When considering “Pride of Baghdad”, I want to consider it in two parts. First, the artwork. The artwork is superb. I am talking of the highest level. Even when what you are looking at is gut-wrenching and devastating, it is still a thing of beauty.

The second consideration is the story. War, politics, military action are all very divisive subjects. The thought behind “Pride of Baghdad”, as stated by the author, is to get people to see the devastation that is suffered by those that are not fighting the war. And in that, Brian K. Vaughan has succeeded.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

With art as beautiful as the story is tragic #PrideofBaghdadThe20thAnniversaryEdition by #BrianK.Vaughan brings to life the brutality of war through the eyes of a pride of lions freed from captivity during bombing. Based on a true story, Vaughan gives voice to the voiceless.
Thank you #NetGalley & #ImageComics for the opportunity to review the e-ARC. #BookSky

Absolutely beautiful graphic novel. It's a heartbreaking story based on real events and it's incredible beautifully drawn.

Wow… this was such a beautiful read. By the end, I was genuinely moved to tears. The artwork is stunning, and as I scrolled, it felt like I was watching a movie rather than reading.

I loved how the story unfolds around four lions who escape after the zoo is destroyed during a bombing: Safa, who knows the harsh realities of the wild; Noor, who dreams of escaping the zoo; Zill, who holds everything together; and little Ali, full of curiosity and wonder. As the story progressed, I rooted for the lions to survive despite knowing the ending. This made the story even more heartbreaking.

The author and illustrator have created a masterpiece that shows the suffering and destruction caused by war.
This book affected me in a way that’s hard to put into words -- the sadness of knowing it’s based on reality, the breathtaking art, and the depth of emotion in every frame and dialogue.

This is truly a masterpiece.

Thank you, Author, for giving me a chance to read this magnificent book!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and this review is voluntary

Through the usage of anthropomorphism to bring to life the captive animals of the Baghdad Zoo, this literature chronicles their story through the hours after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Mostly a fictionalized account of the events taking place that day, the lions escaping did in fact happen, and much of the focus was on their experience during this military engagement, both as a group and as individuals.

The dialog between the lions as the situation unfolds is filled with a tremendous amount of uncertainty, and fear. On one hand the walls came down and they are now free, but they do not know or understand why. As humans we know why because we read about it in the paper, see it on the news or somewhere on social media. For many, they have experienced the why firsthand.

By showcasing these events through not just the lions but also the other animals present, we are given an opportunity to see through a perspective that doesn't understand our customs or history. They don't understand why objects are falling from the sky, or why there's rumble and fire everywhere. They do understand fear, like us, and that's what makes it heartbreaking to read.

In light of the more depressing historical elements, it was a great read and I'm glad to have been able to scope this out. The visuals were beautiful. They captured the physical emotional responses of the situation so well.

Thank you to the publisher for this opportunity, and as always, to the author for creating this material.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel and found myself surprisingly invested in the fate of our four lions. I also enjoyed the end material that gave some insights into the creative process and the evolution of the book.

Haunting, beautiful, and devastating. This re-release follows four lions who escape the Baghdad Zoo during the 2003 bombings, giving a fiercely original, animal-eye view of war’s chaos and cost. The artwork is stunning, you get cinematic panels that break your heart and the lions’ distinct and scared voices turn a news headline about war into a family story of survival and loss.

First I would like to thank NetGalley, the Author and Artist and the Publisher for this STUNNING ARC.

First let me tell you that this Graphic Novel really RIPPED my heart out.
I had heard some snippets of the Baghdad situation but nothing much and just didn't put two and two together.
So when I started reading this I was looking forward to at least one of the lions dying in a semi post-war world. But not this.
Humans are cruel. I see this every day. And I hate being of the same species as them. But that's how it is and I can not chance that, what I can do is show a little kindness here and there and every time and as much as I can. Especially to those who can't speak for themselves or have no one defending their rights. I might not be as good at it as I would like but I do try. But the way these lions and other creatures where and still are treated is just horrific. The ending is just cruel and in my opinion <b>completely and utterly unnecessary</b>

So yeah, this was something.
The art is lovely and the story is perfect.
It showcases the brutality and innocent lives lost during a war.

Thanks a ton to Image Comics and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this in advance. All thoughts are my own.

I remember the first time I read Pride of Baghdad. It was recommended to me by an acquaintance who knew how much I loved Y: The Last Man and Saga, and the premise sounded intriguing. I was not prepared. It blew me away then, and it resonates just as hard upon a re-read here. Brian K. Vaughan and Niko Henrichon are the dream team of dream teams.

Knowing the idea behind this story originated from real events (lions freed from the Baghdad Zoo due to U.S. bombings during the U.S. invasion of Iraq roaming the city), it still baffles me just how relatable BKV makes the different animals as they try to navigate the very human-led destruction around them. You can feel the confusion, fear, and hope as they encounter new disaster after new disaster. I cannot wait for this to drop at my local comic shop, as I will definitely be buying it again.