A review by leighkaisen
Iron: Or, the War After by S.M. Vidaurri

Moody, muted illustrations featuring anthropomorphic animals with ambiguous missions are at the forefront of S.M. Vidaurri's graphic novel, Iron: Or, the War After. I was drawn to this book by its soft, inky watercolor in mostly blues, greys, and whites, like Narnia without spring. Like its illustration, the story is somber, tracing echoes of actions from opposing sides of an enigmatic war. We see reverberations play out and questions surface through various letters of reasoning, consequences for violent actions, and the juxtaposition of entrusted leaders from both sides and the legacy left for their children. Ultimately, the story calls into question the line between heroes and traitors, painting it (literally) in shades of grey.