Pride of Baghdad

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It won the IGN award for best original graphic novel in 2006. [ [http://bestof.ign.com/2006/comics/7.html IGN.com presents The Best of 2006 ] ]

Plot

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 US forces. They explore a desolate city, encountering other escaped creatures before all of the lions are shot dead by soldiers. The story ends with a cynical note that, on that day, there "were other casualties as well".

Characters

*Zill, the alpha 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, blind in one eye, who has become accustomed to captivity and views the human "keepers" as allies. She may be reluctant to leave the zoo because of being forced into mating with Bukk and his brothers.
*Noor, a younger lioness, mother to Ali; she longs for freedom from the zoo. She is often fighting with Safa because of their conflicting views on freedom.
*Ali, Safa's innocent young cub.
*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 the challenges the group.
*Rashid, a tortured lion close to his death.

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/prideofbaghdad Official MySpace page for "Pride of Baghdad"]
* [http://www.comicfoundry.com/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=290 A visual step-by-step from Niko Henrichon, the book's artist]
* [http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6345425.html Brian K. Vaughan's Roaring Pride] , "Publishers Weekly", June 20, 2006.
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2966107.stm "BBC News" US troops kill Baghdad lions]
* [http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/04/16/sprj.nilaw.baghdad.zoo/ "CNN" Baghdad Zoo: A different battle]
* [http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=8330 The Joy of Pride: Vaughan Talks "Pride of Baghdad"] , Comic Book Resources