It took me a while to get through this graphic novel. It focuses on the religious revolution in Zurich. Not being familiar with Christian theology, I floundered a bit because I struggled to understand the arguments that people disagreed about.
What anchors the book is the central character of Felix Manz, someone who was prepared to suffer for his beliefs. The crux of the book is how his life was changed by Huldrych Zwingli. Zwingli mentored Manz, and together they were able to take over Zurich's religious establishment. Manz subsequent disillusionment with Zwingli's leadership forms the main body of book. The writing captures the tensions felt by everyone in this time of social upheaval and how dangerous it is for charismatic leaders to gather people around.
The art here is gorgeous. It's hard to describe the style. The colours are faint yet bright, almost as if they used colouring pencils or very light paints to illustrate the book. The palettes of blues and browns contrast nicely. It captures the excitement of young people being exposed to world-change ideas as well as any comic I've read.
Looked at as a book about how revolutions inevitably end up disappointing some of its most ardent supporters and how those supporters react By Water is a compelling read.
Thanks to Plough Press and Netgalley for the ARC.