Writer: Brian K Vaughan
Artist: Nico Henrichon
Letters: Todd Klein
Publisher: Vertigo
What's it about?
In Spring 2003, a pride of lions escaped from the Baghdad zoo during an American bombing raid. This book tells their story, from the perspective of the animals involved.
There are four lions in the pride. Zill, the patriarch, Safa, an old lioness who relishes the safety and care provided within the zoo, Noor, a younger lioness with dreams of freedom to be found outside the confines of the zoo, and Ali, Noor's cub. He is young, eager and enthusiastic about the world. During the bombing raid the zoo is hit and the lions are forced to leave their home and venture out into the city. Once out, they discover more about humans, the war and the difficulties surrounding life on their own.
The animals symbolise the innocents involved in this war, and other wars. The only humans we see are two Iraqi zookeepers, featured briefly at the start of the book, and the American soldiers, again appearing briefly, at the end of the book.
