Squire OGN
This young adult fantasy graphic novel follows the journey of fourteen-year-old Aiza, who aspires to become a knight in a war-torn empire while concealing her true identity as a girl from conquered lands.
Despite being born a second-class citizen, Aiza has always harbored a dream of becoming a Knight, the highest military honor in the once-great Bayt-Sajji Empire, and the only path to full citizenship for a member of the Ornu people.
With Bayt-Sajji on the verge of war and plagued by famine, Aiza seizes the opportunity to enroll in the competitive Squire training program. However, the reality of the camp is far different from her expectations. Hiding her Ornu heritage to fit in, Aiza must navigate friendships, rivalries, and grueling training under the stern General Hende. As the pressure mounts, Aiza realizes that the empire’s proclaimed “greater good” might not include her, and the recruits may face more danger than she ever anticipated.
In the fantasy graphic novel “Squire” by Nadia Shammas and Sara Alfageeh, joining the Bayt-Sajji army only requires applicants to be between twelve and seventeen years old. But beneath the facade of inclusivity for all the empire’s conquered territories, discrimination persists in private.
From the start, Alfageeh subtly draws attention to Aiza’s tattoo on her right wrist, hinting at its significance. Although it could be easily concealed, Aiza purposely wears three-quarter-length sleeves, deliberately displaying her tattoo as a mark of her Ornu identity. Despite her family’s tattoos, they ask Aiza to keep hers covered in order to feel comfortable with her joining the military.
While “Squire” doesn’t spend much time delving into Aiza’s home life before she enters training, it becomes evident that hiding her tattoo raises concerns, especially considering her past experiences with prejudice. Although Aiza appears to trust the military and believes in their promises, the need for precautions raises immediate concerns for readers. Alfageeh’s vibrant colors, with color assists by Lynette Wong, vividly depict the allure of the recruiters and their impressive appearances on camels and horseback, their uniforms contrasting with the washed-out crowds around them.
Overall, “Squire” presents a compelling narrative that explores identity, discrimination, and trust within a war-torn empire, with Shammas and Alfageeh crafting a visually captivating world.
