The good folks at First Second are bringing us some online comics goodness starting today with Zahra’s Paradise, a comic exploring events in Iran, starting with the still disputed recent elections and the protests and subsequent crackdown by the old guard. The revolution may not be televised, as the old song goes, but it was twittered, blogged and now comicked, which doubtless will annoy stern old men in beards who can’t deal with anyone holding much less expressing an opinion contary to the ones espoused by them. Which is good. “Some suspect the Iranian regime would rather keep the world community’s attention focused on the nuclear negotiation, and away from the human rights crimes. By returning the focus to the latter, Zahra’s Paradise is not merely a work of observation. Art becomes a player, a participant, a voice adding to the chorus of voices in the streets and on the rooftops of Iran,” explained First Second’s Mark Siegel. Written by human rights activist Amir and illustrated by Khalil the series will start today online and be collected into print in 2011 – suspect this is one we’re going to want to bookmark.
February 19th, 2010 at 10:49 am
Absolutely brilliant!