Benjamin Dix

Graphic novels are often underrated with the stereotypical misnomer of "comic books." This dismissal, however, is unwarranted as proven by Vanni. The authors and illustrators interweave a poignant narrative of tragedy and revivalism set against the backdrop of the Tamil genocide undertaken by the majority Sinhalese in Sri Lanka post-2004. What makes Vanni so compulsive is that alongside a moving story, it also visualizes that very story. The almost cartoonish drawings reflect an innocence which by the conclusion is phased into innocence lost as the protagonists go through hell and back. This is a graphic novel of historic proportions.… (more)