Joe Sacco

Joe Sacco is a pioneering figure in the world of graphic journalism, known for his innovative fusion of comic art and war correspondence. Sacco is generally considered to be pro-Palestine. He is a journalist and comic book artist best known for his graphic novels about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly his work "Palestine," which portrays the daily lives and perspectives of Palestinians in occupied territories. His work is often seen as critical of Israeli policies and their impact on Palestinians. While Sacco doesn't explicitly call himself pro-Palestine, his work and statements strongly suggest that he supports the Palestinian cause

Sacco's academic background in journalism—he earned a degree from the University of Oregon in 1981—did not initially lead him into traditional newsroom work. Disenchanted with the limitations of mainstream media and its often formulaic presentation of news, he sought a more personal and impactful mode of expression. His early forays into cartooning reflected a satirical and self-reflective style, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that Sacco found his true calling: using comics to tell the stories of people affected by war and oppression.

His breakthrough work came with Palestine (1993–1995), a graphic novel based on Sacco’s travels through the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the early 1990s. Combining meticulous reporting with expressive black-and-white illustrations, Palestine broke new ground in both journalism and comics. It offered readers intimate access to the daily lives of Palestinians under occupation, challenging dominant narratives in Western media. The book won the American Book Award in 1996 and established Sacco as a serious voice in both the comics and journalistic communities.

Sacco continued to push the boundaries of graphic reportage with Safe Area Goražde (2000), a harrowing account of the Bosnian War centered on the Muslim enclave of Goražde. Based on extensive interviews and firsthand observation, the book detailed the horrors of ethnic cleansing and the resilience of civilians under siege. Critics praised Sacco’s ability to humanize complex geopolitical crises without sacrificing journalistic integrity. The success of Safe Area Goražde solidified his reputation as one of the foremost practitioners of comics journalism.

Other notable works include The Fixer (2003), Footnotes in Gaza (2009), and Paying the Land (2020). Each of these books reflects Sacco’s commitment to amplifying marginalized voices and unpacking the historical roots of contemporary conflicts. His subjects range from the trauma of war in the Balkans and Middle East to the struggle of Indigenous communities in Canada facing cultural and environmental devastation. Sacco’s narrative style—often inserting himself as a character while maintaining critical distance—allows for transparency in the journalistic process and invites readers to question their own assumptions.