The Battle of Churubusco: American Rebels in the Mexican-American War

Rather than a historical chronicle of the Mexican-American War, this graphic novel is a focused psychological examination of one soldier as he battles internal doubts about his role and identity. Gaetano Rizzo, an Italian-American, treks through the desert with fellow soldiers, searching for a Mexican stronghold and carrying two burdens: The first is past trauma that increasingly haunts him as he witnesses atrocities committed against Mexican civilians; the second is his religion, Roman Catholicism, which makes him a figure of suspicion to his fellow soldiers, as it is the faith of the enemy. Disillusioned, Rizzo separates from his platoon to seek his own way, guided by a Mexican woman, María, whom the narrative leaves mostly devoid of personality. Ferraris’s charcoal drawing lends a dustiness to the desolate landscape, and his frequent use of silent panels underscores the isolation of the vast desert. It’s a haunting allegory of human resilience amidst the cruelty of war. [em](Jan.) [/em]