Contrary to the general - philosophical - assumption, this time Zarathustra remained silent...
Nicolas Wild is well-known in the world of serious graphic novels lovers by his series of Kaboul Disco, a visual account of his time spent in Afghanistan, where he was invited to draw an adaptation of the new Constitution. His portfolio is widely inspired by his direct contacts with the humans he encountered during his travels and works from all over the world, from Nepal to Ukraine and Lebanon: the opium smokers, the migrants, the students or the vegetable sellers, among many others.
Ainsi se Tut Zarathoustra - an ironic change from the Nitzschean Thus Spoke Zarathustra - outcome all my expectations from the point of view of both the story and the illustrations. It has so many details by creating a realistic story, while at the same time offering an extensive nonfictional background.
The illustrated story is a mixture between history of Iran, religious information, political thriller, socio-political history and travel blogging. Meeting through a game of random circumstances the daugher of a murdered Zoroastrian expert, the author is getting to know a group of Iranian-born Zoroastrians and the everyday life struggle and the intellectual underground in the Islamic Iran.
There are so many characters to meet along the journey, from curious Europeans visiting Iran, to Revolutionary Guards, crocked politicians, Afghan refugees in Iran and Europe, and fine exiled intellectuals. Set in Iran, Paris and Switzerland, this book is a an intellectually rich journey which is interesting not only for the detailed information and the story in itself - an investigation into the murder of Cyrus Yazdi, an activist on behalf of the Zoroastrians - an ancient religious group based mostly in Iran where it counts around 26,000 members and India, where they contributed to the creation of the city of Mumbay, among others - but as well for the illustrations, that reminded me - in terms of style and black-and-white touch, of Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi.
I was really impressed about how smart the relatively modest resources of the graphic novels can be used. Wisely employed, all those information and points of view were brought together through words and images creating a story like no other.
Rating: 5 stars - but most likely a generous 10
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