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Battle Born: Lapis Lazuli
From the bestselling author of The White Donkey, a heartbreaking and visceral graphic novel set against the stark beauty of Afghanistan's mountain villages that examines prejudice and the military remnants of colonialism.
In this hotly anticipatednew work from Maximilian Uriarte, creator of the popular Terminal Lance comics and The White Donkey, tells a "thrillingly cinematic" (Publishers Weekly) story of the personal cost of war and the power of human connection.
Lapis Lazuli is a rich blue semiprecious gemstone found deep in the Sar-i-sang mountains of Afghanistan's Badakhshan province. For thousands of years it has sustained the nearby mining villages, whose inhabitants lived peacefully in the mountainous landscape--until the Taliban, known in the region as the Horsemen, came to seek the riches stored deep beneath the earth. Taliban rule has turned the stone into a conflict mineral, as they steal and sell it for their own gain.
At the behest of the fledgling Afghan government, seeking to wrest back control of the province, United States Marines are sent into the mountains. A platoon led by their eager and naive commander, First Lieutenant Roberts, and a stoic, fierce squad leader, Sergeant King, must overcome barriers of language and culture in this remote region to win the locals' trust, and their freedom from Taliban rule. Along the way, they must also wrestle with their demons--and face unimaginably difficult choices.
A sweeping yet intimate story about brutality, kindness, and the remnants of colonialism, Battle Born: Lapis Lazuli is an epic saga from the voice of a new generation of military veterans.
In this hotly anticipatednew work from Maximilian Uriarte, creator of the popular Terminal Lance comics and The White Donkey, tells a "thrillingly cinematic" (Publishers Weekly) story of the personal cost of war and the power of human connection.
Lapis Lazuli is a rich blue semiprecious gemstone found deep in the Sar-i-sang mountains of Afghanistan's Badakhshan province. For thousands of years it has sustained the nearby mining villages, whose inhabitants lived peacefully in the mountainous landscape--until the Taliban, known in the region as the Horsemen, came to seek the riches stored deep beneath the earth. Taliban rule has turned the stone into a conflict mineral, as they steal and sell it for their own gain.
At the behest of the fledgling Afghan government, seeking to wrest back control of the province, United States Marines are sent into the mountains. A platoon led by their eager and naive commander, First Lieutenant Roberts, and a stoic, fierce squad leader, Sergeant King, must overcome barriers of language and culture in this remote region to win the locals' trust, and their freedom from Taliban rule. Along the way, they must also wrestle with their demons--and face unimaginably difficult choices.
A sweeping yet intimate story about brutality, kindness, and the remnants of colonialism, Battle Born: Lapis Lazuli is an epic saga from the voice of a new generation of military veterans.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published July 28, 2020
17 people are currently reading
1150 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
September 25, 2023
Maximilian Uriarte is one of the most original artist/writers in GN today. This heartbreaking tale of war and the cost it exacts from each individual is a powerful statement that gives overviews often neglected when groups see each other as the 'other' - and not as people: highest recommendation.
May 23, 2020
Damn. I guess it takes a former Marine to write and draw a modern day war graphic novel. This is the story of a platoon of Marines sent to a remote region of Afghanistan to stop the Taliban from selling lapis lazuli, now classified as a conflict mineral. It turns into so much more when the sergeant grows a fondness for the people. It's gritty, visceral and full of emotion. I could even look past the long scenes that were untranslated from Arabic. The art is very solid although it can be difficult to distinguish who's who when their gear is on.
Received a review copy from Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Received a review copy from Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
September 27, 2021
An impressively visual and beautiful graphic novel set in the harsh, mountainous, cold, and snowy terrain of Badakhshan Province in Afghanistan. The Taliban arrive on horseback to a boy’s village and strong arm the natives. Then the U.S. Marines by helicopter and foot create a combat post out of nothing. Why? For 6,000 years, lapis lazuli, a semi-precious gem stone, has been found there and now the stone is soaked in blood. One of Afghanistan’s key exports, the Taliban have been illegally mining and selling on the black market the conflict mineral to raise an estimated 25% of their revenue. The U.S. Marines are brought in to stop the Taliban from mining further and to restore the community to its local leaders. Unfortunately, the Taliban takes vengeance on a local family that has befriended the Marines. What does it mean to be civilized? Sergeant King provides his own definition.
August 3, 2020
High-production quality, at times, stunningly gorgeous, thought-provoking literature and historical military history, packaged in an impressive graphic novel form.
Let's first move the elephant in the room out of the way. For better or worse, this is a dramatically different work product than Uriarte's popular and worthwhile, Terminal Lance: The White Donkey, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... The three biggest differences for this reader were (1) color/production quality, (2) text/prose density, and (3) amount of graphic violence. (This one is definitely not a children's book.) Uriarte concedes, in the notes afterward, that, "this book is nearly one hundred pages longer than The White Donkey," but with significant less dialogue." That will appeal to some and disappoint others.
I'm of two minds on the topic. On the one hand, Uriarte is an artist first, and this is an artistic graphic novel. In some ways, it reminds me, conceptually, but not visually, of Alex Ross's early paradigm-shifting (and, frankly, jaw-droppingly gorgeous) work, ranging from Marvels (with Kurt Busiek, of course) to Kingdom Come (with Mark Waid, of course) and Superman: Peace on Earth (with Paul Dini, of course, which, in large format, is a joy to behold). And, again, the large format visual sequences in Uriarte's book are extremely effective (and gratifying as eye candy, despite some of the brutally graphic content).
On the other hand, I'm a prose/word person. Over the decades, much as I love comic books and graphic novels, I increasingly find that a prose novel about, say, a superhero, is more gratifying than a graphic novel (or, for that matter, a movie) - even when I've read both. So, yes, I was disappointed by how little prose there was (and, similarly, how quickly the experience ended). Then, again, the book is gorgeous (see above).
I look forward to reading future reviews, and I'm intensely curious to see how readers react to, among others, the protagonist (we've come a long way since the Sgt (Franklin John) Rock that I grew up with), the Southern/racist/buffoon (personally, I though Uriarte overplayed his hand here), and the (sole) female Marine. I'm intensely curious to see how Sgt King evolves (and I thought the relatively late-in-the-book backstory was well executed). As a retired officer (to be clear, Army, not Marines), I guess I wasn't surprised, but was somewhat disappointed by, the young officer character/caricature, but that's to be expected.
To my mind, Uriarte, using Neil Gaiman's mantra, makes good art. I'm glad I bought and read the book, and I look forward to what comes next.
Side Note, with apologies for a slight tangent: if the book interests you in owning some lapis lazuli jewelry, consider shopping/purchasing through the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), which funds educational programs to promote work and develop small women-owned micro businesses.
https://shop.taps.org/collections/jew... - for more on that, see, https://www.outsideonline.com/2395637....
Let's first move the elephant in the room out of the way. For better or worse, this is a dramatically different work product than Uriarte's popular and worthwhile, Terminal Lance: The White Donkey, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... The three biggest differences for this reader were (1) color/production quality, (2) text/prose density, and (3) amount of graphic violence. (This one is definitely not a children's book.) Uriarte concedes, in the notes afterward, that, "this book is nearly one hundred pages longer than The White Donkey," but with significant less dialogue." That will appeal to some and disappoint others.
I'm of two minds on the topic. On the one hand, Uriarte is an artist first, and this is an artistic graphic novel. In some ways, it reminds me, conceptually, but not visually, of Alex Ross's early paradigm-shifting (and, frankly, jaw-droppingly gorgeous) work, ranging from Marvels (with Kurt Busiek, of course) to Kingdom Come (with Mark Waid, of course) and Superman: Peace on Earth (with Paul Dini, of course, which, in large format, is a joy to behold). And, again, the large format visual sequences in Uriarte's book are extremely effective (and gratifying as eye candy, despite some of the brutally graphic content).
On the other hand, I'm a prose/word person. Over the decades, much as I love comic books and graphic novels, I increasingly find that a prose novel about, say, a superhero, is more gratifying than a graphic novel (or, for that matter, a movie) - even when I've read both. So, yes, I was disappointed by how little prose there was (and, similarly, how quickly the experience ended). Then, again, the book is gorgeous (see above).
I look forward to reading future reviews, and I'm intensely curious to see how readers react to, among others, the protagonist (we've come a long way since the Sgt (Franklin John) Rock that I grew up with), the Southern/racist/buffoon (personally, I though Uriarte overplayed his hand here), and the (sole) female Marine. I'm intensely curious to see how Sgt King evolves (and I thought the relatively late-in-the-book backstory was well executed). As a retired officer (to be clear, Army, not Marines), I guess I wasn't surprised, but was somewhat disappointed by, the young officer character/caricature, but that's to be expected.
To my mind, Uriarte, using Neil Gaiman's mantra, makes good art. I'm glad I bought and read the book, and I look forward to what comes next.
Side Note, with apologies for a slight tangent: if the book interests you in owning some lapis lazuli jewelry, consider shopping/purchasing through the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), which funds educational programs to promote work and develop small women-owned micro businesses.
https://shop.taps.org/collections/jew... - for more on that, see, https://www.outsideonline.com/2395637....
June 23, 2020
This graphic novel was made to be a movie. It has the strengths of action cinema (a propulsive plot with great combat and fight scenes; pathos; and a theme that grapples with current geopolitical issues through the lives of a platoon of charismatic American soldiers, Taliban terrorists, and the Afghani natives stuck in between) as well as the weaknesses (some of the characters are pretty one note sketches and the ending is relatively expected and sad).
**Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
**Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 18, 2020
Hearts and minds vs. eye for an eye. This would probably make Jack Bauer fans happy, but in a time of concern about police brutality, a Marine committing war crimes in Afghanistan does not have much appeal for me. And that's too bad, because I really liked the first half of the book.
November 11, 2020
"Men have created all manner of ways to kill each other. The most violent wars in history were waged by the most "civilized" of nations, the victor always the one with the sharpest stick. Strip a man of his inventions and force him to defend himself with his bare hands, and you will see him as he really is: small and afraid."
This heavy graphic novel is beautifully illustrated, and that's what kept me reading until the end. It's a war story, set in Afghanistan, and the author tried to include every single trope into this tale - a woman marine, a racist southerner, locals caught between the Taliban and the troops, etc, but none of these themes were fleshed out enough. I was uncomfortable with the actions of the protagonist, and it's clear that we are supposed to be rooting for him.
Overall, this didn't work for me in terms of plot or character development, but the art is really lovely.
This heavy graphic novel is beautifully illustrated, and that's what kept me reading until the end. It's a war story, set in Afghanistan, and the author tried to include every single trope into this tale - a woman marine, a racist southerner, locals caught between the Taliban and the troops, etc, but none of these themes were fleshed out enough. I was uncomfortable with the actions of the protagonist, and it's clear that we are supposed to be rooting for him.
Overall, this didn't work for me in terms of plot or character development, but the art is really lovely.
March 29, 2020
Wow.
Just wow. I downloaded this, and read it in one sitting, thinking I would just take one look at it, to see how it was. I usually don’t like stories set during war times, but the people were so interesting and distinct, and full of life, I had to know what would happen. I even pushed on when the Arabic wasn’t translated, because I figured we would know what was being said at one point.
War stories are gruesome. there is nothing that can be done about that, no matter when they take place, or who is fighting. There are rules, to be sure, but sometimes you don’t obey the rules, and it might be justified, but probably it isn’t.
All this to say that this graphic novel pulls you along, even if you are not into violence, or war stories, or any of those things.
Very violent. Lots of swearing. But, the author was also in the marines, so I’m sure he knows how they talk.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Just wow. I downloaded this, and read it in one sitting, thinking I would just take one look at it, to see how it was. I usually don’t like stories set during war times, but the people were so interesting and distinct, and full of life, I had to know what would happen. I even pushed on when the Arabic wasn’t translated, because I figured we would know what was being said at one point.
War stories are gruesome. there is nothing that can be done about that, no matter when they take place, or who is fighting. There are rules, to be sure, but sometimes you don’t obey the rules, and it might be justified, but probably it isn’t.
All this to say that this graphic novel pulls you along, even if you are not into violence, or war stories, or any of those things.
Very violent. Lots of swearing. But, the author was also in the marines, so I’m sure he knows how they talk.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
March 27, 2020
Wow. This was a visceral and stunning war story in a modern setting. Disclaimer that there is graphic violence and language, as you'd expect from such a scenario. Read it in one sitting and have already recommended to others.
Received eARC from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review
Received eARC from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review
December 20, 2021
A visually stunning, intense and visceral war story.
May 12, 2021
It’s always impressive when the creator does both the writing and the illustrating. And in this piece the illustration is particularly impressive. The use of color is powerful, especially when applied to the landscape. The pacing, while not necessarily consistent, ebbs and flows almost perfectly. And the images are just cartoony enough that when the good guy rips off the lower jaw of Taliban member with his bare hands it’s not overly repulsive.
The story is solid. Though the bad guy is too on the nose and his redemption turn is a little weak. And, really, do we need another war story? (I mean I read it and enjoyed it .... )
The story is solid. Though the bad guy is too on the nose and his redemption turn is a little weak. And, really, do we need another war story? (I mean I read it and enjoyed it .... )
August 25, 2020
This is a well told and illustrated modern war story, but it feels as if the author has included just about every trope of the modern war story into the mix.
Women integrating into combat arms, a racist southerner who uses the 'N' word and wears a Confederate flag, civilians caught between US troops and their opponents, out of touch officer conflicting with troops on the ground. This story includes it all, and more, into the mix.
I still liked it despite all of this, and one more thing that I'll mention after this because of possible spoilers. It's okay to go over the same ground sometimes if you do it skillfully, and for the most part the author does that.
Women integrating into combat arms, a racist southerner who uses the 'N' word and wears a Confederate flag, civilians caught between US troops and their opponents, out of touch officer conflicting with troops on the ground. This story includes it all, and more, into the mix.
I still liked it despite all of this, and one more thing that I'll mention after this because of possible spoilers. It's okay to go over the same ground sometimes if you do it skillfully, and for the most part the author does that.
September 17, 2020
The artwork and story are so good I am not able to read as the graphic novel was given in epub format.
June 19, 2025
Coming from Max’s Lance comics to The White Donkey was a lot of tonal whiplash, but I was more prepared for the gritty tone of this graphic novel. Unlike The White Donkey however, this book lacks real closure.
It felt like this would have been better off as a two-part series that could have fleshed out some more of the plot points. A lot of the relationships felt rushed, and I didn’t have much reason to care about any of the characters.
Forrest was a garbage human being, and his arc from being a racist dirtbag to respecting Sergeant King is so fast and out of nowhere, I didn’t have a reason to believe it was actually happening.
Chavez wants to earn the respect of her peers, but the entire book shows her as weak and unable to keep up with the men in her platoon.
Sergeant King has survived abuse and neglect, but we’re supposed to root for him despite him committing multiple war crimes over the course of the book.
This book’s use of full-color sets it above The White Donkey from a design perspective, but it falls short in almost every other metric.
It felt like this would have been better off as a two-part series that could have fleshed out some more of the plot points. A lot of the relationships felt rushed, and I didn’t have much reason to care about any of the characters.
Forrest was a garbage human being, and his arc from being a racist dirtbag to respecting Sergeant King is so fast and out of nowhere, I didn’t have a reason to believe it was actually happening.
Chavez wants to earn the respect of her peers, but the entire book shows her as weak and unable to keep up with the men in her platoon.
Sergeant King has survived abuse and neglect, but we’re supposed to root for him despite him committing multiple war crimes over the course of the book.
This book’s use of full-color sets it above The White Donkey from a design perspective, but it falls short in almost every other metric.
October 7, 2020
This brief but beautiful graphic novel's tagline is "One Marine's Fight for the Heart of Afghanistan." It captures a short period at a COP high in the mountains and the Marines' interactions with each other, villagers, and the Taliban. Written by a veteran of several tours in Iraq, the book is imbued with experience. In a very few lines, Uriarte tries to address a whole host of social issues (racism, sexism, hierarchy, officer/NCO/enlisted relations, colonialism, anarchy, respect); it feels both familiar (capturing well many of the same themes and voices in so many autobiographies, films, and books about war and society) and, perhaps unavoidably, a bit pat. Running throughout the book is a compelling, complex question about morality, efficacy, systems, and violence. The illustrations are wonderful. Uriarte studied art after leaving the military and his work is rich, with gorgeous colors. The art pulls the story along quickly, but also carries some of the burden of context and narrative.
June 28, 2020
Battle Born is rightly called cinematic. It is well drawn and a fine example of the graphic novel medium from Maximilian Uriarte. This book ranks as yet another work that shows the power graphic novels hold in telling visual stories and acts as a counternarrative to their assumed simplicity.
July 28, 2020
'Battle Born: Lapis Lazuli' with story and art by Maximilian Uriarte is a graphic novel set in the recent Afghanistan conflict.
In the Sr-i-sang mountains, Lapis Lazuli is mined. The Taliban's interest in it has made it a conflict mineral. A group of Marines is sent in to the mountain area to stop the Taliban. The Marines make connections with people in the village, but that connection is costly. Now one Marine is faced with a choice between justice and revenge.
This graphic novel reads pretty swiftly because it is mostly wordless or has stretches of characters speaking Arabic. I liked this story of war and the people caught up in it. The art is pretty solid and I liked the details and the silent beauty of the area the story takes place in.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Little, Brown and Company, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
In the Sr-i-sang mountains, Lapis Lazuli is mined. The Taliban's interest in it has made it a conflict mineral. A group of Marines is sent in to the mountain area to stop the Taliban. The Marines make connections with people in the village, but that connection is costly. Now one Marine is faced with a choice between justice and revenge.
This graphic novel reads pretty swiftly because it is mostly wordless or has stretches of characters speaking Arabic. I liked this story of war and the people caught up in it. The art is pretty solid and I liked the details and the silent beauty of the area the story takes place in.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Little, Brown and Company, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
December 8, 2020
If you're not familiar with his work, he draws the Terminal Lance cartoon. Read Terminal Lance: The White Donkey, his book about Iraq and thought I'd give this one a try. Well done. There were pages that I just stopped and stared at because of how incredible the art is. Storytelling is on par with the art. Worth the read.
November 4, 2021
SIX STARS Maximilian Uriarte! Some spoilers....
Beautifully illustrated. Stunningly illustrated actually, and you know this by the fact that whole conversations took place in Arabic? Farsi? Dari?.. not sure, but anyway, I did not understand, but still understood and felt EVERYTHING happening in-frame. There were pages of art without words, or any new/significant movement... maybe just the squint of the eye, or the evidence of the wind blowing, but I FELT IT. Everything the character was thinking and feeling. WOW.
**Spoiler Alert** when Shahnaz looks down the road to see if "her" King is coming... first of all, the establishment of that relationship with barely any words exchanged was breathtaking. And then, when he didn't come - because why would he, how would he know? But isn't that the risk they all took? - when he didn't come, and the violence happened, it hurt. Man, I felt that. I HAVE felt that... looking for help and no one is coming - just gotta face it alone. I had to put the book down for a second there. (And didn't want to turn the page to be proven right.... my heart, ever the optimist: "Maybe they'll show up!"... my head, ever the realist:"that man is not coming :( ... nobody is coming.")
This whole thing is moving - LOVED the fact that the protagonist was a strong, complex, but good black man. Love that him being a black man didn't take away from anyone else being whatever else they were, and it wasn't a focal point... at least for me, just caused the story to resonate that much more, especially as Forrest showed the audacity to use racial slurs even though his superior was of color. Or how the other POC in the story (Afghan included) related with him. I don't know... it wasn't a racial thing (at all)... just an understanding that POCs have amongst each other sometimes that somehow this author perfectly captured.
Another thing - I'm not in the military, but I can imagine that the exchanges with the Lieutenant would probably definitely happen (regularly), and LOVED the fact that they were depicted, even though they didn't necessarily paint leadership in the best light. I also LOVE how the author never directly comes out and trashes anyone or anything... but he leaves thinkers to think. If you are one to take things at more than face value, there's space to see a message beyond a message here... and to question what you believe is right and wrong in the situations presented. And to question how those beliefs extrapolate out to what is right /wrong in these same situations in real life. There were some things I "supported" in the GN that I wouldn't in real life, and vice versa. Interesting how good story telling can do that.
Anyway, this was beyond good. Read it, read it, read it. Then re-read it with focus on the nuances in each frame. It's a powerful piece of work.
Beautifully illustrated. Stunningly illustrated actually, and you know this by the fact that whole conversations took place in Arabic? Farsi? Dari?.. not sure, but anyway, I did not understand, but still understood and felt EVERYTHING happening in-frame. There were pages of art without words, or any new/significant movement... maybe just the squint of the eye, or the evidence of the wind blowing, but I FELT IT. Everything the character was thinking and feeling. WOW.
**Spoiler Alert** when Shahnaz looks down the road to see if "her" King is coming... first of all, the establishment of that relationship with barely any words exchanged was breathtaking. And then, when he didn't come - because why would he, how would he know? But isn't that the risk they all took? - when he didn't come, and the violence happened, it hurt. Man, I felt that. I HAVE felt that... looking for help and no one is coming - just gotta face it alone. I had to put the book down for a second there. (And didn't want to turn the page to be proven right.... my heart, ever the optimist: "Maybe they'll show up!"... my head, ever the realist:"that man is not coming :( ... nobody is coming.")
This whole thing is moving - LOVED the fact that the protagonist was a strong, complex, but good black man. Love that him being a black man didn't take away from anyone else being whatever else they were, and it wasn't a focal point... at least for me, just caused the story to resonate that much more, especially as Forrest showed the audacity to use racial slurs even though his superior was of color. Or how the other POC in the story (Afghan included) related with him. I don't know... it wasn't a racial thing (at all)... just an understanding that POCs have amongst each other sometimes that somehow this author perfectly captured.
Another thing - I'm not in the military, but I can imagine that the exchanges with the Lieutenant would probably definitely happen (regularly), and LOVED the fact that they were depicted, even though they didn't necessarily paint leadership in the best light. I also LOVE how the author never directly comes out and trashes anyone or anything... but he leaves thinkers to think. If you are one to take things at more than face value, there's space to see a message beyond a message here... and to question what you believe is right and wrong in the situations presented. And to question how those beliefs extrapolate out to what is right /wrong in these same situations in real life. There were some things I "supported" in the GN that I wouldn't in real life, and vice versa. Interesting how good story telling can do that.
Anyway, this was beyond good. Read it, read it, read it. Then re-read it with focus on the nuances in each frame. It's a powerful piece of work.
August 3, 2020
This is a hefty book, a long graphic novel, but, as some pages are one panel, a quick read. I read it all in only one afternoon. The art is amazing. The entire book is in color that has a rich and deep palette.
I have also read The White Donkey, another graphic novel, and Terminal Lance, an online comic, both by the same author as this graphic novel. The White Donkey is serious while Terminal Lance is (usually) more lighthearted. (If you have not read either one, check them both out. I highly recommend both.) Battle Born: Lapis Lazuli is more like The White Donkey in that it is a serious story, with a few lighthearted moments thrown in.
Battle Born: Lapis Lazuli is the story of a squad of Marines in Afghanistan in current times or the recent past. It centers the story on one character, Sergeant King, an honorable man and squad leader. Lapis Lazuli is mined in the area. The Taliban terrorizes the local people and forces them to give what they have mined to them instead of being able to sell it for income to survive.
I appreciated the presence of a female Marine on the squad. She does show one moment of weakness, but she is a human and that happens to humans as no one is perfect. Otherwise, she is depicted as holding her own with the other Marines. That is the type of excellent representation of women in the military that I love to see in literature. Seeing it written by a male Marine who doesn't make a big deal about it is great.
There is coarse language in this book. It realistically depicts Marines being Marines, so it is not surprising that the language is a bit rough at times. There is violence, sometimes realistically graphically depicted. There are no sexual situations. I would very highly recommend this book for older teenagers and adults. Those with military related PTSD might want to steer clear, depending on what their exact situation is.
I have also read The White Donkey, another graphic novel, and Terminal Lance, an online comic, both by the same author as this graphic novel. The White Donkey is serious while Terminal Lance is (usually) more lighthearted. (If you have not read either one, check them both out. I highly recommend both.) Battle Born: Lapis Lazuli is more like The White Donkey in that it is a serious story, with a few lighthearted moments thrown in.
Battle Born: Lapis Lazuli is the story of a squad of Marines in Afghanistan in current times or the recent past. It centers the story on one character, Sergeant King, an honorable man and squad leader. Lapis Lazuli is mined in the area. The Taliban terrorizes the local people and forces them to give what they have mined to them instead of being able to sell it for income to survive.
I appreciated the presence of a female Marine on the squad. She does show one moment of weakness, but she is a human and that happens to humans as no one is perfect. Otherwise, she is depicted as holding her own with the other Marines. That is the type of excellent representation of women in the military that I love to see in literature. Seeing it written by a male Marine who doesn't make a big deal about it is great.
There is coarse language in this book. It realistically depicts Marines being Marines, so it is not surprising that the language is a bit rough at times. There is violence, sometimes realistically graphically depicted. There are no sexual situations. I would very highly recommend this book for older teenagers and adults. Those with military related PTSD might want to steer clear, depending on what their exact situation is.
November 9, 2021
This is a really good graphic novel with some flaws. The art is the standout element in Battle Born: It feels very cinematic and Uriarte's work in the film industry is evident. There are two elements that merit specific mention here: First, the use of focus, which accents that cinematic feel and directs the reader's attention in a very natural way. It really compliments the repetition of images, something the author uses often (and effectively) to affect the pacing. The other element is the blue scarf, which has both symbolic value, adds color to the composition, and helps the audience pick out the main character in large group panels. The art is the best part of this book, especially with such beautiful coloring.
The narrative itself is good but has some issues. It covers a wide range of people, including a female marine and a southern racist, in ways that are interesting but could use some more nuance and more time. The characters are archetypal but not necessarily stereotypical, although the line is blurry. SPOILERS AHEAD. I also recognize the value in having the main character make a decision at the end of the book that is morally wrong and speaks to the complicated human response to the events of the book, but I struggled with the lack of further discussion inside this book. I recognize that the author plans to revisit the character, but I wish there was more here.
Overall, I really enjoyed this graphic novel, and I think it was published at an opportune time. Talking about the conflict within the context of 2020, as opposed to the initial invasion, is valuable and provides a new insight. I'm excited to see how the author uses his graphic skill to write more developed, deeper stories in the future.
The narrative itself is good but has some issues. It covers a wide range of people, including a female marine and a southern racist, in ways that are interesting but could use some more nuance and more time. The characters are archetypal but not necessarily stereotypical, although the line is blurry. SPOILERS AHEAD. I also recognize the value in having the main character make a decision at the end of the book that is morally wrong and speaks to the complicated human response to the events of the book, but I struggled with the lack of further discussion inside this book. I recognize that the author plans to revisit the character, but I wish there was more here.
Overall, I really enjoyed this graphic novel, and I think it was published at an opportune time. Talking about the conflict within the context of 2020, as opposed to the initial invasion, is valuable and provides a new insight. I'm excited to see how the author uses his graphic skill to write more developed, deeper stories in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2023
This book is beautifully illustrated. It's a significant improvement from Max's first novel White Donkey, and it's not just the addition of color that makes the difference. The drawings themselves are better, the attention to detail is improved, and this story is told much more visually than his first.
Now the story itself is a bit of a letdown. Some of the characters push up against the line of immersion breaking because they're fairly 1-dimensional, their dynamics strike me as unrealistic, and the consequences of their actions just seem off to me as someone who served in the Marines.
The main story itself is relatively straight-forward and carries the story well. Unfortunately, it ends up feeling 'compressed'. I can't help but feel like the pacing needed more revisions to let the emotional impact of its moments land.
There are several side stories present in the book from the use of modern technology, racism in the military, women being introduced to combat roles, etc. By and large these themes are handled in a hamfisted way and are easily the worst part of the book. It's not that I think there's anything wrong with exploring those themes, it's just that the book doesn't do a good job of it and the pages occupied by the side stories would have been better spent filling out the main storyline.
Max has come a long way as an illustrator, I hope for his next effort he makes a similar advance as an author.
Now the story itself is a bit of a letdown. Some of the characters push up against the line of immersion breaking because they're fairly 1-dimensional, their dynamics strike me as unrealistic, and the consequences of their actions just seem off to me as someone who served in the Marines.
The main story itself is relatively straight-forward and carries the story well. Unfortunately, it ends up feeling 'compressed'. I can't help but feel like the pacing needed more revisions to let the emotional impact of its moments land.
There are several side stories present in the book from the use of modern technology, racism in the military, women being introduced to combat roles, etc. By and large these themes are handled in a hamfisted way and are easily the worst part of the book. It's not that I think there's anything wrong with exploring those themes, it's just that the book doesn't do a good job of it and the pages occupied by the side stories would have been better spent filling out the main storyline.
Max has come a long way as an illustrator, I hope for his next effort he makes a similar advance as an author.
January 1, 2022
-Disclaimer: I won this book for free through Goodreads giveaways in exchange for an honest review.-
Simplistic yet quite complex.
This graphic novel was very immersive!
The geographical regions it is set in and the color schemes are well-thought-out. The plot was well-paced and organized. The book itself is great quality. And keeps you flipping the pages till the very end.
However, I had no emotional attachment to the characters. They all seemed to have their places in the story. But I felt it was missing something to make me care about the relationship between King and the woman. That aspect seemed rushed.
There are multiple parts with very foul language which I could have gone without. I guess that is to be expected with military banter. Some moral values clash when talking about whether or not some wars are racist, who started them, and why they are happening. It is clear about where the author stands on some of those viewpoints. Overall, the book was interesting but lacked some relationship foundation/character development.
Simplistic yet quite complex.
This graphic novel was very immersive!
The geographical regions it is set in and the color schemes are well-thought-out. The plot was well-paced and organized. The book itself is great quality. And keeps you flipping the pages till the very end.
However, I had no emotional attachment to the characters. They all seemed to have their places in the story. But I felt it was missing something to make me care about the relationship between King and the woman. That aspect seemed rushed.
There are multiple parts with very foul language which I could have gone without. I guess that is to be expected with military banter. Some moral values clash when talking about whether or not some wars are racist, who started them, and why they are happening. It is clear about where the author stands on some of those viewpoints. Overall, the book was interesting but lacked some relationship foundation/character development.
November 6, 2020
A retelling of the Conan trope, this visceral visual account of war, including the racism-driven colonialism, first female troops in combat, etc. and how these intersect...especially in the creation of the decades-long colonial destruction/state of war in Afghanistan, as well as the current state of illegal mining and trafficking of lapis lazuli in the Sar-i-Sang Valley (Militants make an estimated $20 million/year.). Though it read more as a character introduction than a plot-driven story, it worked due to the spare dialogue and incredible illustrations: it has an extremely cinematic quality. The deep saturated colors and washes were especially brilliant in the illustrations of lapis, snow, and the Badakhshan mountains. I would have liked translations of the untranslated Dari/Pashto panels, even if included as footnotes or endnotes.
I received this book as a GoodReads First Reads giveaway winner; this is my unbiased review.
I received this book as a GoodReads First Reads giveaway winner; this is my unbiased review.
November 6, 2020
Good. Very good. The double-page spreads with no dialogue (of which there are many) are gorgeous. Just stunning. The plot itself is not...I'm not sure what the word is. I guess it's not very compelling—like, I don't think I'd read a whole book on just lapis lazuli and how it's become a conflict material, even though it is interesting. But the way Uriarte presents it and his art and the characters—all of that makes it a legit page-turner.
King is a great main character. He's complex and taciturn and (quietly) funny and full of emotion. (In a note at the end, Uriarte says Sgt King will be back—woohoo!) Lots of complicated and interesting side characters, too, including Chavez and Forrest.
Aaah this was so good. Glad I stumbled on it, even if I don't remember how that happened.
King is a great main character. He's complex and taciturn and (quietly) funny and full of emotion. (In a note at the end, Uriarte says Sgt King will be back—woohoo!) Lots of complicated and interesting side characters, too, including Chavez and Forrest.
Aaah this was so good. Glad I stumbled on it, even if I don't remember how that happened.
September 6, 2020
If you thought that Max's The White Donkey was good, then get ready. This new book is a tour de force view of the Marine Corps, the war in Afghanistan, and how there isn't any situation that is defined by a single feature.
The artwork is gorgeous. Pages will go by with subtle and meaningful shifts in the image that heighten the tension of the story without a single word on any page.
The dialog is tight and accurate. The story covers many aspects of life in general as well as life in the Corps in particular.
This is the single best graphic work to be issued this year.
Do....no.....miss....it.
The artwork is gorgeous. Pages will go by with subtle and meaningful shifts in the image that heighten the tension of the story without a single word on any page.
The dialog is tight and accurate. The story covers many aspects of life in general as well as life in the Corps in particular.
This is the single best graphic work to be issued this year.
Do....no.....miss....it.
December 23, 2020
After receiving this book as a Goodreads giveaway I reflected on my own (involuntary) military service. This graphic novel portrays some of the best and worst of military service in a combat zone. It's more of a personal story rather than a sweeping tale. The artwork is good and some of the devices used (untranslated dialog in farsi/pashto, and vivid closeups) work to move the story along. I did not care for some of the use of full page illustrations or the use of the same or almost the same images to try to express tension or suspense. Otherwise a fairly good story which supports my rating.
July 1, 2021
A beautiful, moving, painful story. Set in Afghanistan, a platoon of Marines from diverse backgrounds are sent to a remote region to stop the Taliban from selling lapis lazuli, a bright blue starry stone now classified as a conflict mineral. It's about war, colonialism, racism, and what is deemed 'civilized.' The art is striking, with many double-page panels and occasional stretches with either no or untranslated dialogue. Uriarte uses the graphic format very well, conveying deep emotion with color and tone. Seek this out. (Reviewed by Sharon, Hickory Corner Branch)
March 6, 2022
If you want a full, human perspective on a often-ignored aspect of US operations in Afghanistan, give this book a read. Its themes are timeless and well-handled; the pacing and even the graphics are so cinematic that I would be stunned if this was never optioned for film.
Some (er, many) of the characters are so flat they reminded me of the paper they're written on, but that's a war-media trope and I wouldn't let it keep you from reading—the main character, Sergeant King, has enough depth to keep you engaged, anyway.
Some (er, many) of the characters are so flat they reminded me of the paper they're written on, but that's a war-media trope and I wouldn't let it keep you from reading—the main character, Sergeant King, has enough depth to keep you engaged, anyway.
March 2, 2024
Very, very quick “read” since it is a graphic novel. I actually used google translate photo feature to translate some of the Pashto language in the speech bubbles. The pictures pretty much tell what is being said anyway. It gives a good impression as to what a regular soldier would have experienced when the civilians speak little or no English.
The illustrations are quite powerful. The broad brushstrokes of the words, tells the story using very few of them. The characters are composites and I have met real folks who likely have similar background stories to the characters here.
The illustrations are quite powerful. The broad brushstrokes of the words, tells the story using very few of them. The characters are composites and I have met real folks who likely have similar background stories to the characters here.
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