Exit Wounds

This story is captivating in a way that you can't wait to find out what happens between Koby and Numi and Koby's search for his father.

I bought this after hearing that "Palestine" writer Joe Sacco co-signed its greatness. And he was right.

Critics from Time to Entertainment Weekly to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch have lauded Rutu Modan's Exit Wounds as one of the best (if not THE best) graphic novels of 2007, and had I read it a few weeks earlier, it would surely have ended up on my list of best comics of the year as well. As it is, I can only add my voice to the chorus of those who sing the praises of this book. Set in present-day Israel, the book's central character is Koby, a young man who lives with his aunt and uncle while trying to scrape by on the meager wages he earns as a cab driver. One day his life takes a strange turn when he meets Numi, a girl who has been dating Koby's estranged father Gabriel. Gabriel has recently disappeared, and Numi believes he might have been a victim of a recent bombing in a bus station. Her request for Koby's help in identifying the body turns into a quest of sorts, as the two work to piece together the clues of what happened to Gabriel. That description might lead you to believe Modan emphasizes mystery and intrigue, when that couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, Exit Wounds is less about finding out what happened to Gabriel than it is a character piece about two complete strangers linked by their relationships to the same man. From their first meeting, Koby and Numi are at odds, clashing over their different ideas of how to handle the situation, and this conflict between them is a direct result of how they connected, or failed to connect, with Gabriel himself. Comics such as Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis or the works of Joe Sacco have been designed to give readers an insight into another culture, and from that summary you might be fooled into thinking that this book's purpose is similarly informative. But Exit Wounds is about people in general, not just Israelis. The book is more universal because it doesn't emphasize the details of the plot or setting and instead focuses on the strained relationship between Gabriel and Koby, between a father and son, which anyone can relate to no matter their nationality. Yet in a way, the book does subtly show the Israeli experience; it treats the setting as a background element that not only drives the plot but also impacts the behavior of the characters. Koby meets Numi while she's serving her mandatory service in the army, and her indecision about what to do next with her life is a driving force for her character. Gabriel's behavior at Koby's bar mitzvah is mentioned as an example of the trouble in their relationship. From the location of the unidentified victim's burial plot to the nonchalance with which several characters treat the news of the bombing itself, every aspect of this story is affected by Israeli life in some way, like Israel is the elephant in the room. No one discusses Israel directly but everyone feels the influence of this country in every aspect of their lives. Like many other aspects of Exit Wounds, the art too is deceptive. Modan's drawing style is very European,

I have to disagree with the other reviewers on the artwork. The art in Exit Wounds is subtle, quiet, but it's gorgeous. I was first captured by the colors--mostly muted but with very carefully situated splashes of brightness for a beautiful punch. The color combinations are absolutely evocative of the Mediterranean landscape. The story is gritty and realistic; it unfolds slowly at first, but then snowballs into one revelation after another that are pretty shocking, ironic and hilarious at the same time. Yet it's no rollercoaster. Exit Wounds is something you kind of sink into, or it steeps in you, like tea. After my first reading, I thought it was a slight story, but I couldn't stop thinking about it. I reread it and kept thinking about it. This is a comic that defies comic stereotypes of plot, mindless action and noise. Don't expect that! Expect to be very quietly seduced into the life of a boy who discovers the true identity of his father, the underhanded manipulations of family and unexpectedly finds love and integrity, all revealed in a gritty, urban and rural landscape. It is complicated but satisfying in that Modan does not take shortcuts. Life is complex, and she doesn't wrap it up with a bow.

This book was a real surprise for me. I had passed it a number of times on the shelf and didn't really know what to do with it. I thought the artwork was 'eh' and the story seemed a little dull. BUT, I started seeing some interesting press on the book, and picked it up after all. I had to force myself to quit at the end of each chapter because I didn't want the book to be over too quickly! The work and writing are really amazing... the kind of thing where you can tell the artist was truly intent on recognizing a vision. And I think she does so perfectly. Look out for the ocean scene, that's definitely my favorite. The story is kind of quiet, but still packs a huge punch.