I have finally got round to sorting out my room after moving (fairly) recently, and came across a graphic novel by Joe Sacco called ‘Palestine’. It reminded me of a blog I read not too long ago on the Simplenvrmt blog about the graphic novel ‘Maus‘.
I bought ‘Palestine’ years ago while still in college, and was the first graphic novel I had bought that was entirely political. In fact, it was the first time I had come across a political story told through the comic genre. It was written by Joe Sacco, after months of research and a trip to the west Bank and the Gaza Strip in which he conducted over 100 interviews with the people that live there. His reportage takes place on the ‘front lines’ of these areas, as he interviews wounded children, prisoners, farmers who have had their land occupied as well as many others living under constant siege. Most of the book is Sacco listening to Palestinians talking about their stories, but also gives space to Israeli history, as well as interactions with Israeli citizens.
If you still think of comic books as being all about spandex-clad superheroes and dastardly villains entangled in obscure plot-lines, then ‘Palestine’ will take you by surprise.
This is war reportage as you have never seen it, and Sacco managed to create a probing and informative series, whilst still maintaining the graphical quality and entertaining story that fans of his work may already know. He has also published comics on the conflicts in Bosnia and Sarajevo, that have helped define an era in alternative comics.
Whatever your knowledge on the history of the conflict in Palestine – and its political history – may be, ‘Palestine’ is a fascinating read, and it is well worth owning a copy. You can find it on Amazon, or in most high street bookshops.
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