For All Your Reviewing Needs

G. Willow Wilson

M. K. Perker 

Vertigo

I first got into Wilson's work after reading a couple issues of Air, and my boyfriend brought me back a copy of Cairo from Comic-Con. Wow, was I pleasantly surprised. Lately with reading it feels like I've been taking my time or finding it a struggle to get through whatever it is I've been reading, but with Cairo it definitely felt like one of those reads that I wish would never end.

We get introduced to Ashraf, a native in the hash business, who manages to sell a hookah off his hands to Shaheed, a young Lebanese-American flying into Cairo. We quickly find out that this isn't any ordinary hookah, but rather a highly sought after valuable wanted by a drug lord-magician by the name of Nar. Ashraf finds out Nar is holding his to-be-brother in law (Jibreel) and an American tourist (Kate) hostage. Ashraf joins forces with a soldier named Tova in order to find the missing hookah and free Jibreel and Kate from the clutches of Nar. We soon find out what's so special about this hookah Nar is after - a 'genie' (or rather a jinn) by the name of Shams that grants wishes based off of probabilities, and is the guardian of a box that Nar feverishly desires. Sham tells Shaheed that the box, containing only the word East, will give the owner control over the east part of the world, for better or for worse. 

In the events that follow, Wilson shows us a spiritual and mystical world in which our five protagonists cross paths; doors leading to the Under-Nile, flying carpets, and the battle between good and evil involving demons and jinns. A lot of the mythical creatures and surroundings Wilson shows us reminds me quite a bit of something in Clive Barker's The Thief of Always, what with the devil-like body's long limbs and menacing grins, and the elements of fantasy mixed with horror in Wilson's story. I also love Perker's illustrations of the city of Cairo, making the reader feel like they were right there in the hustle and bustle of the city and all the detail to the character's surroundings. Wilson also adds in snippets of Arabic; not so much to get the reader lost in translation, but just enough to keep the feel of Cairo and its culture present. Not to mention some of the amazing insults that come out of some of the character's mouths from translating them directly into English ("you're a repulsive baby-eating Nile-toad, Nar"). 

This is definitely a graphic novel I would highly recommend and one I found hard to put down. It's easy enough to pick up and enjoy on the first read, or one you could re-read several times and find something new and interesting each time. Not to mention if you enjoy it and are itching for more, Wilson's series Air is just as fantastic and interesting a read. 

Little Squirrel gives it: 9/10

Next up for review: The Wanting Seed by Anthony Burgess