, but when you are amidst Bras life, it is anything but.
Why the hell did I wait this long to read this? Daytripper is a must read. Not only does it stand tall among it’s peers in graphic novels. It absolutely holds its own in fiction in general.
It is breathtaking, moving and beautiful…
I Killed Adolf Hitler
by Jason, Kim Thompson
About
From the publisher, “In this full-color graphic novel, Jason posits a strange, violent world in which contract killers can be hired to rub out pests, be they dysfunctional relatives, abusive co-workers, loud neighbors, or just annoyances in general — and as you might imagine, their services are in heavy demand. One such killer is given the unique job of traveling back in time to kill Adolf Hitler in 1939… but things go spectacularly wrong. Hitler overpowers the would-be assassin and sends himself to the present, leaving the killer stranded in the past. The killer eventually finds his way back to the present by simply waiting the decades out as he ages, and teams up with his now much-younger girlfriend to track down the missing fascist dictator… at which point the book veers further into Jason territory, as the cartoonist’s minimalist, wickedly dry sense of humor slows down the story to a crawl: for long patches absolutely nothing happens, but nobody can make nothing happening as riotously entertaining as Jason does… and finally, when the reader isn’t paying attention, he brings it together with a shocking, perfectly logical and yet completely unexpected climax which also solves a mystery from the very beginning of the book the reader had forgotten about. As always, I Killed Adolf Hitler is rendered in Jason’s crisp deadpan neo-clear-line style, once again augmented by lovely, understated coloring.”
My Thoughts
Spoiler alert, Adolph Hitler dies… Big shocker I know. The title is very much in the writing style of the novel: minimalist, terse, and concise. No need for grand allusions or literary whatnot; Jason writes indeed very well and does not need to be wordy. The writing could almost come off as cold, but it isn’t really. It is just succinct. Why write a paragraph, when one word will work. Using this terse writing style he explores themes of love, loss, moving on, and assassination and morality in equal measures throughout the book.
You would think that with a plot like the assassination of Adolph Hitler through time travel via a for-hire assassin, it would be difficult to add in a romance element to it. But Jason makes it work rather well. Again the romance is bare bones, but the emotions are subtle, raw, and very thoughtful.
Read it, it will take you an hour at most. Jason comics are among the best graphic novels have to offer right now. They are profound without being egotistical and pompous. Jason gets you thinking about things without it clouding over your day. They are perfect.
Lake Silence
(The Others #6)
by Anne Bishop
About
From the publisher, “In this thrilling and suspenseful fantasy, set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Others series, Vicki DeVine and her lodger, the shapeshifter Aggie Crowe, stumble onto a dead body . . . and find themselves enmeshed in danger and dark secrets.
Human laws do not apply in the territory controlled by the Others–vampires, shapeshifters, and paranormal beings even more deadly. And this is a fact that humans should never, ever forget . . .
After her divorce, Vicki DeVine took over a rustic resort near Lake Silence, in a human town that is not human controlled. Towns like Vicki’s have no distance from the Others, the dominant predators that rule most of the land and all of the water throughout the world. And when a place has no boundaries, you never really know what’s out there watching you.
Vicki was hoping to find a new career and a new life. But when her lodger, Aggie Crowe–one of the shapeshifting Others–discovers a dead body, Vicki finds trouble instead. The detectives want to pin the man’s death on her, despite the evidence that nothing human could have killed the victim. As Vicki and her friends search for answers, things get dangerous–and it’ll take everything they have to stay alive.”
Habibi
by Craig Thompson
About
From the publisher, “From the From the internationally acclaimed author of Blankets (“A triumph for the genre.”—Library Journal), a highly anticipated new graphic novel.
Sprawling across an epic landscape of deserts, harems, and modern industrial clutter, Habibi tells the tale of Dodola and Zam, refugee child slaves bound to each other by chance, by circumstance, and by the love that grows between them. We follow them as their lives unfold together and apart; as they struggle to make a place for themselves in a world (not unlike our own) fueled by fear, lust, and greed; and as they discover the extraordinary depth—and frailty—of their connection.
At once contemporary and timeless, Habibi gives us a love story of astounding resonance: a parable about our relationship to the natural world, the cultural divide between the first and third worlds, the common heritage of Christianity and Islam, and, most potently, the magic of storytelling.”
My Thoughts
“You’re more than a story.” ― Craig Thompson, Habibi
When trying to make an argument about why graphic novels are richer, deeper, and more complex than the spandex-clad superhero saving the day; this is the book I hand you. A tome that is nearly 700 pages long. It is filled to the brim with an intricately woven tapestry of middle eastern lore, myth, and culture. It isn’t perfect, but it is incredible.
It revolves around Dodola and Zam. Two individuals who at the beginning of the story are eking out an existence on a ship buried in the sand that is stranded in the desert. Oddly enough. Dodola prostitutes herself out to traveling caravans to bring food to their home. While zam is said to have the power to find water. His job is to bring water home to them. Both jobs equally necessary and symbolic in keeping them alive. Like two halves of a coin, this duality is present in much of the book. Armstrong deftly jumps from character to character creating this universe that they live by switching back and forth chapter by chapter. As the story progresses Dodola and Zam are parted after Zam witnesses Dodola get raped. Zam does not understand what he has seen so he tears himself apart psychologically trying to repress his feelings. The culmination of which is him becoming a eunuch and attempting to cut that part out of his psyche.
By the end of this book, I guarantee it will be like nothing that you have read before. Whether classifying it as a love story, religious text, or historical doctrine; the story will resonate. Just know what you are in for. You will be rung out by the end of it.
As a personal challenge to myself, I decided to grow some of the world’s hottest peppers. Not the hottest pepper. Seeds are hard to come by, but I did grow bhut jolokia, scotch bonnets, and Thai Chili. Here is what I learned:
I am way too chicken to try them on my own. I like to think I am ballsy, and in a lot of ways, I am. But ghost peppers, not a chance.
I have a way patient husband who tries things for me instead.
Peppers are not the easiest thing to grow in the PNW. They require a lot of sunlight and good drainage. Both of which can be problematic.
This is a pure novelty. How am I supposed to cook with something I have to wear rubber gloves to handle?
Why do people eat these?
I grew them, they are gorgeous and currently languishing on the vine. It was a fun experiment, and I might tackle the top five next year if I can find seeds. But, as there is no one who will willingly eat them, it may just be another experiment in my gardening prowess. I did it though and crossed something off of my list. Cheers!
I grew Orange Habaneros, Thai, Guajillos, and Bhut Jolokia
From the pubisher, “A reality TV show starring a clone of Jesus Christ causes chaos across the U.S. of the near future in PUNK ROCK JESUS, a new graphic novel written and drawn by Sean Murphy, the acclaimed illustrator of JOE THE BARBARIAN and AMERICAN VAMPIRE.
J2 causes both outrage and adulation. Religious zealots either love or hate the show, angry politicians worry about its influence on the nation, and members of the scientific community fear the implications of cloning a human being at all, let alone the Son of God.
Thomas McKael is the clones’s bodyguard and former IRA operative, who despite his turbulent past is hired to protect the new Jesus—a baby who captivates the world, but grows up to become an angry teenager.
When falling ratings force the network to cut Jesus’s mother from the series the young star runs away, renounces his religious heritage and forms a punk rock band. And what starts off as babysitting for Thomas becomes an epic battle, as Jesus goes to war against the corporate media complex that created him.”
My Thoughts
I seriously can’t decide how I feel about this series. It is angry, defiant, thoughtful, and current. It reminds me of a manifesto written by a Catholic school teenager who wants to rise against his upbringing, It is really, really strange. Strange and a solid read.
Chris is a typical 15-year-old Jesus clone. Angry at the establishment. The establishment being all of Christianity who have deified him as some supposed clone and destroyed and the chance he will ever have at a normal existence. Turned his life into the Truman Show, and killed his mother because she is weak for ratings. SO F#$% YOU, F#$% RELIGION, F#$% EVERYONE (cue guitar riff.) Somehow there is a scientist who has a pet Polar bear, a daughter who is really not her daughter, and the cure to save global warming.
As you can see, this is a book about extremes. Extremes in Christianity, extremes in religious fanaticism, all of America is brimming with fat, lazy and stupid people who don’t know their ass from their elbow. Everything is black and white. Life is not black and white at all, which is why this book reminds me of an angry teenager. The dialog, the plot, even the graphics and pen work are all done in this stark and contrasting style. Whether the illustrator/writer did that on purpose or that was just a stylistic choice remains to be seen, but it lends itself to the dialog. In a lot of ways, the pacing of this novel is a mess. It speeds and jumps around in gigantic leaps of time. The clone of Jesus is 1 years old, then 3, then 10, and then 15. Again, this might be a stylistic choice emulating the time jumps in the bible. If it is, that is a pretty nuanced plot addition.
Hello, tame polar bear.
I feel like all these decisions the author made regarding the extremes in his storytelling where very specific and deliberate. He could have written a much better and more exciting book with the same plot and given it more heart and reality and less punk rockness. But that’s just me. It is an entirely plausible thing for a Hollywood studio to do. Clone a famous person who is a deity to a billion people and watch the ratings soar.
My recommendation is, as usual, to read it. It isn’t great, it isn’t horrible. Just angsty enough for me to feel old and annoyed at the very same time. But kinda fun, and crazy. Again, what the hell is up with a polar bear. Make up your own mind, and drop me a note about it. I am curious about other takes.
In 2004 Rolling Stone Magazine came out with a 500 greatest list. Over the years I have tried to listen to a few songs here and there from the list to broaden my own horizons. It has been an experience. Some of the songs were life-affirming, others not so much. That is the thing with art or music. It makes you feel something, good or bad. I certainly got the feels from many of these songs. It was a great experience.
Favorites? Pretty much anything by Sam Cooke or The Kinks and I now can say without any shred of doubt in my mind that I despise Neil Young’s music. No offense Neil, but you sing like you have marbles in your mouth.
