Persepolis

I never had much of an education about the lives that people in Iran and the Middle East in general lead, so reading this comic was a really amazing view behind the veil in regards to how they behave.  The majority of the revolutionaries she discussed are ones I largely have not heard of.  The transition from Iran's culture in the 70's to the current religious regime is something I knew about, but the depth Marji goes into explaining what really happened is fascinating. It's very intimate in a way seeing it in this perspective as I feel bonded to how she and her family are doing, much like in Maus. There's actually quite a connection to Maus when it comes to the tone of the story and a similarity in design where simplicity is what carries the panel design.  One of the similarities you see is in how the characters are portrayed; there's usually one important physical trait that each character is identified with, making it a quick read to figure out who is who.  So despite most characters having non-descriptive faces or specific emotions, you can tell the difference between Marji and her fellow classmates by the swoop of her hair as opposed to theirs. An important thing to note also is that almost every character introduced in Persepolis leaves some kind of impression upon Marji.  You see a lot of different point of views and stories told from other characters that come into Marji's life and you get to see the impact they leave on her.  Marji's uncle Anoosh for example is someone she idolizes greatly for his heroism as a Russian spy, wishing her father was more of a hero like him.  Most of the minor characters each had their own quick bio as well even when they don't get much dialogue.  Overall this is an excellent story, it's heartfelt and tragic but I feel oddly proud of Marji in a way, like watching a distant family member make it out of struggling times.  Seeing her relay people's struggles from a very recent past gave me a new perspective on Iran and the endless conflicts happening in the Middle East.