Habibi: By Craig Thompson

Where do I start when reviewing this work? Firstly I should state that I havent read Craig Thompsons' highly praised graphic novel Blankets. Although I have looked at it many times and seriously considered buying it, there have always been other options at the time. So this is my first, proper, introduction to Thompson. What an introduction this is! Habibi tells the story of two child slaves Dodola and Zam brought together by fate who take us through some of lifes most important lessons as we read their continuing stories in a fictitious Arabian landscape. This book must have been painstakingly researched by the author as its scope and breadth of storytelling is just breathtaking. It was almost too much for me, and I read lots of comics and graphic novels. Encompassing quotes from the Koran and the Bible we see the similarities of the faiths, beautiful drawings of Arabic calligraphy, chemistry, biology, philosophy and all encompassing unconditional love. Indeed it is this which keeps you coming back for more as at its core this is surely a story of love between two people(s) A beautiful 670 page hardback book it is stunningly designed and drawn from front cover to back cover. It reminds me somewhat of the manga Buddha by Osamu Tezuka which is also a work of incredible scope. Beware though, the book does not shy away from adult themes and therefore is probably not for everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Craig Thompson writes a good love story. Even to a jaded old curmudgeon like myself, both Blankets and Habibi spoke with an authentically tender and caring voice. Habibi is a joy to hold and to look at. Once you've read the story there are so many insanely detailed pages of Arabic lettering and Moorish decoration that one's eye can get lost in. The story itself spans many years and is held together by the thread of the relationship between Zam and Dodola. The story has themes of progress, of pollution and the environment, of race, gender, and of sex, but primarily and supremely it is about the supremacy of love. My only potentially negative comment is Thompson's portrayal of women. This for me is a little conflicted, in his story is a beautiful young woman who is exploited sexually but who turns that sexual exploitation to her advantage. I think Thompson walks a fine line between a joyful celebration of the female form and an uneasy obsession of the same type that fuels his leering male characters throughout the story. Thompson acknowledges this himself through the character Zam who struggles with his own male feelings towards Dodola, recognising in himself the same desire that was the cause of such pain for her. However, I like that this is held in tension in the story and causes the reader to come to his or her own conclusion. I would like to read a review by a woman though to see what she thought. Overall I think this book deserves a place amongst the absolute classic graphic novels. Certainly the artwork and the thematic scope of the book is broad enough, and in my opinion I think Thompson pulls it off.

I had this idea that this book is a sort of Arabic thousand nights type adventure comic but it is more of a book about going through some real hardships which turns it from an adventure into a sort of drama and quite frankly I think it makes one be gripped even more. The story touches on the topics of hardship, living as an outcast, overcoming the struggle, class struggle, staying strong as well as portrayals of love, sex and violence which will make it unsuitable and likely somewhat boring if one was looking to buy a cool comic for your child etc. The quality of inking is superb and it is obvious this book took a loooooong time to draw and it shows in everything from characters to the architecture to the beautiful geometrical arabic designs and mosaics.

I was drawn to this book in my local library, even though it was hard to figure out what the theme was from a perfunctory perusal. Was it a middle eastern religious tale, for example? Once I started to read it, I was fascinated by the interweaving of patterns from mathematical history, cultural wisdom tales, and a very engaging main story, that held much of relevance to our modern world, its many relationships and risky world experiences. I have very happy to have this graphic novel in my library and I look foreward to rereading it, as it has a depth that requires frequent dives to reach.

At first I was curious about this book which was in a local bookstore because of the design of the cover and how thick the book was, which resembled a Quran. After taking a little peek at the book's contents, I was very much attracted to the style of the comic and how the characters are beautifully and individually drawn. After receiving this book, it's safe to say that it's very much worth the money and the read! Absolutely loved the details and how the story progresses; it even made me tear up a little at the end. Truly an amazing book!

Estoy muy contenta con la compra. Hacía tiempo que quería tener un ejemplar de esta novela gráfica. Compré la versión en inglés, porque la diferencia de precio con la versión española es verdaderamente significativa. El papel es sencillo, pero está bien encuadernado en tapa dura. Hay muchos comentarios aquí que expresan su descontento con la dramática historia de la protagonista. A mi modo de ver, la historia se merece las cinco estrellas. "Habibi" nos muestra la cruda realidad a la que se siguen enfrentando aún hoy muchas mujeres (y niñas) en determinados lugares del planeta. Es dramática sin duda. Pero a pesar de todo, hay un hilo de amor, amistad y compromiso que atraviesa todo el libro. Además, los dibujos de Craig Thompson son, como siempre, exquisitos. Inspirándose en la decoración tradicional y la escritura árabe, el artista creó, en mi opinión, una obra maestra.

Don’t worry, I wont mention anything about the plot, but the art in the book is the draw that holds everything together: lavish page designs, confident linework, and panels that feel hand-carved. The Arabic calligraphy is the book’s most striking feature, not just ornament but structure—words that become patterns, patterns that become meaning. Thompson in this book has definitely treated calligraphy as ‘music for the eyes.’

Storia emozionante disegni trascinanti

La edición es impresionante, los dibujos son trazos maestros.

As other review mentioned, the content of this book is controversial, which I do not really understand, since I am Chinese background, so readers have to judge it by themselves. But for the art part, I really love this book. I also loved <blankets>, another masterpiece by the same author. IMHO, <blankets> is great while this book's art is even greater. From story perspective, I love blankets more, because it is almost a real story. Habibi is mostly imaginative story, which is not bad at all, and story telling is great. But in comparison, <blankets> feels more sincerely, since it is author's personal feeling and experience. The print and binding is great as well. Highly recommended. Also recommend the hardcover version of <blankets> if you can find one