Habibi, based on a Middle Eastern fable, tells the story of Dodola, who escapes being sold into slavery and rescues an abandoned baby she names Zam. They live in isolation in an old boat in the desert. As they age their relationship shifts from mother and son, to brother and sister and eventually lovers. In the meantime however Dodola is forced to prostitute herself to desert traders in order to provide for Zam. When he seeks an alternative means of income Dodola is captured by the Sultan and Zam is forced into a quest to try and rescue her.

At heart Habibi is, like Blankets, a profound love story, but it also functions as a parable about the environment and the state of the world. Set in the place where Christianity and Islam began, it explores the fundamental connection between these religions, and also the relationship between the first and the third world and the increasingly important battle for the earth's resources.

Ambitious, but always deeply felt, Habibi is a beautifully drawn and moving graphic novel that will get a huge amount of attention.

Eine Liebesgeschichte, die zugleich zeitlos und doch modern ist. Eine Parabel über unsere Beziehung zur Natur, den kulturellen Graben zwischen der ersten und der dritten Welt, das Erbe des Christentums und des Islam. Eine magische Geschichte, die uns lehrt, wie Schönheit uns vor Zerstörung retten kann und Liebe vor dem Verlust von Hoffnung.

Thompson, CraigCraig Thompson's previous graphic novels include Goodbye, Chunky Rice, Blankets, Carnet de Voyage and, most recently, Habibi, an Observer Graphic Novel of the Month and a New York Times bestseller, which was described by Neel Mukherjee as 'a landmark publication'. His work has received four Harvey Awards, three Eisner Awards and two Ignatz Awards.