Get 50% off Catholic Books & eBooks

Discover the Next Tolkien & O'Connor

Join Here for FREE to Never Miss a Deal

Find new favorites & Support Catholic Authors

Genre

Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction

Audience

Highschool & Up

Author’s Worldview

Catholic

Year Published

2013

Themes

Saints, Just War, Mercy, Vocation, St. Joan of Arc, Boxer Rebellion, China, Chinese History, Missionaries, People of Color, diversity, compassion  

Reviewed by

A.R.K. Watson

Boxers and Saints is a two-volume graphic novel set during the Boxer Rebellion in China. The first volume, Boxers, is told from the point of view of Little Bao, a young Chinese peasant grows up to become the leader of a band of Boxer Rebels hoping to take back their country from European Imperial rule. Little does he know that his efforts will fan the flame of one of the bloodiest wars in modern history. He also works to protect the beloved stories of his culture from destruction at the hands of foreign Christian missionaries and traitorous Chinese Christian converts. Along his journey, Little Bao is guided by visions of the spirit of Ch’in Shih-Huang, China’s first emperor (think Chinese George Washington only a tad more genocidal).

The second volume, Saints, is told from the point of view of a young girl. In Chinese culture, the number four is considered unlucky because it sounds like their word for “death.” As the fourth daughter born to a family long plagued by misfortune, her distraught grandfather refuses to give her a name, and her family takes to calling her Four-Girl. Four-Girl is also a young Chinese peasant who escapes the oppressive sexism in her culture by converting to Christianity. At her baptism, she is even given a real name: Vibiana. As the Boxer rebellion erupts around her she is plagued by visions of St. Joan of Arc, and reflects on the reality that this ancient Christian saint fought for the same cause as these Boxer rebels: the unity and freedom of her country. And yet these Boxers would willingly kill her foreign friends and herself. Guided by the soul of St. Joan, Four-Girl/Vibiana works to understand her role in the events around her.

Though many are quick to dismiss comics as high-level fiction, Yang has already proved himself an intelligent storyteller in his award-winning autobiography, American Born Chinese. This successive novel of his is no exception. In fact, I find it to be even more thought-provoking. Gene Luen Yang also writes comics for DC’s new Chinese Superman series, The Avatar: The Last Airbender comics, and at a ceremony at the USA’s Library of Congress, was named Ambassador for Young People’s Literature 2016-2017. This is one modern Catholic author to keep an eye on. I recommend this two-volume series to anyone with an interest in history, comics and diversity in fiction. Other Christians too will find these books edifying. One of the most memorable characters in the book was young Protestant missionary couple. Their bravery and resilience was very inspiring. This story beautifully reflects on the sometimes compassionate, sometimes abrasive ways that Christianity has encountered native religions and cultures.

Get Catholic Books & eBooks for as little as $1 to FREE

The Tale of Patrick Peyton

How a humble, Irish immigrant brought Mary to Hollywood and then the World.

Champion of the Poor: Father Joe Walijewski by Voyage Comics

Meet the priest who spread the love of God in Peru.

Best of 2020

Yes some good things DID happen this year- Catholic creators have not let turmoil stop their mission.

The Phantom Phoenix

A humble phoenix rises from the ashes to clean up corrupt, 1920s Chicago in this thrilling superhero comic

Feel-Good Books For Pandemic Summer

Book Therapy to chase the blues away

Best Books of 2022

Our favorite book finds of the year!

Books for Lent

Deepen your Lenten reflection with these stories of repentance and forgiveness

Why Reading Fiction Made Me a Better Catholic

How reading fiction became a crucial step in my conversion to the Catholic Church.

Saint Michael: Above the 38th Parallel by Shanti Guy

The true story of St. Michael, the original punch-communism-in-the-face superhero

Finnian and the Seven Mountains (Vol.2) By, Philip Kosloski and Michael Lavoy

Can one map be the key to stopping the Viking Invasion?

Finnian and the Seven Mountains (Vol. 1) by Philip Koslowski, Michael Lavoy, and Jim Fern

Join Finnian as his quest for a legendary sword takes him to the monks of Skellig Michael, a real life inspiration for the Jedi temple.

August & September New Book Releases

Step into Fall with a Good Book

The Mission of Joan Of Arc by Philip Kosloski, Alexandre Nascimento, and Jesse Hansen

Voyage Comics’ dynamic interpretation of the Life of Joan of Arc is based on the play written by St. Thérèse of Lisieux.