Pride of Baghdad

Product Information

Once you got to Iraq and took it over, took down Saddam Hussein’s government, then what are you going to put in its place? That’s a very volatile part of the world, and if you take down the central government of Iraq, you could very easily end up seeing pieces of Iraq fly off: part of it, the Syrians would like to have to the west, part of it — eastern Iraq — the Iranians would like to claim, they fought over it for eight years. In the north you’ve got the Kurds, and if the Kurds spin loose and join with the Kurds in Turkey, then you threaten the territorial integrity of Turkey.

The lions venture outside the zoo for the first time and are greeted by the panic and horror of war. A stampede of all types of animals rushes out of the zoo, and a giraffe that pauses to praise the gods for his newfound freedom is killed in a direct hit from a falling bomb. The lions continue on past fleeing Iraqi tanks and encounter a turtle that has lost his family to the war. The turtle informs the lions that the humans are fighting over a “poison” called oil and tells them of a large stone statue in Babylon of a lion trying to eat a man. According to legend, “as long as that statue’s still standing, this land will never fall to outsiders.” Lavishly drawn, and devastating...Vaughan has his marvelously imagined characters debate the concept of freedom versus desire for safety...the total effect is memorable."-- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, starred★

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Henrichon’s art brings the story to life in gorgeous color. From the desert sand to a lush green oasis, Iraq is depicted as a land of beauty. He slavishly studied photographs of Iraq’s architecture, and the characters themselves are distinct and personable. The limited dialogue, vivid art, and layered interpretations make Pride of Baghdad a strong introduction to graphic novels, and the book is a popular choice among high school and college teachers. Those interested in exploring comics as literature and animal narratives in fiction will find this book a stellar example of both. The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) selected Pride of Baghdad as one of the top ten graphic novels for teens. And I knew the outcome of the true events, so I was prepared for the ending and a possible discussion of why things went down the way they did. What I wasn’t prepared for was lion rape. Are you serious right now?

The four lions wander the streets of Baghdad as bombs fall, tanks rumble and their preconceived notions of freedom shatter. Zill doesn’t have strong opinions about whether freedom or captivity would be better. Ultimately, his concern is the well-being of his pride regardless of what happens. He represents pragmatic Iraqis trying to adapt to the chaos while protecting their families. One thoughtful commentator pointed out that the rape scene never actually comes to the attention of the protagonist, meaning it couldn't be an attempt to build his character. So I guess it's just extraneous to the plot? I'll beg off debating which is worse. In 2003, the Iraq war was triggered because of Hussein's violent suppression on the people, who have their own political views, but also his possession of the large amount of illegal weapons. The novel not only presents the consequence of dictatorship, but also satirizes the interference of U. S. army because the public opinion says that the reason of U. S. involving the war is impure since no evidence has been found to prove that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction. The main purpose of U. S. army invading is the oil resources in Iraq; however, by coincidence, Hussein is on the reign, which causes the U. Throughout the story, the lions wrestle with the cost of their freedom. Safa and her desire to remain in captivity can be interpreted as an endorsement of zoos and the protection they provide against the threats of the natural and human world. However, as a counterpoint, the domesticated animals in the palace are either mistreated or emotionally scarred by their experiences. The pride has human perspectives on freedom and whether it can be given or if it must be earned. The temporary freedom the lions have leads them on a fatal journey that asks the reader to confront the costs of war on all forms of life. ImpactForegone Conclusion: It just kind of is. Especially if you read the article the story was based on.

The pride experiences different horrifying situations including its encounter with the dangerous bear, tanks, turtle, and many others. At last, the four lions arrive in the centre of Baghdad, and here they meet their fate. The American soldiers kill them all. They have to pay the price of seeking their freedom in the form of their lives. The premise of the escape is padded with anthropomorphized conversation between the lions (bringing obvious Orwell parallels), exploring the nature of captivity. There’s argument between the lions over whether it is better to be held captive by benevolent keepers, and fed regularly, or live free with the possibility of going hungry. March 20, 2018, marked the 15th anniversary since the Bush/Cheney administration proclaimed the U.S. would be greeted as liberators of Iraq. More farcical words could not have been said (perhaps Ronald Reagan’s 1985 dedication of the Space Shuttle Columbia to the Taliban is a close rival: “these gentlemen are the moral equivalents of America's Founding Fathers”). No one faults Cheney for being a failed Nostradamus, but it’s clear he knew better than to invade Iraq. In his own words, during a 1994 C-SPAN interview, Cheney was asked why the US did not take Baghdad during the first Gulf War: Because if we’d gone to Baghdad we would have been all alone. There wouldn’t have been anybody else with us. There would have been a U.S. occupation of Iraq. None of the Arab forces that were willing to fight with us in Kuwait were willing to invade Iraq. Positive Content: Characters rescue and aid one another in times of peril. The four lions, despite their differences, work together towards a common goal. A lion chooses not to kill potential prey. Zill had never seen such big birds before Review

GRAPHIC NOVEL GUIDE

Reception [ edit ] Writer Brian K. Vaughan signing a copy of the book at Midtown Comics in Manhattan.

Ali, a young lion cub, has never lived outside the zoo and is eager to venture into the new jungle of Baghdad, where he anticipates being a king. His youthful optimism and curiosity about the world supply the group’s energy and levity. Spiritual Content: A character mistakenly believes their sudden liberation is a sign from heaven. Someone references hell. Someone compares a palace to heaven. Somewhere, a Mammalogist Is Crying: The book implies lions commit rape, can't swim, and that males never hunt. None of this is true. Violence: Several animals are harmed and killed in the graphic novel, whether by bullets or bombs. Animals bite and scratch each other. Humans and animal corpses are displayed. Someone is trampled after falling.Almost a decade after its initial release, Brian K. Vaughan and Niko Henrichon’s Pride of Baghdad is still heartbreaking. The graphic novel recounts the fall of Baghdad during the 2003 American invasion as seen through the eyes of a pride of lions that fled the Baghdad Zoo. Can someone who’s known nothing but captivity ever truly handle freedom? What are the consequences of being free? Is it better to be fed and caged or free and hungry? Time Abyss: The sea turtle, being old enough to remember the first Gulf War is this to the lions due to their shorter lifespans. We can’t wait around for some miracle to change the world for us. We have to take control of our destinies.”