There is always two sides to a story, which is what makes every conflict so interesting. That is why when people talk about fights between groups, they usually use the comparison of the Hatfields and the McCoys as far as how bad it can get. When it comes to how these sides are told, it usually is lopsided. As within the research of these events, most authors tend to become more sympathetic to one group than the other. This is also what drives so many people to do reenactments of the Civil war and the Revolutionary War, as their lineage goes back to a participant, or they feel a kinship to that era/motivation.

As the biggest thing about the civil war, that took a lot of people by surprise, is the fact that actually brother against brother. As one thing that every teacher could not completely satisfactorily answer, is why did the Civil war, have more casualties than two wars combined? I felt that what was different is people’s belief in the reason for the fight and that very much is true for the motivation on both sides of the Boxer Rebellion. As with the Boxers graphic novel, Gene Luen Yang weaves a similar tale with a character, who has two interactions with Bao from The Boxers OGN. This person is, who we find out in this book, is called Four Girl.

In this second and final installment of this book series, we see the positive effect that these “foreign devils” have on the people they bring Christianity to. Four Girl, who is an outcast by her family and who her grandfather blames for her father’s death, soon discovers this new religion through an acupuncturist her mother takes to, to get rid of her “devil face” and who reads her bible stories. Her spiritual guide, throughout the book, is Joan of Arc, much like many of Bao’s folk heroes were his. By the end of the book, she is now, Vibiana, who the reader find someone who was deeply misunderstood and whose faith was true to the end.

Overall, a moving installment of this series, as we find a protagonist, who is more universal than one would ever imagine. The story by Gene Luen Yang is as moving as the first installment, providing the reader with a complete picture. The art by Yang is beautiful and keeps the reader engaged. Altogether, if Yang could explain all conflicts the way he did here, there is no other creator I would follow than him.

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