The Armed Garden And Other Stories

David B. gives full rein to his fascination with history, magic, and gods, not to mention grand battles, in this literate, witty, and absorbing collection of short comics — all based on historical fact, or at least historical legend. In The Armed Garden and Other Stories, a lowly Persian fabric dyer becomes a prophet and great leader — and within a year his followers have defeated seven armies sent to stop him! Adam and Eve visit a humble Prague blacksmith, and his (and his followers’) search for Paradise soon leads to bloodshed. In “The Drum Who Fell in Love,” a sequel of sorts, the blacksmith’s opposition, John Zizka, has been skinned by his people and his skin stripped onto a drum, and the drum, speaking in his voice, leads his people into battle, anew. But the touch of a beautiful girl softens Zizka’s spirit, and the unlikely couple journey together...