‘Best of Enemies’: Examining war and superpower politics through the art of graphic storytelling

With Donald Trump’s re-election as the president of the United Status, the geopolitical structure of our world is set for a reboot. Strategists are wary of an unpredictable president as he takes over the reins of the world’s most powerful nation. As commoners, we often struggle to make sense of the tectonic shifts that happen across the globe, with the Oval Office at the centre of it all. We will be the usual suspects, succumbing to screaming headlines of “breaking news”. Sometimes the knee-jerk reaction to “hot” news makes us blind to the complex threads of history and politics, silently brewing over the ages. “Cold” news is not the best fodder for traditional media!

In this scenario, graphic novels have materialised into an excellent way of telling a story, blending both the artistic and visual aspects of narration with intricate and complex matters, which are often perceived as being too sensitive for other traditional media. They allow readers to observe the global dynamics of power and conflict through the lens of striking visuals, allegory, and historical analysis. Best of Enemies: A History of US and Middle East Relations, a trilogy by Jean-Pierre Filiu and David B is one such example – providing a deep…

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