2 of 2 members found this review helpful.
“Craig Thompson is definitely one of my favorite comics creators, not just because of his absolutely beautiful art and his breathtaking page designs, but also because of his powerful storytelling. I've been waiting for a new book from him ever since I read Blankets, I don't know how many years ago. Habibi does not disappoint. (By the way, the meaning and significance of the title can be a bit confusing, as it's used a bit ambiguously within the story and not explained until the final chapter. Basically, it's just Arabic for "my beloved".) The story follows Zam, a young black boy, and Dodola, a slightly older Arab girl, as they care for each other and try to survive, alone in a merciless world. The story actually takes place in the modern world, but because the Arab world is often only modern in its urban centers, this is not revealed until toward the later half of the story. Eventually, tragedy strikes and the two are driven apart, enduring many hardships along the way, until they are reunited once again; but their reunion is not all a cause for joy, for in Dodola's absence, Zam has experienced something that has marked him irrevocably, and their reunion is bittersweet. Parallel with each of the chapters in their story are retellings of Islamic mythology (much of which parallels well-known Judeo-Christian stories, but is much more mythological in nature than either Jewish or Christian stories) that are relevant in theme and meaning to the real world stories of which they are a part. The final culmination of the story is when Zam comes to terms with all of his evasions and wrongdoings, a chapter devoid of imagery and reliant only on English and Arabic words to depict this powerful moment, a moment that stays with the reader long after the book has been put down. This is not necessarily a story that has a happy ending. But it is a story with an ending (as well as a beginning and middle) that will make you think and feel, wondering how many of your own choices are similar evasions. ”
Michael wrote this review Saturday, February 11, 2012.
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