Kirkus Review
In the city of Kapilavastu, seat of power for the Shakya clan, the queen has a dream that presages the birth of her child, destined to be a great holy man or a great king. When the baby is born (and the queen dies), his father, Suddhodana, decides to shield his son from the negative forces of the world. Prince Siddhartha sees no sickness, aged infirmity, or death until near the birth of his own son. When he does see the suffering of his people, the prince renounces his crown, life of luxury, and his newborn son; he sets out to be a bhikshu (a monk) to try to find a solution to suffering. He's tempted by the demon Mara and works through the dharma of several teachers before reaching enlightenment and devising a dharma of his own: that of the Middle Way, the Four Noble Truths, and the Eightfold Path. Then he takes his teachings to the world. Moore retells the life of Siddhartha from birth to death fairly straightforwardly, and the tale is adequately illustrated in graphic panels by Indian artist Nagulakonda, though his ancient India is largely populated by muscly, pale-skinned guys. Previous incarnations of the Buddha alluded to in the prelude are not explained, and the retelling as a whole is not particularly detailed, nor are there any historical notes. This spiritual leader-as-superhero take is a middle-of-the-road retelling of the inception of the Middle Way. (Graphic biography. 14-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Library Journal Review
Writer Moore ("Doctor Who" series) and artist Nagulakonda (Krishna: Defender of Dharma) tell the story of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, who lived and taught between the sixth and fifth centuries BCE. As a young prince, Siddhartha is troubled when he hears of the suffering in the world and sets out to find a way to end it. He travels the land studying various yoga and meditative practices and finding enlightenment determines to share his wisdom with others. He is tempted by demons, gives council to kings, reunites with his family, starts a religious order, and faces betrayal from within. Despite his trials, he is calmly resolute in his quest to spread peace around the globe. This biography has an adventurous, mythic feel yet never strays from relating the central tenets of Buddhism. The art is equally mythic, blending exquisite colors; beautiful, ornate line work; a clean narrative; and expressive characters in a way that evokes distant lands and times without being unfamiliar. Verdict Those interested in history, mythology, and spirituality, or anyone looking for an introduction to the Buddha and his teachings will enjoy this book.-Lucy Roehrig, Ann Arbor Dist. Lib., MI © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.