Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed

6 reviews

tangleroot_eli's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

Based on the blurb, I thought this book would be "wishes + capitalism." And it is. And it's also "wishes + capitalism + classism + government corruption + colonialism + depression + mental health stigma + religious zealotry + regret + secrets + ... a lot of other incredible things." Shubeik Lubeik has so many layers, I'll be chewing it over for days to come. Plus, the art is wonderful, and there are infographics!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Terminal illness, Cancer, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Child death, and Classism

Moderate: Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Police brutality, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Gaslighting, Medical content, Sexism, Ableism, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Transphobia, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, Drug use, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Body horror

Graphic: Police corruption Moderate: Saneism, Child marriage

clarabooksit's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Terminal illness, Misogyny, Grief, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Violence, Death, Gaslighting, Classism, and Mental illness

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Police brutality

Minor: Miscarriage, Transphobia, Car accident, and Murder

bookishbrenbren's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Lovely! The art was particularly enjoyable I feel like the author captured the essence of each character's environment and still had room for whimsy. The stories were sad but honestly not toooo sad, I thought they were enjoyable! Each one deals with a major aspect of Egyptian life (?) that makes life harder. The first one I didn't really understand the wish but I feel like the story was a commentary on the ways the rights of poor people, especially women, are attacked. The second one was a great exploration of mental illness and the ways society approaches/sees it. The third threw me for a LOOP but also commented on VAWG and DV in general. That one was great. I also really liked the Shokry character who appears in all three and his devotion to both his father's wishes and his religion. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Police brutality, Child abuse, Death, Transphobia, Chronic illness, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Grief, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Cancer, and Child death

Moderate: Pregnancy, Colonisation, Child abuse, Classism, Animal cruelty, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Medical content, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Injury/Injury detail

hannahgarstang's review

A hard hitting comic that I couldn't put down. 

This parallel world Deena Mohamed builds where wishes are real is well thought out. She explores many implications of wishes and their comodification 
 on the world's history, politics, religion, and people. 

This story is about people (and one donkey) and their life experiences.  What it's like to struggle with depression, or the loss of loved ones. How systemic oppression and colonisation affect people. 
She tackles these really big issues whilst always humanising the characters. I became very invested in their wellbeing. And despite the heavy content their is a lot of humor and levity at different points without being jarring.

The artwork cleverly expands how feelings and ideas are articulated. The graphs were really emotionally moving. The genies embodying the language of the land they are from was beautiful. 

I also learnt about Egypt through reading this. Everything from slang, to commentary on corrupt police, colonization and economic inequality. But also you could see the love for the homes of our characters and their family and communities.

All in all, would definitely recommend, given the content wouldn't be triggering for someone. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Murder, Blood, Death of parent, Cancer, Mental illness, Police brutality, Death, Child death, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Confinement, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Infertility, and Pregnancy

creativelifeofliz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

A beautiful fantasy almost slice of life graphic novel that captures Cairo and its diverse people. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Mental illness, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, and Bullying

Moderate: Confinement, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Child death, Death, and Medical content

Minor: Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, Gore, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Body shaming

tamara_joy's review

Too sad for me, and I don't think graphic novels are my thing.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Confinement, and Classism

Minor: Death, Police brutality, and Car accident