The plight of the Ukrainian people in 2022 has been seen and felt across the world. Most humans sympathize with a country whom a rival invaded for doing nothing but existing. Generally, I have mixed feelings about war because it’s incredibly destructive towards universal human life, but the philosophical category of a just war surely exists for situations like these. The Ukrainian military needs to be supported to defend their right to exist. This short comic exists to trumpet the Ukrainian cause while establishing a national narrative.
This work is not quite a novel because it contains nine short stories instead of a central plot. Still, it teaches recently developing aspects of their war story, like the “ghost of Kyiv” who shot down multiple Russian warplanes in the early days of the conflict. Though clearly propaganda that depicts Russians as heartless and evil, this book can rally readers to the Ukrainian side in their struggle to exist.
I’m not sure this book will appeal much to the Russian people, who can (and should) stand up against their ruler. That would bring this crazy “adventure” to a quick resolution. But it addresses an audience that is not normally addressed by literature – an audience of comic readers. The drawings are of good quality, and I learned something from each story. The stories, though short, are entertaining as well. I was also interested in the short biographies of the authors at the end.
Wars quickly bring complex human situations into black-and-white, us-versus-them situations. The Ukrainian situation is no different. This book seeks to inform us of their struggles while keeping this conflict on the world radar. While reading the newspapers, I try to keep informed by the latest happenings, and I support the plight of the innocent refugees. I hope and pray for continued victories for the Ukrainian people and am grateful to support their cause in the small way of reading this collection.
PEREMOHA: Victory for Ukraine
By Tokyopop (miscellaneous authors)
Copyright (c) 2022
Tokyopop
ISBN13 9781427873224
Page Count: 96
Genre: Comic, Graphic Short Stories
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