Fax from Sarajevo [Hardcover]

Joe Kubert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1996

This graphic novel tells the true story of Ervin Rustemagic and his family, as they struggled to preserve their lives and dignity during the eighteen month seige of Sarajevo in 1992-93. The story is based on the faxes that Ervin sent, which provided him with a link with the outside world.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In March 1992 Ervin Rustemagic, a well-regarded European comics agent, faxed a message from his Dutch office to the New Jersey home of his American friend and client, distinguished comics artist Kubert (Sgt. Rock; The Green Berets), detailing his plans to return to his home in the Sarajevo suburb of Dobrinja. Once back, relentless Serb bombardment trapped Rustemagic and his family, destroying their home and possessions. The family took shelter in a ruined building. For the next two and a half years Rustemagic communicated with Kubert and supporters in Europe via sporadically functioning fax machines, recounting the city's destruction, the Serb brutality inadequate multinational peacekeeping force and the physical and spiritual deprivations of life in a war zone. Kubert has used Rustemagic's faxed messages to recreate the family's experiences?a heartstopping nighttime dash across Sarajevo airport under fire; the deadly gauntlet of Serb snipers on the route between Dobrinja and Sarajevo?in a black-and-white, book-length comics work that brilliantly documents a family's wartime survival and escape against unbelievable odds. Kubert's mainstream comics narrative style can at times be heavyhanded, but his signature graphic style?brisk, precisely rendered, emotionally charged linework in dramatically composed panels?marks him as one of mainstream comics' most talented and celebrated interpreters of the horrors of war.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

YA. Told through a combination of comic-book graphics and copies of the faxed communications sent back and forth between Sarajevo and the outside world, this dramatic account tells how the Rustemagic family survives the deadly siege of their homeland. The graphic novel format is ideally suited to bring the events to life in a compelling way. This portion of the book is followed by a condensed version of each chapter with photos of the actual people and places depicted in the narrative. The package was put together by Rustemagic's American friend and fellow comic artist, Joe Kubert. This is an important offering that will be read by graphic novel enthusiasts, as well as by students doing reports on these horrifying events.?Betsy Levine, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 207 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse Comics; Graphic No edition (November 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569711437
• ISBN-13: 978-1569711439
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,310,361 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A powerful tale, but not well executed, September 11, 2003

By 

James Sadler (Plano, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fax from Sarajevo (Hardcover)

While reading this graphic novel, I continually found myself wishing it existed in a pure, written format, like a traditional novel. I have nothing against grahic novels, I collected comics for a number of years when I was younger and even today will occassionally pick up a comic or graphic novel I've heard of. But this one somehow manages to fall short of its obviously heart-felt attempt to be a great piece of story telling.

I became interested in "Fax" while speaking with a friend who spent a year in Kosovo and witnessed many of the same atrocities shown in "Fax." So I finally picked up a copy and read it.

My difficulty is not with the story so much as the art. Joe Kubert does have a knack for showing war, but his artwork is very inconsistent, particularly in his drawings of people. Throughout the book I had difficulty distinguishing some of the characters from one another. Kubert has a scratchy art style that just did not necessarily lend itself well to this story.

And because of the artistic inconsistencies, it made it difficult to follow the story in places. I'm considering re-reading it and perhaps the second time through, with a bit more familiarity with all that is going on, I'll be able to better appreciate it.

Its' clear Kubert poured himself into this book, the problem is his artistic style may not have the best one for relating this story.

Still, I do recommend it. It tells a frightening tale of a war that we in America still seem largely ignorant of, and it also functions as a cautionary tale against the atrocities precipitated by hate and violence.

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartrendering truth of man against humanity. A MUST READ., December 23, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Fax from Sarajevo (Hardcover)

The first line of the fly-leaf says it all. "In 1945, we told the world, NEVER AGAIN. In 1992, we forgot our promise." This illustrated, hard-cover book by Joe Kubert, transports the reader to the battle grounds of Sarajevo during its most perilous times. It serves as a reminder to those of us who remember 1945, yet is important to the youth of the world as a warning. Graphic yet not gory, it is a true story of survival. Mr. Kubert's ability to portray such a historical event in comic book form is ingenious. It's a book you won't be able to put down, but you'll have to, if only to regain your composure. "FAX FROM SARAJEVO" has less pages than "War and Peace," but is a book of epic proportion

5.0 out of 5 stars Kuberts' best work of his 50+ year career!, November 9, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Fax from Sarajevo (Hardcover)

I have read this book 3 times and each time it leaves me emotionally drained with tears in my eyes. Super,super book