Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by lattelibrarian
Dakwäkãda Warriors by Cole Pauls
4.25
In a rich exploration of sci-fi colonialism, white supremacy, and language restoration, Cole Pauls has created an out-of-this-world (literally!) comic book featuring two Southern Tutchone space fighters with revved up traditional fighting instruments. I just loved this--it was half-filled with a language I didn't know (with helpful footnotes on every page), and by the end of the comic, I could recognize the most frequently used words without having to double check that what I was reading was correct. A great idea for Pauls to use language restoration alongside a visual medium--it makes it so much easier to comprehend and remember.
And the art style. It reminded me of home, of the Pacific Northwest, which features a lot of native artists and artwork. But even more interesting was where the similarities lay for the characters. The evil pioneer looks strangely similar to that of the cyborg sasquatches, which makes me want to do a close reading of it...so far, what I can come up with is that it is the white man who is the true "savage", but it could also say that it is the colonization of one's self (is that a thing?) that later creates supremacy. I don't know, I'm just spitballing here. I just thought that the similarities were striking and uncanny, and maybe, perhaps, meant something.
Overall, this was such a fun ride. In the back are original sketches and an essay describing what everything means to the uninformed reader (like me!). Definitely unlike anything I've ever read, and for that alone, it's a fantastic and necessary read.
Review cross-listed here!
And the art style. It reminded me of home, of the Pacific Northwest, which features a lot of native artists and artwork. But even more interesting was where the similarities lay for the characters. The evil pioneer looks strangely similar to that of the cyborg sasquatches, which makes me want to do a close reading of it...so far, what I can come up with is that it is the white man who is the true "savage", but it could also say that it is the colonization of one's self (is that a thing?) that later creates supremacy. I don't know, I'm just spitballing here. I just thought that the similarities were striking and uncanny, and maybe, perhaps, meant something.
Overall, this was such a fun ride. In the back are original sketches and an essay describing what everything means to the uninformed reader (like me!). Definitely unlike anything I've ever read, and for that alone, it's a fantastic and necessary read.
Review cross-listed here!