This comic has the reader following French photographer Didier Lefèvre as he accompanies a Doctors Without Borders mission into the heart of Afghanistan in the midst of the Soviet-Afghan War (which lasted from 1979 to 1989).
The reader gets to experience life in war-ridden Afghanistan and admire the work of the team of doctors and nurses that risked their lives to save the lives of others. This is especially the case in the second volume, which focuses more on the jobs that were carried out by the DWB than the journey itself.
The use of photographs also makes the events more impactful, as your brain has to accept that what the comic is talking about is real and people did and do go through very horrible shit. It’s not the same reading about a kid who lost his jaw due to shrapnel or a two-year-old who died in a bombing than to see actual images of them.
That said, the comic also contains some humor and banter between the members of the expedition and enough acts of kindness to convince one that the world isn't all bad. The relationship between Didier and Règis or between him and Juliette give way to really interesting conversations about photography, medicine or life in general.
It also challenges a lot of perceptions that westerners (for whom the comic is meant) have with regards to Islam, Afghanistan, and the Middle East in general. Yes, there was (and still is) a lot of bad things going on there but, most of the times, it's not like media paints it. And, because the character the story follows is the least knowledgeable of the group, this allows for explanations about the customs and traditions that are followed there, which we get to experience at the same time as Didier did.
The final volume I liked less as it focused on Lefèvre's journey back and it just wasn't as interesting, as enjoyable or as powerful. He was mostly alone (or with people from Afghanistan with whom he couldn’t communicate), so there was barely any dialogue or banter, and because he wasn’t around the DWB crew, I didn’t get to see the doctors doing their thing, which was one of my favorite parts from the second volume.
Overall, it is a truly great comic and the first two volumes alone are top 10 material in my opinion. I honestly don't know why this comic isn't talked about more.
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