Marwe: Into the Land of the Dead [An East African Legend]

Graphic Myths and Legends

by Marie P. Croall, Craig Hamilton (Illustrator), Ray Lago (Illustrator)

From an East African village, into the Land of the Marwe lives in a village where food is scarce. She tries to be obedient, but it’s hard to spend every day working in the fields. When her carelessness ruins the village’s crops, she’s too scared to face her angry family and runs away―to the strange Land of the Dead. Marwe knows she doesn’t belong there. But can she find the right sort of courage to return to the land of the living?

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Childrens, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fairy Tales, Folk Tales

48 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2008

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

A dry recounting of an African folktale: first this happened, then this unlikely thing happened, then this supernatural thing happened, but the hero proved true and good and they all lived happily ever after. Ho-hum.

It does have terrific art by comic veterans Ray Lago, Craig Hamilton, and Ray Snyder.

[Dee Dee G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read in comic book form.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

An original example of portal fantasy, this myth from East Africa hits a lot of the same beats as any modern YA like Caroline or Every Heart a Doorway, as well as showing many elements that would eventually wind their way around the world into many, many fairy tales.

[sweet pea · Rating 2 out of 5]

i'm always on the hunt for graphic novels set in Africa. while Marwe is okay, it didn't completely thrill me. for one thing the descriptive intertitles have an unnecessarily antiquated Prince Valiant kind-of feel. for another, the story leaves some gaps in the telling ("so she lived for years in the Land of the Dead without eating?"). ultimately it's a good story that teaches several valuable lessons. but something about the brevity of the telling left me unsatisfied.

[Mary Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

An East African Legend. Appears to be well-researched -- both the story and the illustrations. Graphic Universe has quite a variety of titles! They had Cybils nominees in both 2007 and 2008.

[Samantha Heater · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok