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EDU MANGA: MOTHER TERESA (ADVANCED REVIEW) |
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Thursday, 15 March 2007 |
 | | ▪ | PUBLISHED BY: | | DIGITAL MANGA PUBLISHING | | | ▪ | ART/AUTHOR: | | MASAHIDE KIKAI / REN KISHIDA | | | | ▪ | FORMAT/COLOR: | | JAPANESE FORMAT / BW | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 143 | | | ▪ | RATED: | | ALL AGES | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 04/04/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 03/16/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | CHRISTOPHER SEAMAN |
If you are a teacher looking for educational, inspirational comic books or manga for students to read, the DMP series of educational manga should fill the bill. The latest release in the series, about the life of Mother Teresa, is another fine addition, covering not only the basics of her life, itself an interesting read, but also explains much about the nature of faith and service in a religious and social context. If you are not a Christian, or have no religious affiliation or belief, this book is still worth reading for the inspiration it gives us in witnessing the extraordinary life of the woman who was born in Macedonia and named Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu by her parents, but who became known to all as Mother Teresa.
Mother Teresa knew from her youth that she wanted to be a nun. Many, from her own mother and siblings- (her father, a local politician was poisoned when she was a young child because of his political affiliations)- to the local priest in the town where she grew up, tried to discourage her in this mission. However, all eventually relented, and when she was 18, Agnes took her place in an Irish convent known as the Loreto Order. Why Ireland? It was not because of Macedonia being more Orthodox Christian than Roman Catholic, nor because of the political unrest that shook the Balkans, leading when she was four to the outbreak of the First World War. The Loreto nuns had connections in India, and our heroine wanted desperately to work among the poor there since she first heard of the British colony as a child. Her success in her training, however, did not bring her the peace she sought through service in the shadow of the British Empire. Eventually, she left the order with the Pope’s blessing and set up a care centre for the destitute in Bombay. Her life threatened by local residents with a serious N.I.M.B.Y complex, Mother Teresa eventually won them over by showing how her hospice for dying street people actually benefited the city. Soon she had many followers in the form of other nuns and local people wishing to lend a hand, and over the years her reputation grew to the point where in 1979, she received a Nobel Prize on behalf of the poor.
Never possessing the strongest constitution, Mother Teresa succumbed to a heart ailment a few days after the death of Princess Diana in September, 1997. More than a few pundits at the time noted that the media attention devoted to the Princess was way out of proportion to the actual good she did in the world as compared to the more modest coverage given to Mother Teresa, and the help/hope she gave to millions in her life. Somehow, though, after reading this manga, one might think Mother Teresa would have been much happier with less attention anyway. Forgive the crude analogy, but where the Princess may have been mostly media sizzle, this servant of God was definitely all sincerity steak. Mother Teresa’s beliefs and her determination to serve the ‘poorest of the poor’ through ‘painful love with sacrifice’ in the tradition of Saint Francis- her inspiration- remained true from her childhood to her death, according to this manga. Perhaps it is an oversimplification for the benefit of a younger reading audience, but who cares? This work is utterly respectful of Mother Teresa and her works. It deserves our respect as readers for the positive and uplifting message it presents to the audience.
Now…there are some a couple weaknesses with the manga. The art is a little too simple for this subject, and Agnes comes across in some frames looking too much like a shojo heroine. The text is clearly written for a young audience, so adult readers should not expect to find much depth of insight beyond the basic surface details. However, with the inclusion of generous notes explaining how the church worked, a fine Q and A section and a timeline at the back in addition to helpful notes on the politics in the Balkans and in British India, we get a clear picture of Mother Teresa’s life in the context of world events. Also, who can complain about another welcome appearance from Astro Boy and company? It provides a great launch point for this remarkable story. It’s as simple as that.
IN SUMMARY:
EDU MANGA: MOTHER TERESA is a beautiful account of one of the most remarkable people to achieve prominence in the 20th century. Thought provoking and inspirational, with pages bursting forth with insights into her life, struggles, and service to humanity, this manga will make readers learn from her often dangerous work with the poor and hopefully honor her remarkable legacy through selfless acts of their own. This manga is as good for the heart as it is good for the mind. |
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