Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is listed by Stephen Betts as one of the 1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die in his book of the same name, and I would go a step further. If you read only one comic in your life, read this one. It has received numerous awards since it's first publication, including the Japan Cartoonists Award Grand Prize, has sold over 10 million copies in Japan alone. It was adapted to film by the author himself, then adopted by Disney (so don't worry, it's actually a pretty good interpretation of his work, though much less complex than the original). The story is beautifully illustrated, and a fascinating puzzle to unwind as you discover what is really happening both politically and to their dying planet. Their post-apocalyptic world is being overrun with giant insects, toxic spores, and deadly miasma; oh and the emperor seems to have gone cooky-dukes and is attacking people who've always been peaceful allies. One of the things I love about this graphic novel is the awesome example of noble leadership. We have two strong, courageous, brilliant women who are respected and loved as leaders of their people. One on either side of the conflict. They are excellent military commanders, but are not "men in women's bodies" as some novels like to do. They may shed a tear when children die, or their loyal soldiers sacrifice themselves on their behalf… but it is evidence of their deeply felt convictions. Not conveyed as a weakness, but strength as they fully comprehend the value of the lives they command. They are capable of making tough choices about which sacrifices are necessary for their kingdom, and when such sacrifice is just a waste. Nausicaa's mysterious power is deeply rooted in what could be seen as feminine qualities; a desire to heal, ability communicate, and a passion for finding out the truth.