Notes for a War Story

Thewararrivedinourvillageonthe18thofJanuary.Obviouslytherewereotherwarsgoingon,buttheydidn'thaveanythingtodowithus.Therewerewarsforblacks.WarsforArabs.WarsforSlavs.Ourwarstartedonthe18thofJanuary,andinafewdays,everythinghadchanged.SorecountsGiuliano,aloneramongoutsiders,oneofthreeyoungdrifterscaughtupinthewhirlwindofawarintheBalkans.Thethreeboysarelikepassingshadows;theyliveinabandonedhouses,dodgetheoccasionalbomb,andstealcarpartsformoney.MeetingFelix--apowerful,fast-talkingmercenary--changeseverythingforthem.Felixisanexpertmanipulator;hespeakstotheirambitionandtotheirdesiresforpower,wealth,andpurpose.They'reinstantlyhooked,especiallythetrio'sunofficialleader,Stefano,andtheysoonescalatefrompettycrimetoworkingonbehalfofamafia-stylemilitia,bullyingandextortingmoneyinFelix'sname.ButasGiulianocomestorealize,theydon'tknowwhatthey'refightingfor--ifthey'reevenfightingforanything.NotesforaWarStoryisanastonishinglookatlifeinalawless,war-tornnation,heightenedbytheharsh,moving,pencilandwatercolorartworkofItaly'sbestgraphicnovelauthor.