As Yasmeen (Scout Comics) winds up its miniseries at issue 6, it’s not too late to jump on board this powerful ride.
To quickly recap (spoiler-free) even with this last issue, Yasmeen, a young Iraqi citizen, was captured by ISIS. She was eventually able to escape captivity, and her family is now in the United States, where Yasmeen continues to deal with flashbacks of her days in captivity. Plus, she is being subjected to racist taunting in her high school hallways, while helping a school friend, a victim of cyberbullying. There you have it! And issue 6 offers a compelling conclusion!
Creator and writer Saif A. Ahmed (The Dinner, etc), an Iraqi screenwriter and structural engineer has been living in the US since 2015. His dialogue, sense of story progression, and character development put Yasmeen in a fascinating category. For us outsiders, the politics of Iraq may appear opaque and puzzling, but Ahmed walks us through the dynamics of the situation. The undertones of suspense and suspicion, the climate of intolerance are made real.
Likewise, illustrator Fabiana Mascolo (Caput Mundi, Ruggine), a Rome-based artist brings a carefully crafted thin line style to Yasmeen. Mascolo’s lines are exquisite and sculptural. Hair, features, and clothing are realistic, yet stylized. Colours are atmospheric without adding heaviness to the graphic nature of the art. The character gestures and expressions are fascinating, as they, in turn, reveal and conceal their thoughts and motives. Lettering by Robin Jones.
This is a really engrossing mini-series, full of the threat and weight of political and cultural reality, and well worth reading. Thus a review of issue 6 which does little to inform you of the specifics, but hopefully makes you aware of this unique title. If you are motivated to read about international cultures and communities and have a sense of what human struggles are being felt across the globe, Yasmeen can serve as an eye-opening, personalized primer on power, innocence, immigration, and resilience. Highly recommended. Let’s hope for a trade collection of the six issues!
Scout Comics, Yasmeen #6 (of 6), $3.99 for 25 pages of content. Assume Teen + rating
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