Persia Blues: Volume 1, Leaving Home

Glamorous Persian legend is jammed against niggling Iranian reality in this volume%E2%80%94the first in a trilogy that was financed by Kickstarter. In a mythical world that contains odd echoes of Columbus, Ohio, female warrior/thief Minoo is skeptical of myths, until supernatural entities send her on a quest. Meanwhile, in contemporary Iran, Minoo Shirazi is a young student of architecture who rages at her sad, conformist father and dreams of escaping to pursue graduate studies at Ohio State University, since her homeland's brutal theocratic dictatorship seems to offer no hope for self-expression. Naraghi's script efficiently sets youthful energy against older people's acceptance of the status quo. Bowman's black-and-white art alternates between straight pen-and-ink line work for scenes with the real-world Minoo and washed, brushed panels depicting the lush, romantic realm of imagination. For the young creators, as for Minoo herself, this is a promising beginning. (July)