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| Pride of Baghdad | |
|---|---|
 Cover to Pride of Baghdad |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Vertigo |
| Publication date | September 13, 2006 |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) | Brian K. Vaughan |
| Artist(s) | Niko Henrichon |
| Letterer(s) | Todd Klein |
| Editor(s) | Will Dennis Casey Seijas |
Pride of Baghdad is a graphic novel written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Niko Henrichon released by DC Comics' Vertigo imprint on September 13, 2006. The story is a fictionalized account of the true story of four African lions that escaped from the Baghdad Zoo after an American bombing in 2003.
It won the IGN award for best original graphic novel in 2006.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Plot
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} |
This section requires expansion. |
The story revolves around the brief freedom experienced by a small pride of captive lions, who escape from Baghdad Zoo during the 2003 invasion of Baghdad by the U.S.-led coalition.
The story may be read as an allegory The destruction of the zoo and the short lived freedom of the lions can be seen to represent the decline of Iraqi society after being freed from Saddam Hussein's Baath Party by the American invasion. This is illustrated by a comment made by one of the lions shortly after being freed: "There's an old saying, Zill. Freedom can't be given, only earned."
[edit] Characters
Main Characters
- Zill, the alpha male (and only adult male) of the pride. Though usually mild-mannered, he will show signs of aggression and proves to be a competent fighter.
- Safa, an old lioness who is blind in one eye and has a torn ear; she has become accustomed to captivity and views the human advantage of their new freedom. It is implied that she once used to be Zill's mate.
- Noor, a younger lioness, mother to Ali; she longs for freedom from the zoo. She and Safa rarely agree, and they often fight verbally. Zill's current mate.
- Ali, Noor's innocent young cub.
Secondary Characters
- Bukk, a lion from Safa's past.
- An unnamed sea turtle who speaks with Safa and Ali about the past.
- Fajer, a blood-thirsty bear who challenges the group.
- Rashid, a tortured lion close to his death.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Official MySpace page for Pride of Baghdad
- A visual step-by-step from Niko Henrichon, the book's artist
- Brian K. Vaughan's Roaring Pride, Publishers Weekly, June 20, 2006.
- BBC News US troops kill Baghdad lions
- "CNN" Baghdad Zoo: A different battle
- The Joy of Pride: Vaughan Talks Pride of Baghdad, Comic Book Resources
