Cyrus
In approximately 600 BCE, King Astyages of Media dreams that his daughter’s newborn son will dethrone him and dominate the world. The fearful Astyages sends the infant off with General Harpagus, who gives him to a peasant to kill. But the peasant raises the boy as his own, and young Cyrus grows up to be a great warrior, conquers all the lands around Media, and becomes one of the great rulers of all time. This version offers an addition to the legend: Cyrus is raised by wolves, then by peasants.
Framed by Aristotle teaching the young Alexander the Great about Cyrus, the novel firmly takes the legendary view of the main character’s origin story, weaving it with real history. Historically, Cyrus the Great founded the Achaemenid Dynasty—and the Persian Empire. He was tolerant of the many cultures and religions within the empire and was hailed by the Jews as one of their prophesized saviors. He created a relay postal system and provided fair and just laws. He was also a clever tactician; to conquer the city of Babylon, he diverted the River Euphrates, which surrounded the city, and his army walked in and took over. The graphic novel provides a fast-paced journey from Cyrus’s birth to his conquest of Babylon.
The novel’s weakness is its illustrations. Although the story is engrossing and carries the reader along with its intensity and verve, the artwork is not of the same high quality. A rather muddy, dark, unfocused style makes scenes difficult to figure out, and it’s hard to tell the characters apart. The clothing isn’t ancient Persian at all, which disappointed me; I’d hoped for Persian costumes, hairstyles, and architecture. Nevertheless, I recommend Cyrus as a fine fictional introduction to one of the most influential – and truly great – men in history.
