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Cairo
A stolen hookah, a spiritual underworld, and a genie on the run change the lives of five strangers forever in this modern fable set on the streets of the Middle East's largest metropolis.
CAIRO interweaves the fates of a drug runner, a down-on-his-luck journalist, an American expatriate, a troubled young student, and an Israeli soldier as they race through bustling present-day Cairo to find an artifact of unimaginable power, one protected by a dignified jinn and sought by a wrathful gangster-magician. But the vastness of Africa's legendary City of Victory extends into a spiritual realm—the Undernile—and even darker powers lurk there...
Written by journalist G. Willow Wilson (Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times Magazine, Cairo Magazine) and drawn by award-winning illustrator M.K. Perker (The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal), this magical-realist thriller brings together the ancient and modern Middle East.
"Chock full of brilliant ideas drawn from the mythology and legends of the Middle East, deftly reinterpreted and modernized by Wilson's agile and whimsical mind and Perker's impressive craft." - Bill Willingham, creator and writer of FABLES
CAIRO interweaves the fates of a drug runner, a down-on-his-luck journalist, an American expatriate, a troubled young student, and an Israeli soldier as they race through bustling present-day Cairo to find an artifact of unimaginable power, one protected by a dignified jinn and sought by a wrathful gangster-magician. But the vastness of Africa's legendary City of Victory extends into a spiritual realm—the Undernile—and even darker powers lurk there...
Written by journalist G. Willow Wilson (Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times Magazine, Cairo Magazine) and drawn by award-winning illustrator M.K. Perker (The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal), this magical-realist thriller brings together the ancient and modern Middle East.
"Chock full of brilliant ideas drawn from the mythology and legends of the Middle East, deftly reinterpreted and modernized by Wilson's agile and whimsical mind and Perker's impressive craft." - Bill Willingham, creator and writer of FABLES
160 pages, Hardcover
First published November 7, 2007
24 people are currently reading
3030 people want to read
About the author
G. Willow Wilson
460 books3,309 followersHugo, World Fantasy and American Book Award-winning author of novels and comics, including THE BIRD KING, INVISIBLE KINGDOM, and ALIF THE UNSEEN. Co-creator of Ms Marvel. Honorary doctor of letters, Rutgers University. I accidentally started a dutch baby baking cult during quarantine. Not very active on here right now, but often found on Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 350 reviews
September 1, 2019
Cairo is an urban fantasy set against the backdrop of the desert city of the same name. It has magical creatures, confused young men, drug dealers, magicians, Israeli soldiers and more.
Everyone in this story is looking for something. If it's not a magical hookah, it is a search for love, truth, their higher self or more power. I suppose the entire story could be used as a reminder that "wherever you go, there you are".
"I wanted to do something. Get away from self-obsessed first world crap. I felt like the monoculture was suffocating me. I didn't want to get stuck where I was. You know that feeling?" "I know it. But I do not think you'll find what you are looking for in Cairo." "Why's that?" "Because a lot of us are stuck here."
I was drawn to this graphic novel because of the teasers that promised mythology mixed with fantasy. It does contain that, but everything felt so rushed. Readers didn't get the context of any of it. We're just thrust into a world that doesn't make much sense and spend much of the story grasping at straws of understanding.
In a way, it is much like real life. However, I prefer my graphic novels to be more of an exercise in escapism than a mirror for real life.
Give me layered worlds, complex story lines, nuanced characters and deep-seated meaning. I felt Cairo reaching for those things, but not quite getting there.
We do have quite a number of main characters, which, by its nature, makes the story more complex. But, in this case, I felt that more was not better because all of the characters felt so one-note.
The exception to this classification was Shams, the jinn. We get glimpses into his millennias-long life, relationships to other storied characters, guardianship of a sacred object and spiritual leanings. Even then, I wanted more.
"Welcome to your new home, oh jinn. We'll talk again when you are more reasonable. Take all the time you need."
The illustrations are done in black and white, and feel rather gritty. I imagine the whole thing could have taken on a completely different character with a couple good punches of color.
My favorite part was when one of the main characters reaches for a hero's sword in a test of faith. G. Willow Wilson, the author, uses a poem by Hafiz to put words in the hero's mouth as he strives to touch another reality and lay claim to the magical blade.
"The place where I am right now... was circled on a map for me."
Though the translation Wilson used varies from the version I am familiar with, which reads: "This place where you are now, God circled on a map for you."
Still, it is a beautiful sentiment. Rather like the intention, if not execution, of this graphic novel.
Everyone in this story is looking for something. If it's not a magical hookah, it is a search for love, truth, their higher self or more power. I suppose the entire story could be used as a reminder that "wherever you go, there you are".
"I wanted to do something. Get away from self-obsessed first world crap. I felt like the monoculture was suffocating me. I didn't want to get stuck where I was. You know that feeling?" "I know it. But I do not think you'll find what you are looking for in Cairo." "Why's that?" "Because a lot of us are stuck here."
I was drawn to this graphic novel because of the teasers that promised mythology mixed with fantasy. It does contain that, but everything felt so rushed. Readers didn't get the context of any of it. We're just thrust into a world that doesn't make much sense and spend much of the story grasping at straws of understanding.
In a way, it is much like real life. However, I prefer my graphic novels to be more of an exercise in escapism than a mirror for real life.
Give me layered worlds, complex story lines, nuanced characters and deep-seated meaning. I felt Cairo reaching for those things, but not quite getting there.
We do have quite a number of main characters, which, by its nature, makes the story more complex. But, in this case, I felt that more was not better because all of the characters felt so one-note.
The exception to this classification was Shams, the jinn. We get glimpses into his millennias-long life, relationships to other storied characters, guardianship of a sacred object and spiritual leanings. Even then, I wanted more.
"Welcome to your new home, oh jinn. We'll talk again when you are more reasonable. Take all the time you need."
The illustrations are done in black and white, and feel rather gritty. I imagine the whole thing could have taken on a completely different character with a couple good punches of color.
My favorite part was when one of the main characters reaches for a hero's sword in a test of faith. G. Willow Wilson, the author, uses a poem by Hafiz to put words in the hero's mouth as he strives to touch another reality and lay claim to the magical blade.
"The place where I am right now... was circled on a map for me."
Though the translation Wilson used varies from the version I am familiar with, which reads: "This place where you are now, God circled on a map for you."
Still, it is a beautiful sentiment. Rather like the intention, if not execution, of this graphic novel.
August 22, 2011
This. This. This is what graphic novels are for. Augh. I want to read more stuff like this immediately.
A hashish dealer, a wannabe revolutionary journalist, an Israeli soldier, a wannabe suicide bomber, and a wannabe something/anything from the O.C. get drawn into a conflict between a gangster and a djinn in, you guessed it, Cairo. There's interesting, nuanced things said about politics, about religion, about history, about class, about gender (sorta), about, well, everything you think should probably be talked about when you've got a dealer, a journalist, a soldier, an extremist, and a college girl running through the streets of Cairo and the Undernile. Oh, and then there are some gunfights and some mystical battles and evil and good and, really, the djinn is totally badass. The one problem is that this is not a very long book, so even though there's nuance, that nuance can only be briefly touched upon and still get everyone to the gunfight on time.
Recommended.
Also - there isn't a single. white. male. in a speaking role in the entire. thing. Dude.
A hashish dealer, a wannabe revolutionary journalist, an Israeli soldier, a wannabe suicide bomber, and a wannabe something/anything from the O.C. get drawn into a conflict between a gangster and a djinn in, you guessed it, Cairo. There's interesting, nuanced things said about politics, about religion, about history, about class, about gender (sorta), about, well, everything you think should probably be talked about when you've got a dealer, a journalist, a soldier, an extremist, and a college girl running through the streets of Cairo and the Undernile. Oh, and then there are some gunfights and some mystical battles and evil and good and, really, the djinn is totally badass. The one problem is that this is not a very long book, so even though there's nuance, that nuance can only be briefly touched upon and still get everyone to the gunfight on time.
Recommended.
Also - there isn't a single. white. male. in a speaking role in the entire. thing. Dude.
December 19, 2024
Such a good story!
July 9, 2017
This was an interesting story. Rather fun. But most importantly- it is a unique and original story. I respect that.
It's the story of an Egyptian drug dealer, a depressed Egyptian journalist, a troubled young Lebanese-American student, an American girl from California, a female Israeli soldier and a Jinn trapped in a hookah are part of this motley cast of characters that all converge on the city of Cairo.
This is an interesting tale. I enjoyed the intersection of events and the whole Islamic take on the Devil and Jinn. It's part detective story and part action story in the Arabic style (think Ali Baba or Sinbad). There is a lot of humor and some interesting things to think about (yes they are all liberal viewpoints-but what did you expect? It's ok..still a good story). The artwork is decent, but works for this story. The Jinn steals the show as the hands-down best character. Also kudos to the positive vision of Islam proposed by the Jinn and the journalist. Great point about why suicide bombing is NOT what is meant by "submission" in the Koran. I applaud any attempt to show how "modern" Islam (is any religion modern? really? especially Islamic in the Middle East. Sorry..but true) has much in common with Christianity in the underlying precepts of good and evil. Well done over all.
An exciting and action oriented read. The religious aspects are not overdone-but rather show it in a positive light and as modern as a religion can be. The underlying Islamic/Arabic mythology is well done. The setting of Cairo is also inspired. Nice to have a cool story somewhere other than NYC. Art? It's ok. But it does work with this story and I never minded it. I found most of the characters to be silly liberal gits. But that's ok too. It's not my story...I didn't write it. I just read it. So the author is welcome to whatever silly trite beliefs they want to espouse or hold. I like the story for what it is- entertaining, original, and unique-that counts for a lot in my book. I am glad I read this one. You should too.
It's the story of an Egyptian drug dealer, a depressed Egyptian journalist, a troubled young Lebanese-American student, an American girl from California, a female Israeli soldier and a Jinn trapped in a hookah are part of this motley cast of characters that all converge on the city of Cairo.
This is an interesting tale. I enjoyed the intersection of events and the whole Islamic take on the Devil and Jinn. It's part detective story and part action story in the Arabic style (think Ali Baba or Sinbad). There is a lot of humor and some interesting things to think about (yes they are all liberal viewpoints-but what did you expect? It's ok..still a good story). The artwork is decent, but works for this story. The Jinn steals the show as the hands-down best character. Also kudos to the positive vision of Islam proposed by the Jinn and the journalist. Great point about why suicide bombing is NOT what is meant by "submission" in the Koran. I applaud any attempt to show how "modern" Islam (is any religion modern? really? especially Islamic in the Middle East. Sorry..but true) has much in common with Christianity in the underlying precepts of good and evil. Well done over all.
An exciting and action oriented read. The religious aspects are not overdone-but rather show it in a positive light and as modern as a religion can be. The underlying Islamic/Arabic mythology is well done. The setting of Cairo is also inspired. Nice to have a cool story somewhere other than NYC. Art? It's ok. But it does work with this story and I never minded it. I found most of the characters to be silly liberal gits. But that's ok too. It's not my story...I didn't write it. I just read it. So the author is welcome to whatever silly trite beliefs they want to espouse or hold. I like the story for what it is- entertaining, original, and unique-that counts for a lot in my book. I am glad I read this one. You should too.
February 14, 2015
A cool graphic novel involving an unlikely cast of characters: an Israeli soldier, an Egyptian hash smuggler, a couple of American students, one of whom is a wannabe suicide bomber of Lebanese descent, a wannabe revolutionary journalist, and a jinn brought together by the rather unlikely circumstance of the theft of a hookah in which it just so happens the jinn is imprisoned. This framework allows the story to explore the politics of the Middle East, the age-old theme of good versus evil, and the more mystical elements of the cultures there. However, because this is not a very long book, some of the themes are not sufficiently developed.
April 10, 2022
شوارع القاهرة الخلفية كالتي تراها في رمسيس ووسط البلد، شارع المعز والحسين والسيدة، مع شلة شخصيات مختلفة تشابكت مصائرها في القاهرة
مهرب حشيش، صحفي ثوري قبل الثورة، مجندة إسرائيلية، فتاة أمريكية ملّت رفاهية بلدها، شاب لبناني امريكي، رجل أعمال فاسد....وجني
قصة فانتازيا حضرية عجيبة في القاهرة بعيون أجنبية ولكنها ليست غريبة تماما عن مصر
فمؤلفتها الامريكية مسلمة، وعاشت فترة في مصر، وإن كانت روايتها المصورة الأولي تلك، القاهرة، فقد قامت بعدها بإبتكار أول شخصية سوبرهيرو فتاة مسلمة لمارفل منذ بضع سنوات، كاملة خان، او ميس مارفل والتي سيكون لها مسلسل تليفزيوني قريبا
ولكن دعنا من هذا، بالنسبة للرواية تلك القصة مزجت بعض الفانتازيا عن ما تحت الاهرامات، الجان وأبليس او عزازيل الشيطان الوسواس الذي يطرد بالرجم...وربط هذا مع فكرة الصحافة الثورية ومفهوم الارهاب والاستشهاد، وحتي رفض بعض اليهود للعمليات الأستيطانية
قصة ممتعة عاما ومسلية، ليست عميقة او غير معتادة لكن ربما سحرها بالنسبة لي هو شكل القاهرة بعيون المؤلفة، استخدام كلمات مصرية بشكل متكرر وسط الحوار بالأنجليزية مثل "يعني، بس، ياولد،....وغيرها" او استخدام اغنية لنانسي عجرم بشكل ظريف
كما قلت هي من نوع ال
Urban Fantasy الفانتازيا الحضرية
وربما هذا ماجعلني ارفع التقييم من ٣ ونصف لأربع نجوم، فالنهايات السعيدة والجو الساحر بل ورسم الشخصيات بشكل جميل وواقعي جعلني أتعايش مع القصة حتي بالرغم من اني انهيت نصفها الثاني برمضان كل يوم بضع صفحات كألف ليلة وليلة
تخيلت الشخصيات كباسم سمرة/أشرف، محمد فراج/علي، جال جادوت/توفا، يوسف الشريف/شمس
وربما ستجد تشابه فعلا في شكل بعض تلك الشخصيات
عمل جيد وممتع، يستحق القراءة
محمد العربي
من ٣٠ مارس ٢٠٢٢
الي ٨ ابريل ٢٠٢٢
شهر مارس بالنسبة لي كانت قراءاته غارقة في القاهرة بعيون مختلفة، من ماكيت القاهرة لتحقيقات نوح الألفي وصنايعية مصر وأخيرا ذلك الكوميكس العجيب
مهرب حشيش، صحفي ثوري قبل الثورة، مجندة إسرائيلية، فتاة أمريكية ملّت رفاهية بلدها، شاب لبناني امريكي، رجل أعمال فاسد....وجني
قصة فانتازيا حضرية عجيبة في القاهرة بعيون أجنبية ولكنها ليست غريبة تماما عن مصر
فمؤلفتها الامريكية مسلمة، وعاشت فترة في مصر، وإن كانت روايتها المصورة الأولي تلك، القاهرة، فقد قامت بعدها بإبتكار أول شخصية سوبرهيرو فتاة مسلمة لمارفل منذ بضع سنوات، كاملة خان، او ميس مارفل والتي سيكون لها مسلسل تليفزيوني قريبا
ولكن دعنا من هذا، بالنسبة للرواية تلك القصة مزجت بعض الفانتازيا عن ما تحت الاهرامات، الجان وأبليس او عزازيل الشيطان الوسواس الذي يطرد بالرجم...وربط هذا مع فكرة الصحافة الثورية ومفهوم الارهاب والاستشهاد، وحتي رفض بعض اليهود للعمليات الأستيطانية
قصة ممتعة عاما ومسلية، ليست عميقة او غير معتادة لكن ربما سحرها بالنسبة لي هو شكل القاهرة بعيون المؤلفة، استخدام كلمات مصرية بشكل متكرر وسط الحوار بالأنجليزية مثل "يعني، بس، ياولد،....وغيرها" او استخدام اغنية لنانسي عجرم بشكل ظريف
كما قلت هي من نوع ال
Urban Fantasy الفانتازيا الحضرية
وربما هذا ماجعلني ارفع التقييم من ٣ ونصف لأربع نجوم، فالنهايات السعيدة والجو الساحر بل ورسم الشخصيات بشكل جميل وواقعي جعلني أتعايش مع القصة حتي بالرغم من اني انهيت نصفها الثاني برمضان كل يوم بضع صفحات كألف ليلة وليلة
تخيلت الشخصيات كباسم سمرة/أشرف، محمد فراج/علي، جال جادوت/توفا، يوسف الشريف/شمس
وربما ستجد تشابه فعلا في شكل بعض تلك الشخصيات
عمل جيد وممتع، يستحق القراءة
محمد العربي
من ٣٠ مارس ٢٠٢٢
الي ٨ ابريل ٢٠٢٢
شهر مارس بالنسبة لي كانت قراءاته غارقة في القاهرة بعيون مختلفة، من ماكيت القاهرة لتحقيقات نوح الألفي وصنايعية مصر وأخيرا ذلك الكوميكس العجيب
February 26, 2017
THIS WAS SO GOOD OMG. It had the just the right amount of humor, action, depth, plot, and fantasy ! All the important characters were absolutely lovable and the pace of the story was really good as well. This is the second graphic novel of G. Willow Wilson's alongside Ms. Marvel that I have read and I must say she does know how to spin a good story.
All in all, i really enjoyed this and i recommend this to anyone looking for a light and fun read .
All in all, i really enjoyed this and i recommend this to anyone looking for a light and fun read .
March 12, 2018
This was over the top, but in a fun way. The cast is fairly sizeable. There's Ashraf, an admitted smuggler, but charming in that loveable rogue sort of way. He’s very protective of his sister, Salma, a dancer. She's in love with Ali, a reporter who keeps running afoul of the censors. There's also Kate, an American woman in search of a change of pace from Orange County. On the plane to Cairo she meets Shaheed, a Lebanese American on his way to Beirut to visit family. And there's Tova, from Israeli Special Forces who wound up in Egypt by mistake. And then there's Shams, the jinn … It's probably not surprising that at least one of these people is not who they appear to be.
This is very much in the caper/screwball comedy mode. Everyone is just a touch on the colorful side, the dialogue sparkles, and the plot has plenty of twists and turns. There's a real sense of place to this graphic novel, and I found it quite refreshing to read fantasy derived from Middle Eastern lore rather than European. It makes for a nice change of pace. The artwork is subtly on the goofy side, which suits the material well. Recommended!
This is very much in the caper/screwball comedy mode. Everyone is just a touch on the colorful side, the dialogue sparkles, and the plot has plenty of twists and turns. There's a real sense of place to this graphic novel, and I found it quite refreshing to read fantasy derived from Middle Eastern lore rather than European. It makes for a nice change of pace. The artwork is subtly on the goofy side, which suits the material well. Recommended!
November 12, 2015
روايه مصوره عن احداث تدور في القاهره كميه الابداع من القصه و الرسم كانت مبهره جدا
احداث القصه تدور عن "كيت و شهيد" شابان يلتقيان في طائره متجه الى القاهره
من امريكا
كيت تريد ان تعيش مغامره و تخرج عن حودد الحياه السطحيه السهله و ان تحدث تغير في منطقه الشرق الاوسط
شهيد يريد ان يصل الى لبنان و ان يجتمع بجذوره العربيه كما يزعم و من خلال الاحداث نعرف حقيقه سب الزياره
و ترتبط الاحداث لتجمعهما مره اخري عن طريق مهرب مخدرات و شيشه مسروقه في داخلها جني يدعى شمس .. و محاوله الجني للدفاع عن صندوق يحتوي قدره عظيمه لا يجب ان تقع في يد شرير " ساحر و تاجر مخدرات " اسمه نار
بالاضافه لشخصيات اخرى تساعد في فهم ما يحدث الصحفي علي" و جنديه أسرائليه " توفا"
اذا كنت تعتقد ان هذا الوصف غريب جدا فهناك الاغرب في احداث هذه الروايه
استمتعت جدا جدا اثناء القرائه و اكثر في التلميحات الصغيره التي اضافتها الكاتيه التي تدل على انها قامت ببحث و ربط بعض الافكار البعيده في القصه
�� اعجبتني الحوارت البيسطه باللغه العاميه و كون ان اشرف الشخصيه المفضله في القصه يغني " مافيش حاجه تجي كيدا " و طول القصه يكرر " ياحمار" و هي طبعا اهانه لاتستخدم في عمموم الانجليزيه كما هي في الشارع العربي و المصري
ثانيا : شمس واااو الجان كانه عنده اسرار الكون كلها بس ما ببوح عنها ابدا ... و تقريبا ربطت اسمه مع الرومي بطريقه ذكيه
ما لم يعجبني في القصه :
- له تم احتجاز كيت و على في الاهرامات حسيتها شويه شيزي
- الرسم الكرتوني للجان و الشياطين الي يخرجك من الاندماج و تحسب بسخافه الاحداث
- لازم يكون رسم الدول العربيه على انها محجوزه في كبسوله زمنيه من القرن الماضي على فكره في شوارع و سيارات و ابراج سكنيه و الرجال لاتلبس الطربوش من اكثر من ١٠٠ سنه في الشارع
- الاحداث سريعه و مضغوطه
-النهايه عامضه جدا و شرح شمس غير مفهوم تماما لماهي طبيعة القوه الخارقه في الصندوق
عموما حبيت القصه و حبيت الكاتبه و اتعرفت على شخصيتها و تابعت مقابلات لها اثناء قرائتي للقصه و توقفت لعمل بعض الابحداث السريعه في الانترنت عن بعض المعلومات الموجوده
احداث القصه تدور عن "كيت و شهيد" شابان يلتقيان في طائره متجه الى القاهره
من امريكا
كيت تريد ان تعيش مغامره و تخرج عن حودد الحياه السطحيه السهله و ان تحدث تغير في منطقه الشرق الاوسط
شهيد يريد ان يصل الى لبنان و ان يجتمع بجذوره العربيه كما يزعم و من خلال الاحداث نعرف حقيقه سب الزياره
و ترتبط الاحداث لتجمعهما مره اخري عن طريق مهرب مخدرات و شيشه مسروقه في داخلها جني يدعى شمس .. و محاوله الجني للدفاع عن صندوق يحتوي قدره عظيمه لا يجب ان تقع في يد شرير " ساحر و تاجر مخدرات " اسمه نار
بالاضافه لشخصيات اخرى تساعد في فهم ما يحدث الصحفي علي" و جنديه أسرائليه " توفا"
اذا كنت تعتقد ان هذا الوصف غريب جدا فهناك الاغرب في احداث هذه الروايه
استمتعت جدا جدا اثناء القرائه و اكثر في التلميحات الصغيره التي اضافتها الكاتيه التي تدل على انها قامت ببحث و ربط بعض الافكار البعيده في القصه
�� اعجبتني الحوارت البيسطه باللغه العاميه و كون ان اشرف الشخصيه المفضله في القصه يغني " مافيش حاجه تجي كيدا " و طول القصه يكرر " ياحمار" و هي طبعا اهانه لاتستخدم في عمموم الانجليزيه كما هي في الشارع العربي و المصري
ثانيا : شمس واااو الجان كانه عنده اسرار الكون كلها بس ما ببوح عنها ابدا ... و تقريبا ربطت اسمه مع الرومي بطريقه ذكيه
ما لم يعجبني في القصه :
- له تم احتجاز كيت و على في الاهرامات حسيتها شويه شيزي
- الرسم الكرتوني للجان و الشياطين الي يخرجك من الاندماج و تحسب بسخافه الاحداث
- لازم يكون رسم الدول العربيه على انها محجوزه في كبسوله زمنيه من القرن الماضي على فكره في شوارع و سيارات و ابراج سكنيه و الرجال لاتلبس الطربوش من اكثر من ١٠٠ سنه في الشارع
- الاحداث سريعه و مضغوطه
-النهايه عامضه جدا و شرح شمس غير مفهوم تماما لماهي طبيعة القوه الخارقه في الصندوق
عموما حبيت القصه و حبيت الكاتبه و اتعرفت على شخصيتها و تابعت مقابلات لها اثناء قرائتي للقصه و توقفت لعمل بعض الابحداث السريعه في الانترنت عن بعض المعلومات الموجوده
May 4, 2016
We have quite a fun story, in present-day Cairo, while not all characters are precisely from there. We have a drug runner, an Israeli soldier, a journalist, an American expatriate, and a student, as they try to find a hookah where a jinni lives.
Many categorize the book as magical realism, most likely due to the acceptance of jinni in the middle of Cairo, and it makes the story seem so much more adequate for the place it is set in. It is a story, not just about the characters and what they endure, but also about the city itself. The city helps them discover who they are.
This graphic novel introduced me to G. Willow Wilson, and I am thankful, so please read this.
Many categorize the book as magical realism, most likely due to the acceptance of jinni in the middle of Cairo, and it makes the story seem so much more adequate for the place it is set in. It is a story, not just about the characters and what they endure, but also about the city itself. The city helps them discover who they are.
This graphic novel introduced me to G. Willow Wilson, and I am thankful, so please read this.
April 11, 2009
As a brief crash course into the thoughts and feelings of Egyptians, Americans, and Israelis, Cairo certainly goes a long ways. Though the book is too short to develop these characters fully or delve in depth into these themes (e.g. Egyptian govt. and journalism, Israel, suicide bombings, feelings toward Americans, and Orientalism), the novel is a good introduction to a more genuine look at the region that encourages Middle-Easterners to speak about the reality and for others to listen with humanity.
The novel accomplishes this with a 165-page romp heavily laced with Arabian Nights adventure, and while each character is interesting and different and faces his or her own dilemmas, even romances, the book length naturally limits the narrative from exploring these too deeply. The characters are more important as mouthpieces for the respective perspectives that they represent. I particularly liked the Arabic expressions scattered throughout. They lend the novel authenticity, as well as the subtle peppering of hints of Egyptian life. As someone else mentioned, I can definitely see influences of film in the book, particularly the dissolves from scene to scene. On a side note, I also liked Willow's nod to Spiders-Man, LOL. (Misspelling intended.)
The art leans towards realistic, precise and detailed. So readers who enjoy art along the lines of Fables with a few exaggerated crooks should enjoy this complete, black and white volume. I wasn't expecting much, particularly from a DC publication, but now I'm glad I read Cairo. I would recommend this even to people who have some knowledge of the social concerns in the region because an insider's view of these issues is rare. This is authored by an American commited to living in the region-- not an expatriot, a visitor or armchair journalist. Keeping in mind that these issues must be simplified to fit into such a short frame, still I think they expose readers to more than they will likely have seen or give readers food for thought.
The novel accomplishes this with a 165-page romp heavily laced with Arabian Nights adventure, and while each character is interesting and different and faces his or her own dilemmas, even romances, the book length naturally limits the narrative from exploring these too deeply. The characters are more important as mouthpieces for the respective perspectives that they represent. I particularly liked the Arabic expressions scattered throughout. They lend the novel authenticity, as well as the subtle peppering of hints of Egyptian life. As someone else mentioned, I can definitely see influences of film in the book, particularly the dissolves from scene to scene. On a side note, I also liked Willow's nod to Spiders-Man, LOL. (Misspelling intended.)
The art leans towards realistic, precise and detailed. So readers who enjoy art along the lines of Fables with a few exaggerated crooks should enjoy this complete, black and white volume. I wasn't expecting much, particularly from a DC publication, but now I'm glad I read Cairo. I would recommend this even to people who have some knowledge of the social concerns in the region because an insider's view of these issues is rare. This is authored by an American commited to living in the region-- not an expatriot, a visitor or armchair journalist. Keeping in mind that these issues must be simplified to fit into such a short frame, still I think they expose readers to more than they will likely have seen or give readers food for thought.
July 9, 2021
An enjoyable quick read.
August 3, 2012
"So today, I hit one of those stoned camels with my truck." So beings Ashraf's story to his mother, sitting by her grave with a cigarette in one hand and a hookah by his side. Ashraf is a drug dealer, running hashish into Israel, and hitting that camel nearly gets him killed by border guards. That's just the beginning of his wild and wonderful tale. Leaving the cemetery, he heads for a cafe where his good friend Ali is having tea with Ashraf's sister, Salma. While a young female Israeli soldier gets a ride with the Bedouin and their "stoned camels" into Cairo, a Lebanese-American called Shaheed (meaning "martyr") with possible suicide-bombing plans arrives on a plane along with another American, an idealistic student called Kate who came to Cairo mostly to escape Orange County. She wanders into the cafe asking for directions to her hotel, and there she meets Ali and Salma. Ali offers to take her to her hotel, but as they head down the street they are taken hostage, all because of Ashraf and the hookah. Ashraf, meanwhile, is looking for a dumb tourist to sell the hookah to, and encounters Shaheed, who willingly buys it.
Inside the hookah, unbeknownst to Ashraf, is a jinn called Shams, a tall elegant-looking man who manipulates probabilities in order to "grant wishes". He was trapped inside the hookah by Nar, an evil sorcerer who is looking for a box that contains a word of power, which Shams is determined to get to first and give to Shaheed. Nar's goons have taken Ashraf's friend - and Kate - hostage until he brings back the hookah, which means Ashraf must find Shaheed. Things for Ashraf are further complicated by Tova, the Special Forces soldier from Israel who asks Ashraf, at gunpoint, to get her back into Israel using his drug running route. And so the race, the confluence of choices, begins.
Cairo is an energetic, adventurous, fun, quick story that you can devour in a couple of hours - in fact, it shuttles along at a quick pace like a movie, flowing from one scene to another in much the same way. It perfectly balances a modern, colourful city with cultural and political tensions and ancient Egyptian myths to create a magical adventure story complete with gun fights, djinni, flying carpets, the devil, crises of conscience and coming-of-age stories for the two youngest, Shaheed and Kate.
The five main (human) characters, Ashraf, Tavo, Ali, Kate and Shaheed, are each introduced in such a way that you get a good idea of their characters from the start, Perker's clever illustrations capturing body language and nuances that complement the dialogue. Their intro scenes bleed one into another, so that it's very easy to flow with the story. The pacing is swift, but not always busy, giving you time to catch up.
That said, there were a few times the plot went a bit too fast for me, especially in regards to Nar and the mysterious box. Or rather, the box containing the mysterious word. I'm not entirely sure I followed all that, and while I did get the full impression of Nar as a bad man with strong magical powers and a cunning mind, I knew nothing of him beyond those details. He wasn't fleshed out at all, which left him as a bit of a caricature of a character.
On the other hand, Shams was also left mysterious, but in his case this added depth to his character, not left him flat. He's a jinn, after all. There are times when you see his vulnerability, his hopes, his sadness. He and Ashraf were my favourite characters; Ashraf may have been a bit of a cliche, but he was still hugely fun and could often steal a scene. He was also the comic relief, and like any good action movie, there's always a need for a few laughs.
There are some moments of moralising, not preaching but the characters coming to realise things about themselves and the world. It was handled well, not belaboured, sometimes not even stated but shown. During an unexpected trip to the Undernile, where the devil whispers to them, Kate and Ali have a great argument where their prejudices and arrogance come out. Shaheed has a mystical transformation which I didn't fully grasp, since it all hinges on the word in the box. And Ali has a renewed enthusiasm in getting the news out to Cairo, no matter how much the censors remove first.
If you're looking for a well-written, wonderfully-illustrated graphic novel that reads like an action movie but with more depth, and tells a story you haven't really heard before, definitely pick up a copy of Cairo.
Inside the hookah, unbeknownst to Ashraf, is a jinn called Shams, a tall elegant-looking man who manipulates probabilities in order to "grant wishes". He was trapped inside the hookah by Nar, an evil sorcerer who is looking for a box that contains a word of power, which Shams is determined to get to first and give to Shaheed. Nar's goons have taken Ashraf's friend - and Kate - hostage until he brings back the hookah, which means Ashraf must find Shaheed. Things for Ashraf are further complicated by Tova, the Special Forces soldier from Israel who asks Ashraf, at gunpoint, to get her back into Israel using his drug running route. And so the race, the confluence of choices, begins.
Cairo is an energetic, adventurous, fun, quick story that you can devour in a couple of hours - in fact, it shuttles along at a quick pace like a movie, flowing from one scene to another in much the same way. It perfectly balances a modern, colourful city with cultural and political tensions and ancient Egyptian myths to create a magical adventure story complete with gun fights, djinni, flying carpets, the devil, crises of conscience and coming-of-age stories for the two youngest, Shaheed and Kate.
The five main (human) characters, Ashraf, Tavo, Ali, Kate and Shaheed, are each introduced in such a way that you get a good idea of their characters from the start, Perker's clever illustrations capturing body language and nuances that complement the dialogue. Their intro scenes bleed one into another, so that it's very easy to flow with the story. The pacing is swift, but not always busy, giving you time to catch up.
That said, there were a few times the plot went a bit too fast for me, especially in regards to Nar and the mysterious box. Or rather, the box containing the mysterious word. I'm not entirely sure I followed all that, and while I did get the full impression of Nar as a bad man with strong magical powers and a cunning mind, I knew nothing of him beyond those details. He wasn't fleshed out at all, which left him as a bit of a caricature of a character.
On the other hand, Shams was also left mysterious, but in his case this added depth to his character, not left him flat. He's a jinn, after all. There are times when you see his vulnerability, his hopes, his sadness. He and Ashraf were my favourite characters; Ashraf may have been a bit of a cliche, but he was still hugely fun and could often steal a scene. He was also the comic relief, and like any good action movie, there's always a need for a few laughs.
There are some moments of moralising, not preaching but the characters coming to realise things about themselves and the world. It was handled well, not belaboured, sometimes not even stated but shown. During an unexpected trip to the Undernile, where the devil whispers to them, Kate and Ali have a great argument where their prejudices and arrogance come out. Shaheed has a mystical transformation which I didn't fully grasp, since it all hinges on the word in the box. And Ali has a renewed enthusiasm in getting the news out to Cairo, no matter how much the censors remove first.
If you're looking for a well-written, wonderfully-illustrated graphic novel that reads like an action movie but with more depth, and tells a story you haven't really heard before, definitely pick up a copy of Cairo.
June 6, 2018
Egyptians, Americans and an Israeli all join forces to fight the underworld
Great tale from G. Willow Wilson, great art from M.K. Perker. The Middle East might have a few problems nowadays, but the characters come together to fight creatures from the Undernile. I recommend it!
Great tale from G. Willow Wilson, great art from M.K. Perker. The Middle East might have a few problems nowadays, but the characters come together to fight creatures from the Undernile. I recommend it!
March 30, 2011
Review from Badelynge.
Cairo begins with a hashish smuggler called Ashraf sitting at his mother's grave as he relates to her how his day went.
"So today I hit one of those stoned camels with my truck."
He tells her the Bedouin have fields of marijuana out in Sinai. The camels graze on the stuff. He tells her about the Israeli border guards who nearly catch him smuggling hash hidden inside bulbs of Smelly Beet. He tells her not to worry, that's just life in the City Victorious. It's a deft and assured way to start the story off, introduce a major character and set the tone. The other pieces of the mosaic follow on soon after: A female Israeli special forces soldier, injured and rescued ironically by the very Bedouin that Ashraf curses for not securing their camels; in the sky above is a passenger jet with two Americans on board, one of Lebanese extraction called Shaheed with an idea to live up to his name, the other a naive girl trying to broaden her Orange County boundaries; dating Ashraf's sister is a journalist/activist who amusingly knows more about Peter Parker and Spiders Man (that wasn't a typo) than some Americans; and Shams who lives in a hookah.
The cover blurb cites the book as belonging to a genre called magical realist, which I've never heard of before but suits the book. Primarily it's a book set in a Cairo, before the people's revolution, but not an overtly fictionalised Cairo or one seen filtered through western preconceptions. Sure it's full of magic and mysticism with a plot about a magician gangster trying to recover a powerful artifact guarded by a Jinn but it's all authentic Egyptian mythology and the writer G. Willow Wilson, though American, is heavily committed to Cairo and its people, having lived there for many years to this day and formerly a regular contributor to the now defunct Cairo Magazine. I loved all the idiomatic Arabic expressions, though I suspect in respect to the colourful cursing, the translation into our woefully inadequate English doesn't quite do it justice.
The art is excellent too. Turkish artist M.K. Perker delivers some extremely expressive and detailed shaded black and white pencils, bringing the characters and locations to life.
It all ends a little too soon and if the concluding tone is one of hope and perhaps wishful thinking, in the land of the Jinn anything is possible.
Cairo begins with a hashish smuggler called Ashraf sitting at his mother's grave as he relates to her how his day went.
"So today I hit one of those stoned camels with my truck."
He tells her the Bedouin have fields of marijuana out in Sinai. The camels graze on the stuff. He tells her about the Israeli border guards who nearly catch him smuggling hash hidden inside bulbs of Smelly Beet. He tells her not to worry, that's just life in the City Victorious. It's a deft and assured way to start the story off, introduce a major character and set the tone. The other pieces of the mosaic follow on soon after: A female Israeli special forces soldier, injured and rescued ironically by the very Bedouin that Ashraf curses for not securing their camels; in the sky above is a passenger jet with two Americans on board, one of Lebanese extraction called Shaheed with an idea to live up to his name, the other a naive girl trying to broaden her Orange County boundaries; dating Ashraf's sister is a journalist/activist who amusingly knows more about Peter Parker and Spiders Man (that wasn't a typo) than some Americans; and Shams who lives in a hookah.
The cover blurb cites the book as belonging to a genre called magical realist, which I've never heard of before but suits the book. Primarily it's a book set in a Cairo, before the people's revolution, but not an overtly fictionalised Cairo or one seen filtered through western preconceptions. Sure it's full of magic and mysticism with a plot about a magician gangster trying to recover a powerful artifact guarded by a Jinn but it's all authentic Egyptian mythology and the writer G. Willow Wilson, though American, is heavily committed to Cairo and its people, having lived there for many years to this day and formerly a regular contributor to the now defunct Cairo Magazine. I loved all the idiomatic Arabic expressions, though I suspect in respect to the colourful cursing, the translation into our woefully inadequate English doesn't quite do it justice.
The art is excellent too. Turkish artist M.K. Perker delivers some extremely expressive and detailed shaded black and white pencils, bringing the characters and locations to life.
It all ends a little too soon and if the concluding tone is one of hope and perhaps wishful thinking, in the land of the Jinn anything is possible.
May 26, 2015
Book blurb: A stolen hookah, a spiritual underworld, and a genie on the run change the lives of five strangers forever in this modern fable set on the streets of the Middle East's largest metropolis.
If that does not suck you in, how about the first line: "So, today I hit one of those stoned camels with my truck." Move over Dickens. This might just be the best first line ever.
This graphic novel is beautifully illustrated, has a really good story, and has some of the most creative curses I've ever read - I kept repeating them out loud while reading. Politics, mythology, human drama, philosophy, with some romance thrown in for good measure, this wonderful story is set in a part of the world we often only hear about on the evening news. I loved everything about it, and GWW is quickly becoming my fave woman graphic novel author.
If that does not suck you in, how about the first line: "So, today I hit one of those stoned camels with my truck." Move over Dickens. This might just be the best first line ever.
This graphic novel is beautifully illustrated, has a really good story, and has some of the most creative curses I've ever read - I kept repeating them out loud while reading. Politics, mythology, human drama, philosophy, with some romance thrown in for good measure, this wonderful story is set in a part of the world we often only hear about on the evening news. I loved everything about it, and GWW is quickly becoming my fave woman graphic novel author.
January 22, 2016
This is a fun, interesting romp through a city that is so accustomed to chaos, gangsters, murder and magic, none of the above seem to fluster anyone inside of the world of "Cairo" for more than a moment.
This is action packed with an interesting, diverse cast of characters, but they all can seem a bit overly symbolic and caricaturist and the novel feel a bit more like a lecture at times than a story. Still, the art is great, the story is good, the premise is fairly engaging.
I also have Ms. Marvel with Wilson as illustrator I think (though I am not sure if she does the writing in that one). Looking forward to picking it up this weekend.
This is action packed with an interesting, diverse cast of characters, but they all can seem a bit overly symbolic and caricaturist and the novel feel a bit more like a lecture at times than a story. Still, the art is great, the story is good, the premise is fairly engaging.
I also have Ms. Marvel with Wilson as illustrator I think (though I am not sure if she does the writing in that one). Looking forward to picking it up this weekend.
October 13, 2021
- القصة جمعت بين الفانتازيا والأكشن مع أساطير فرعونية وعربية مع شوية سياسة برده بس الكاتبة عملت كوليكشن مسلي ولطيف في النهاية..
- الرسوم عجبتني خاصة في حواري القاهرة.. الاهتمام بتفاصيل الشخصيات والأماكن كان مميز جدا..
- الكاتبة أمريكية اعتنقت الإسلام وانتقلت للحياة في القاهرة لفترة من الوقت ويمكن ده هنلاقيه واضح في معرفتها ببعض العادات والتقاليد اليومية واستخدامها لبعض المفردات بالعامية..
- عندي ملاحظات كتير على آراء الكاتبة اللي عرضتها خلال القصة لكن في المجمل العمل يستحق الاهتمام.
—
- الرسوم عجبتني خاصة في حواري القاهرة.. الاهتمام بتفاصيل الشخصيات والأماكن كان مميز جدا..
- الكاتبة أمريكية اعتنقت الإسلام وانتقلت للحياة في القاهرة لفترة من الوقت ويمكن ده هنلاقيه واضح في معرفتها ببعض العادات والتقاليد اليومية واستخدامها لبعض المفردات بالعامية..
- عندي ملاحظات كتير على آراء الكاتبة اللي عرضتها خلال القصة لكن في المجمل العمل يستحق الاهتمام.
—
February 25, 2019
Disclaimer - I enjoyed it a lot but it might not exactly reflect in my write-up because I am bone tired. But I recommend it very seriously.
----
"I think there aren't any sacrifices. There are only choices. I think if you give something up for someone, it won't feel like a sacrifice. It'll feel like the right thing to do."
~ Shahid, Cairo, G. Willow Wilson
----
Ashraf, a hash smuggler, has been having a bad day. And it is probably going to get worse now. He has stolen a hookah from Nar who is an evil crime-lord and a magician. The hookah is not an ordinary one. It contains magic and tremendous power, which is why Nar wants it so desperately and he can go to any lengths to get it back. What is this power and what kind of magic does it contain and whether Nar finally gets it forms the rest of the story of this thriller sprinkled with magical realism!
Set in contemporary Cairo, the story revolves around six characters - Ashraf, who was introduced earlier; Tova, an Israeli soldier; Jibreel Ali, a rabblerousing journalist; Kate, an expat, a lost American and an aspiring journalist; Shaheed, a Lebanese-American, mostly a confused kid & Shams - a Jinn who is the protector of the power in question. Throughout the story we get to read references to a couple of legends and myths and a few demons make appearance as well. The story also features the legend of Under-Nile, a river that is said to be running deep down the Nile, in the opposite direction. In many places, the story is writ with wry humor and a sort of commentary on the social situation of the city.
The art by M. K. Perker is enchanting and evokes riotous imagery despite being black and white. For eg. There is an illustration of the Under-Nile that is so beautifully done that the scene seems as if it is really around you. I have posted a few more pictures so you get the drift.
I am going to make a special mention of the way the female characters of the novel are written. Like a breath of fresh air. They don't fall into the stereotypes and make sure they demand their space in the story without being overridden by the narratives of their male counterparts. You see shades of Wilson's own life here and there in one of the female characters who is an expat. Wilson herself is a convert and her journey towards Islam started with a lot of apprehension. The apprehension is clearly visible in how Kate handles herself.
I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and I am so glad Sarath hounded me to read it. It takes hardly an hour or so to finish the novel, and every page is worth it. The end is surreal as is wont to any magical realism and hence it can also make for a great discussion.
A story that can be re-read and enjoyed multiple times for sure.
----
August 27, 2023
SUCH
A
BEAUTIFUL
AND
WONDROUS
STORY!
'Nuff said. Read it.
A
BEAUTIFUL
AND
WONDROUS
STORY!
'Nuff said. Read it.
March 6, 2024
a7eh?? this is not fair?? i got too attached and now i need more???? where are my other 1827392 volumes?? i need every egyptian to read this
June 2, 2020
الشخصيات الاساسية
نار - شمس- شهيد - أشرف - كايت-توفا-علي-سلمي
قصة مصورة عن القاهرة من وجهة نظر المؤلفة
طبعا الجمال منتشرة
واللبس القديم من حيث الطربوش
وملابس المرأة القديمة اليشمك والحاجات دي موجوده مع ان الاحداث كلها جديدة
راوية مصورة فانتازيا تماما
أشرف تاجر الحشيش اللي بيسرق الشيشه اللي فيها جني اسمه شمس
وهو جني طيب
كان بيحاول واحد اسمه نار وهو شرير ان يجعله يعرف سر الصندوق لكي يسيطر علي العالم
أشرف مكنش يعرف ان الشيشة فيها جني ف باعاها لواحد نصه لبناني اسمه شهيد
كان جي مصر وناوي يروح فلسطين يعمل عملية ما
فجاءة أشرف بيلاقي نفسه مطالب من نار انه يجيبله الشيشة
والا هيقتلوا علي الصحفي حبيب اخته سلمي اللي هيتجوزا
وبنت امريكانيه كايت كانت معاه بالصدفة اللي اتعرفت بالصدفة علي شهيد ف الطايرة اللي كانت جيه مصر
علشان زهقت من الحياة ف امريكا
وبينما اشرف لسه بيستوعب اللي بيحصل
بيفأجي ببنت اسمها توفا
اسرائيلية من جيش الدفاع
تاهت ووصلت لحدودنا او هي قالت كدا بتطالبه انه يرجعها لانه مهرب
يكتشف بقي انها اصلا هربت لانها مكنتش موافقه ع اللي بيحصل
شهد بيطلع شمس الجني
وشمس بيحاول يقنعه انه لازم يساعده
ضد نار وابليس قريبه الشرير
والا العالم كله هيبقي ع المحك
علي وكايت بيهربوا من المهربين بيروحوا ف النهر الموزاي السري
تحت الارض بتاع الفراعنة
ابليس بيحاول يخليهم يخلصوا ع بعض
بمساعدة شمس والرجم بيتغلبوا ع الشيطان
شهيد بقي معاه سيف بتاع صلاح الدين اللي بطرس غالي كان بيحطه تحت المخدة
علشان يقاتل الشياطين
هووب معركة كبيرة
هووب يلا بينا يا برنس
شمس بيضحي بنفسه وبيفضل جزء منه ف شهيد
توفا بترجع اسرائيل بس الحب غلاب ف بترجع ل أشرف
علي بيتجوز سلمي
نار بيموت
شهيد بيحاول يتعلم من الحياة
كايت بتشغل مع علي ف الجورنال
لطيفة ومرسومة بشكل كلاشيه
والقصة امريكيه بجدارة
صورة نمطية ع العرب من حيث الاجواء واللبس
وضرب النار وحتي الكادرات الفنية
لطيفة
ومسلية
نار - شمس- شهيد - أشرف - كايت-توفا-علي-سلمي
قصة مصورة عن القاهرة من وجهة نظر المؤلفة
طبعا الجمال منتشرة
واللبس القديم من حيث الطربوش
وملابس المرأة القديمة اليشمك والحاجات دي موجوده مع ان الاحداث كلها جديدة
راوية مصورة فانتازيا تماما
أشرف تاجر الحشيش اللي بيسرق الشيشه اللي فيها جني اسمه شمس
وهو جني طيب
كان بيحاول واحد اسمه نار وهو شرير ان يجعله يعرف سر الصندوق لكي يسيطر علي العالم
أشرف مكنش يعرف ان الشيشة فيها جني ف باعاها لواحد نصه لبناني اسمه شهيد
كان جي مصر وناوي يروح فلسطين يعمل عملية ما
فجاءة أشرف بيلاقي نفسه مطالب من نار انه يجيبله الشيشة
والا هيقتلوا علي الصحفي حبيب اخته سلمي اللي هيتجوزا
وبنت امريكانيه كايت كانت معاه بالصدفة اللي اتعرفت بالصدفة علي شهيد ف الطايرة اللي كانت جيه مصر
علشان زهقت من الحياة ف امريكا
وبينما اشرف لسه بيستوعب اللي بيحصل
بيفأجي ببنت اسمها توفا
اسرائيلية من جيش الدفاع
تاهت ووصلت لحدودنا او هي قالت كدا بتطالبه انه يرجعها لانه مهرب
يكتشف بقي انها اصلا هربت لانها مكنتش موافقه ع اللي بيحصل
شهد بيطلع شمس الجني
وشمس بيحاول يقنعه انه لازم يساعده
ضد نار وابليس قريبه الشرير
والا العالم كله هيبقي ع المحك
علي وكايت بيهربوا من المهربين بيروحوا ف النهر الموزاي السري
تحت الارض بتاع الفراعنة
ابليس بيحاول يخليهم يخلصوا ع بعض
بمساعدة شمس والرجم بيتغلبوا ع الشيطان
شهيد بقي معاه سيف بتاع صلاح الدين اللي بطرس غالي كان بيحطه تحت المخدة
علشان يقاتل الشياطين
هووب معركة كبيرة
هووب يلا بينا يا برنس
شمس بيضحي بنفسه وبيفضل جزء منه ف شهيد
توفا بترجع اسرائيل بس الحب غلاب ف بترجع ل أشرف
علي بيتجوز سلمي
نار بيموت
شهيد بيحاول يتعلم من الحياة
كايت بتشغل مع علي ف الجورنال
لطيفة ومرسومة بشكل كلاشيه
والقصة امريكيه بجدارة
صورة نمطية ع العرب من حيث الاجواء واللبس
وضرب النار وحتي الكادرات الفنية
لطيفة
ومسلية
December 4, 2014
Loved it!
May 14, 2017
Mitolojik öyküleri sevenler Kahire'yi de sevebilir. Ama Perker'in çizgileri öykünün önünde benim için.
December 31, 2017
What do you get when you mix a hash smuggler, a lost Israeli soldier, a Cairene journalist, a Lebanese-American with secrets, an idealistic California Girl, and a jinn? A bananas graphic novel about choice and sacrifice. I was a little worried going in that I wouldn’t like it because I like Ms Marvel too much, but this has the same quippy, dry humor only more violence and magic. Good art, but I wish it had been in color.
Picked this up during GWW’s signing when she was in town this year.
Picked this up during GWW’s signing when she was in town this year.
July 5, 2008
Two American teenagers meet on a plane ride into Cairo and end up getting mixed up in an adventure with magical hookahs, a djinni, a drug smuggler, a journalist, and an evil mastermind. I have always loved the mystical fairy-tale elements of the Arab world, and this has all of that combined with a real modern focus. The author addresses the ever-present tension between the Hebrew and Arab communities, modern-day terrorism, hard-core journalism, etc. At it's heart, though, the story is a look at similarities between people and cultures, even when we try our hardest not to see those similarities. The fairy-tale parts just make it even more fun to read.
February 11, 2016
This was so, so good! Epic struggles between good and evil, love and fear, chance and choice. Great storytelling and rich, complex, memorable characters. Also, finding the commonalities and universalities in humanity and in religions/cultures/worldviews while being sympathetic and humanizing to all. Sigh! The perfect book to nudge me out of my reading slump!
Read
December 3, 2011A cool graphic novel that involves an Israeli soldier, an Egyptian smuggler, a couple of American students, a journalist, and a jinn in a unique adventure. I liked the lore and the characters, the sense of place. Well-written and with lovely art.
October 30, 2008
A stunning graphic novel with real, wonderfully human characters, miniature portraits of people whose lives intersect in the back alleys of Cairo.
August 19, 2017
Willow Wilson, who will go on to create the first Muslim super hero in the Marvel comics universe and win World Fantasy Award for a novel, made her graphic novel debut with this entertaining fantasy adventure. With a deft mix of ancient Middle Eastern mythologies and some commentary on the modern day conflict, she has created something tastefully steeped in the Arab culture, while mostly steering away from the Orientalist pitfalls. Great fun and a quick read.
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