Reviews of books, comics, movies, and other random stuff.

Deogratias: A Tale of Rwanda

Deogratias, A Tale of Rwanda by J.P. StassenDeogratias: A Tale of Rwanda
By J. P. Stassen, translated by Alexis Siegel
($16.95; First Second)

First Second, the latest mainstream publisher’s attempt to push the graphic novel format into the mainstream, made its much-anticipated debut this month with six graphic novels that have been welcomed with the kind of almost-uniformly positive buzz that illustrates the difference having an actual marketing budget, and knowing how to use it, can make. While the long-term sales figures will determine their ultimate success or failure, they’re certainly off to a strong start in the first impression department with superior production values and a wider range of material than their corporate positioning as an imprint of Henry Holt’s Roaring Brook Press children’s division might suggest. Deogratias, in particular, an emotionally harrowing tale of the Rwandan genocide in the mid-90s told from the perspective of the titular Hutu, is as far from a children’s book as you can get.

Leading off with a brief but informative essay about the horrific genocide of nearly one million Tutsi, Rwanda’s minority ethnic group, by the Hutus, the majority, while the superpowers of the world stood by and effectively did nothing, translator Alexis Siegel puts the events into historical context and provides a sturdy foundation for J.P. Stassen’s gut-wrenching tale. Deogratias is a teenage boy with a teenaged boy’s interests, amongst them a fondness for Tutsi girls and Urwagwa (a local banana beer), but when we first meet him, he’s a disheveled drifter who’s been pushed to the edge of madness by what he’s seen and experienced. Stassen takes a risk with the unusual structure of his story, eschewing a linear narrative in favor of switching back-and-forth in time, before and after the massacres, with the only visual cue being the condition of Deogratias’ white clothing. As a result, it’s not immediately clear where the story is going or what’s actually happened that changed him from a happy-go-lucky teen to a delusional drifter who thirsts for Urwagwa and sometimes imagines he’s a dog. While the non-linear structure is confusing at times (a second reading is almost mandatory to fully appreciate it), when it all starts to come together towards the end, it offers the kind of slow reveal gut-punch that sticks with you for days.

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LINK: Pull List Propaganda

Go check out my latest batch of reviews, including:Deogratias: A Tale of Rwanda (TPB)By J. P. Stassen, translated by Alexis Siegel ($16.95; First Second)Deogratias proves that graphic novels do not have to simply be escapist entertainment, joining the likes of Maus, Palestine and Persepolis as representatives of more than just great graphic novels, but also as powerful, thought-provoking literature, too. (5 out of 5 Eisners)Also in the mix this month are 52: Week One, Civil War #1, American Way #1-3, The Black Coat #1, Tron #1, Werewolves: Call of the Wild #1 (of 3), Talent #1 – ADVANCE REVIEW, Jeremiah…

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On The Shelves: 5/3/06

Support GOOD Comics! Try something new EVERY month. My weekly look at select comic books being released Wednesday, 5/3/06. The full shipping is list available at ComicList. [NOTE: Not all of these titles will actually arrive in all stores. If your LCBS offers a pre-ordering service, be sure to take advantage of it. If not, find another one; or try Khepri.com or MidtownComics.com] PICK OF THE WEEK Mouse Guard #2ACC STUDIOS Liberality For All #1 (Of 8)(AA), $2.99 Why are they reoffering this, and why isn't it noted as a reprint? I mean, with all the mainstream press they got,…

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LINK: Read The Expatriate for Free!

One of several great comics Image publishes that's been hobbled by sporadic and late-shipping issues, The Expatriate is definitely one of my favorites. Check out my review of the second issue, and then hit artist Jason Latour's blog for daily doses of the first four issues...for FREE!!!Why? Let LaTour explain it:Just for the simple fact that we can. Because we made this thing with love and sweat and tears and balls the size of Jupiter.... and we don't think enough of you are reading it. (See we're not completely made of gold, we have ulterior motives :))We want you to…

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Review: La Perdida

La PerdidaBy Jessica Abel ($19.95; Pantheon Books)Wow! I missed La Perdida in its serialized form, first hearing of it when the final issue hit the stands last year, but considering it took five years to finish, I'm guessing reading it collected in one impressive tome was for the best. Unlike decompressed superhero comics where "writing for the trade" often implies unnecessary padding, Jessica Abel crams heaping handfuls of story into each chapter of her gripping tale of self-discovery and self-deceit, but they are unquestionably parts of a larger whole; an excellent, completely engaging and essential whole that belongs on every…

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LINK: Pull List Propaganda

My new review column, Pull List Propaganda, launches today over at PopCultureShock, wherein I review: Infinite Crisis #6, New Avengers: Illuminati, Moon Knight #1, The New Teen Titans #34, Firestorm: The Nuclear Man #23-24, Supermarket #1-2, La Perdida, Mouse Guard #1, Robotíka #1-2, Super Real #1-2, The Last Island, and The Hunger #1-2.I think Jon's still working on adding the images, but it's already up and accessible, and since I'm on vacation and heading out to the Mets game tonight to see Pedro win his 200th game and the beginning of the end of the Atlanta Braves' death grip on…

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LINK: Isotope Legal Download Fest

A Week-Long Celebration of the Future of Comicsw/ Previews from Oni, Top Shelf, AdHouse & More In celebration of the overwhelming response to their offering all of their exclusive sneak peeks of upcoming books, the Isotope is doing something a little special as they lead up to the Alternative Press Expo and the awarding of the 2006 Isotope Award for Excellence in Mini-Comics this weekend... and that's a week-long Legal Download Fest featuring books from the fine folks at Oni Press, Top Shelf, Silent Devil Productions, Boom! Entertainment, and AdHouse Books.All week long, only at the Isotope!

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