March 16, 2004
THE FIXER
Written and Drawn by Joe Sacco
Published by Drawn and Quarterly
Thank God for Joe Sacco.
Thank God for anyone who can do what Sacco does, and do it so well, really. Whether it is in the form of prose or in the form of sequential art, our culture is very thin in the area of people who are willing to go to where the world is changing, shifting, destroying, and are capable of creating a narrative that the rest of the world can devour and learn from. Particularly when it comes to sequential art, there are few others besides Sacco (Joe Kubert springs to mind) who are even willing to look in the direction of the rest of world and try and broaden the American worldview of what’s happening around the globe. It’s easier for tem to write and draw stories about people in spandex beating the shit out of each other. That makes Sacco as valuable a resource as we have in the field today.
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Sacco’s graphic novel resume reads like a nice chunk of what would make up any list of the greatest graphic works of all time. PALESTINE. SAFE AREA GORAZDE. These are books that take the reader places they have truly never been. SAFE AREA in particular shines a light onto the Bosnian/Serbian conflicts of the mid-90s in a way that Ted Koppel and “Nightline” never could. And that remarkable graphic novel (and that conflict) have now spawned a second graphic novel set in that war-torn conflict zone, THE FIXER.
THE FIXER, however, is a much different look at the conflict, a much more human-level look at one single citizen, Sacco’s “fixer” Neven. A fixer in this instance is a local who serves as a guide for a journalist. For large amounts of cash, they will lead the reporter to soldiers and families with stories to tell, to the sites of atrocities unnoticed by the evening news, or to the right bar to find a source for a good tip. A fixer is trustworthy only barely, and Neven is just shifty enough that over a period of years, Sacco is still seemingly never quite able to put an accurate point to Neven’s character and which are his truths and which are his lies.
Sacco first brings us into his tale years after he has left Sarajevo and finished his stories (such as SAFE AREA) in the area. He has returned to follow up on what happened in the ‘90s, and he is hoping and wishing that he might once again find Neven, get some leads, and discover what fate has brought his old “friend” in his absence. That leads Sacco to begin his tale in the form of flashback, and it leads to quite a stunning and amazing journey.
The Serbian conflict was perhaps the most underreported and misunderstood war that we have seen in modern times. Set in a part of the world that most Americans ignore, let alone don’t understand (we like our religious conflicts based around oil-bearing nations, thanks), the vague pieces that we got were criticisms of President Clinton for authorizing bombings to help clear paths for refugees, notes about genocidal atrocities by Milosevic that were pretty much ignored, and curiosity about how such an area in turmoil could have ever hosted an Olympic games (as though Atlanta wasn’t bad enough). We know from following the Democratic presidential hopefuls that General Wesley Clark led the U.S. and United Nations troops who fought in Bosnia.
If you have any other knowledge, you’re a news junkie like me, you read SAFE AREA GORAZDE, or you are actually from the region.
THE FIXER continues Sacco’s excellent reporting of the inner workings of the Serbian conflict, sorting out who the major players and warlords were, how and why they achieved their power, and what actions they took during the conflict. There’s an amazing sense of “timeline” to Sacco’s tale, because even though it’s told in flashback, it feels as though it’s as perfectly linear. His quick jaunts to the present day are seamless to the point that you forget they were even there. It is a work of stunning and gifted storytelling.
Neven comes to life as a character who almost transcends the pages of Sacco’s story. He is so vibrant, so brazen, so alive as a character that you nearly have difficulty believing he’s real. But then you sink into his patter, his spiel, his continual plays for money and attention, and you get sucked into his personality. He may be a questionable man in many, many ways, but Sacco makes him someone that you’d love to have dinner and a beer with, even though you know he’d stick you with the tab. It’s as memorable a portrayal in a graphic novel as any in recent memory.
Sacco’s art is also an amazing thing to behold. He works with shadow, line, and depth as well as anybody making comics today. There’s a texture to his Sarajevo and its citizens that is like nothing else. He does an amazing job of making you feel like you are in a foreign place, not just reading a graphic novel. Wonderful, wonderful stuff.
A few weeks ago, I discussed how sometimes I’ll take a look at a graphic novel that transcends the field and the genre, and Joe Sacco’s work is occasion for that. THE FIXER is a book that is not only recommendable for folks who enjoy the field, but for those who have never read one in their lives. If you have a parent, for instance, who loves reading history books or biographies, then pass on the work of Joe Sacco to them. Beyond the sequential narrative, it’s as good as anything David McCullough puts out in prose, and they’ll recognize that. I’d also recommend giving the book to teens or donating one to your local library. It’s a gift for all of us to treasure. Sacco is someone who rightfully deserves to be considered of the real giants in graphic novels. Introduce yourself to his work today. Grade: A+
I’ll be back next week with more of that wacky movie stuff.
Comments, questions? Write me from the link below. Got something you want reviewed? Send it to: Marc Mason, P.O. Box 26732, Tempe, AZ, 85285
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