The Lion of Rora

by Christos Gage, Ruth Gage, Jackie Lewis (Illustrator)

In the tradition of Braveheart and 300 comes Lion of Rora, the true story of Joshua Janavel, farmer-turned-freedom fighter, who will stop at nothing in his quest to save his people from tyranny and religious persecution. This painstakingly researched graphic novel, written by Christos Gage and Ruth Fletcher Gage and featuring evocative art by Jackie Lewis, chronicles the epic war over faith, freedom, and family.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Historical, Young Adult, Comics, Fiction

184 pages, Hardcover

First published August 5, 2015

About the author

Chris N. Gage is a writer for comic books and television.

Reviews

[David Gallaher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lion of Rora (brief review) This is the story of how Joshua Janavel led the defense of Rorà against the Savoyard assault. A heavily-researched project, the Gages use the research not to bore the reader, but rather to tell a robust and engaging story that captivates and entertains. Jackie Lewis channels the spirit of Braveheart and Rob Roy with illustrations that are rebellious and rallying. This is a fun book -- and illuminates a piece of world history that is often forgotten in the history books.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully drawn!

[Josh Gorfain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was a great book! So few are the history books that are enjoyable to read from start to finish. A very quick and engaging read!

[Mike Oates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely stunning book from start to finish. What a masterpiece.

[Jean Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of Marvel’s Daredevil on Netflix, which is how I learned about Christos and Ruth Fletcher Gage and, subsequently, The Lion of Rora. I was so impressed with their work throughout the Daredevil series (and on Episode 9 in particular) that I was sure I’d love this new graphic novel. I’m very new to the world of comics, so I’d never heard of a comic based on the true story of a historical figure. This is a gripping and profound story, and I would certainly recommend it to comics and non-comics readers alike.

I can imagine that Ruth was quite touched by accounts of her ancestor, Joshua Janavel, and the struggle of the Waldenses throughout the 17th century. There are few writers to whom I would trust a story of such great substance, but I feel that the Gages (who are skilled and prolific writers) have done a great service to the memory of this man and those in his movement. The narrative is gripping, heartwrenching, and celebratory, and stands as a cry against persecution of any kind.

In this case, the Waldenses were mocked, silenced, forbidden to congregate, and ultimately attacked (many times) due to their Protestant Christian beliefs and Janavel’s refusal to abandon his land or forsake his beliefs. On the very first page, Janavel’s mother asks him, “Do you think it’s right to let someone frighten us into changing the way we live?” As an adult, Janavel takes up arms against the Savoy military that is trying to flush out and/or murder the remaining Waldenses (who were living peacefully at its borders) after perceiving them as a threat to the crown. Janavel himself is a skilled archer and a master at military strategy, and he fights only for his wife and young son, his fellow Waldenses, and his religious freedom. Accordingly, the combat scenarios are brilliant.

I’ve noticed that the Gages tend to gravitate towards tales of great courage, and the stand by the Waldenses (mostly farmers and relatively few in number) against onslaughts by a large and properly outfitted army and a cruel monarchy clearly upholds that trend. It is a compelling story of bravery in a fight against oppression that, the authors note, was “the first example in European history in which subjects of a ruler rebelled to defend their religious freedom.”

The book’s illustrations (black & white and relatively unstylized) are perfect for this story. Jackie Lewis’s layouts and composition really complement this powerful epic.

I think The Lion of Rora could translate very well into a feature film!

[Tina812 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this graphic novel! Ruth and Christos Gage have done a superb job at capturing the Waldensian story. Bringing this story to life in a graphic novel opens it up to an entirely new audience. I highly recommend "The Lion of Rora".

[Gennia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first venture into the historical graphic novel genre and it has me thoroughly intrigued. The true story of the Waldensians that it's based on is not one that's often told, even though it inspired the French and American Revolution. It has all the makings of a fantastical and heroic blockbuster and in this case, translates into an exciting comic book. I really enjoyed the story telling and the great art. Some of the full-page panels are really beautiful. What a great way to share a piece of history! I can't help but think people would be a lot more informed and interested if history was taught in graphic novel form more often.
I purchased the hardcover version at my local comic book store. It's a little pricey but the quality of the binding and the material of the pages (heavy stock) really justify the cost. This is a good one to add to your library!

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The comparisons to 300 and Braveheart are apt here, but at least for me those titles bring to mind meatier, more fulfilling works of art than this. But that is not to say that this isn't a great graphic novel! The authors clearly did their homework researching the story, which covers a piece of history about which I previously knew nothing but now would like to know more. However, the book's 184 pages pass by extremely quickly and I feel like it almost wants a longer, more in depth treatment to really bring out the characters and provide a bit more historical context. But really, if my biggest criticism is "I want more," clearly it's a very well done book.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final "swordfight" between Joshua & the French captain is the kind of scene that would make excellent film. Someone should get on that.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A piece of history I had no knowledge of before reading this. I'm an atheist, but the story of Joshua Janavel and the Waldenses is as much a story of resistance against a brutalist, feudal power as much as it is about religious persecution and the afterword about their role in the second world war as resistance fighters in the Italian Alps probably deserves a book all to itself...
A highly recommended read for those who love history and tale well told.

[Moa Lupuianu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and sad "inspired by true events" manga. A must have if you are a nerd, just like myself. It awoke so many feelings and a deep understanding about people and what they have gone through during historic events.

Will re-read it again 😌

[Candace Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a lovely (as in entertaining? Refreshing?) historical fiction graphic novel! I enjoyed the political intrigue, the curiously evil motives of double-minded characters, and the unique perspective on a conflict of which I’d never heard. Cool story!

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back to back Reformation history stories for me, after the Douglas Bond Books. Honestly I greatly enjoyed this one, one the best I’ve read this year.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick 1 hour read that brings history to life. This is an inspiring book about a little known, important part of religious freedom history. I learned a lot. I thought it was very cool that a farmer’s tactics were so effective that Napoleon used them to conquer.

[A.J. McMahon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an OK read. The art work wasn't too bad, and the writing was about the same. I found it a bit cliched in its presentation. The book would have been a lot stronger if more had been made of what the actual fight was about in the first place. The hero was driven by a religious belief system that was never really spelled out. The bad guys were too formulaic, and the fight scenes likewise. On the plus side, the book was never boring, there was plenty of pace and momentum in the story throughout, and there was a genuine sense of drama in many of the scenes.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this better, but I just kept getting the feeling I was reading a movie pitch more than a graphic novel. I liked the concept of the reluctant warrior who rises to the occasion of defending his family, community and beliefs, but Joshua Janevel's family, community and beliefs seem of less importance to the creators than the action set pieces. In the end I'm left wondering who the hell the Waldensians are and why a group of Protestants is wedged into the Alps between Catholic forces bent on their destruction. The villains seem to be B-level Disney animation stock characters.