World history is often under told in American history textbooks. As the only events that usually (forgive the pun) governs History and Civics classes are the events in our country’s young life.

I bring this point up because much can be learned from the history of other countries.

As Edmund Burke once said:

In history, a great volume, is unrolled for our instruction, drawing the materials of future wisdom from the past errors and infirmities of mankind.

This nugget of wisdom from Burke, pushes man’s intellect to think outside what he knows and learn from those different from him.

The most popular example of this in movies, as this particular example, has been explored multiples times in movies, but only two stand out in my mind. In the Last Samurai, Tom Cruise’s character talks about the Battle of Thermopylae, which was explored years later in Frank Miller’s graphic novel and eventual movie, 300. I must admit that the only time remembers hearing about the Boxer Rebellion taking place, is during my youth, where I remember watching “Kung Fu Theater”, and a Shaw Brother movie entitled the name of the historical event came one, which was otherwise forgettable, except for the fight scenes. This is something that Gene Luen Yang’s book, is not, as this book stays with you long after reading it.

In the first of a two-part series, this volume explores the side of the Boxers, as we are transported to 1864, in Chinese Province of Northern Shan-Tung, where we meet as his family calls him, Little Bao, a young man who loves his life. What follows next is a foreign invasion of religion, that of Christianity, Bao’s father had defeated a drunk, who, a week late brings a monk and chastises anything not resembling God as false idolatry. Thirty years forward, Bao is older and his province has changed a well, enter a stranger by the name of Red Lantern Chu, a medicine man and someone who ends up training the village in Kung Fu. Some tragedies befall his village and Bao must spring into action, as the atrocities by these” foreign devils” are too much. S the book ends, Bao not only becomes a man but a leader of the people, and the reader finds out just how bloody and complicated this conflict was.

Overall, a robust book that gives a better understanding to exactly what happened in this conflict through the eyes of a normal person whose love of heroic operas gave him courage. The story by Yang, is eloquent, touching and engrossing in the best way. The art by Yang, shines as well, as his style I have always been enamored with and glad to see it in an even grimmer setting. Altogether, a harrowing tale, that is lovingly researched both in historical fact and mythology, giving this book’s heroes their proper light.

Story: Gene Luen yang Art: Gene Luen Yang
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy