A graphic novel about the 2013 Muzaffargnar Riot in Uttar Pradesh, India, that expands to investigate the mechanics, dynamics, mythologies, and uses of riots writ large.
There’s wit and realism in the panels and art. It’s dynamic and clear, and the people seem less like caricatures than in Palestine ... The skin tone of all of the protagonists is dark, and the shading is done not by cross-hatching, but by parallel horizontal lines. Once I noticed it, it became distracting, like TV interference on every character’s face, and I couldn’t unsee it. This may seem like a pathetically trivial point, but comics are a visual medium ... In an era when long-form journalism is under pressure, and political analysis filleted to morsels, Sacco’s work is a lifeline.
Through his stark black-and-white images, Sacco captures the dying days of what future historians might come to regard as India’s 'First Republic' ... Sacco is well known for his attention to detail, a trait amply on display in this book. At one level, sharply observed drawings convey how hundreds of finely delineated individuals coalesce into the terrifying collectivity that is the crowd. At another level, precisely etched close-ups capture the range of emotions – from anxiety to anger – of his interviewees.
Once again, the inimitable graphic journalist Sacco brings readers an investigation brought to life with his cartoonist skills ... This is beyond a 101 lesson on the riot and instead focuses purely on the human elements; fine journalism.
