DC Comics, through their Vertigo imprint, has once again given us an incredible book, this time in the form of the autobiographical How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less by Sarah Glidden.
The entire situation in Israel/Palestine is a complicated one. I don't think anyone on either side of the issue will argue that. There are so many shades of gray to the issue that you want to put on rose colored glasses just to add some color into things and try making sense of it. I had my feelings and my limited understanding of the issues and I must say they were all challenged by Glidden's book.
The book revolves around Glidden's decision to take "Birthright Israel" tour and all of the things she learns there. She leaves with an informed idea of what she thinks the situation is, but it's always so much more hazy when you're there.
Glidden takes us from her departure to her return in panel after gorgeous, water-colored panel and we get just as confused about how we should feel by the reality of the situation as she does.
This book is not pro-Israel or pro-Palestine. It's not anti-Israel or anti-Palestine either, it's pro-reality. And in reality, nothing is ever really in black and white. I enjoyed the fair, even handed nuance it took to bring us this book, and I think it should be required reading for anyone who waxes philosophical on the subject of Israel or anyone who wants to know more about the increasingly muddled situation abroad.
DC Comics has been kind enough to provide us an exclusive preview of the book below and I think you'll agree with me when I say that it's written in an insightful manner and drawn with an attention to detail you could only acquire by living through it.
It comes out November 9th, but you can preorder it here on Amazon.
Bryan Young is the editor of the geek news site Big Shiny Robot!