By Michael C Lorah
Newsarama
A
warning: this book missed Diamond’s cutoff numbers, so you may have a
hard time finding it in your local comics shop. But it’s worth the
extra effort to track down a copy. Peter Kuper, co-founder and
co-editor of “World War 3 Illustrated” and current author of “Mad”‘s
“Spy vs. Spy”, spent two years living in the southern Mexican state
Oaxaca, arriving just in time for an annual teachers’ strike in the
cause of increased wages to turn violent, leaving dozens of people dead.
“Diario
de Oaxaca” is Kuper’s sketchbook and journal of the events that
occurred during his time in Mexico. The political content is smaller
than many readers will probably expect, but the strike ended shortly
into Kuper’s tenure, so most of the material was created in the
aftermath. On the other hand, though the strike is ended, its shadow
lingers over most of the book.
With not much in the way of
traditional comics, “Diario” provides insights into the Oaxacan culture
via Kuper’s expressive, collage-like sketchbook illustrations, which are
offset by one- to two-page text journal entries that enable Kuper to
expand on what he’s witnessed politically, socially and culturally. The
illustrations are far more than sketches, however. Each page is a full
color tapestry of an amazing city and its culture. Peppered with
embedded photographs of the concrete reality of Oaxaca, each of Kuper’s
pages explores a festival, burned-out cars, flora and fauna, ancient
Zapotec structures, witnessed public relations, or myriad other nuances
of local life.
In a beautiful hardcover edition, with over 200
pages of Oaxacan culture and political strife to uncover, “Diario de
Oaxaca” is one of the most important comics of the year. It’s touching
and sensitive, righteously angry and in awe of the history and culture
it’s immersed in. Peter Kuper’s been one of comics must-read talents for
a long time now, and “Diario de Oaxaca” is just another feather in his
cap.
Buy Diario de Oaxaca: A Sketchbook Journal of Two Years in Mexico:
