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German book launch and reviews for ‘Al-Faẓia’ الفظیع – The Horror: Surviving Syria’s Prisons’ – May 26, 2026

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The book launch for Tobi Dahmen’s graphic novel Al-Faẓia’ الفظیع – the Horror: Surviving Syria’s Prisons, inspired by Akram Al Saud’s experiences in the Syrian prison system, took place on May 26, 2026, at the Carlsen Verlag publishing house in Hamburg, Germany. The event included a reading by Tobi, followed by a moderated discussion with Matthias Wieland, Akram, and Tobi, during which they shared insights into their collaboration and creative process. The trailer of their upcoming documentary film, How to draw darkness? a story from Syria was also screened.

Book launch of Al-Faẓia’ الفظیع – the Horror: Surviving Syria’s Prisons on May 26, 2026, at publishing house of Carlsen Verlag in Hamburg, Germany. Photos Courtesy of Carlsen Veralg.

Akram reflected on their partnership and shared:

With great care, patience, and sensitivity, Tobi transformed years of memory and conversations into a visual narrative.

Al-Faẓia’ is personal, but it is not only personal. It belongs to a much larger Syrian memory: the memory of detainees, survivors, victims, families, and everyone still asking for truth and justice.

The book launch was followed up with presentations and readings at the Wilhelm Liebknecht Central Library on May 27 and at the Luisenbad Library on May 28 in Berlin. In June, Tobi participated in a talk with journalist Christopher Haas at the annual International Comic Salon held in Erlangen. The Comic Salon also featured their work in an exhibition “Defending Democracy” from May 7 to June 9, 2026. He was one of thirty artists chosen to display their political cartoons, comics and drawings. Tobi continues to tour with the graphic novel, and his latest readings and events can be found on his blog: https://www.tobidahmen.de/latest-news

First Reviews of Al-Faẓia’

Since its debut in May, Al-Faẓia’ has received positive and thoughtful reviews from critics and reviewers alike.

Ella Rendtorff from the German daily newspaper taz stated:

By suggesting more than he depicts, he achieves a sensitive visual language for his subject’s traumatic experiences…the graphic novel Al-Faẓia’ الفظیع – the Horror is a powerful testament to courageous resistance.

An article by German culture blog Highlight Zone noted:

More powerfully than a newspaper article or a TV report, this comic, complete with an extensive appendix, conveys the tragic story of a young Syrian man, whose fate is unfortunately far from unique.

Monthly German cultural magazine kulturnews observed that:

The unique collaboration between Tobi Dahmen and Akram Al Saud demonstrates how the unspeakable can find expression in art.

An intellectual history blog, Rotsinn highlighted how:

Dahmen “distances” Al Saud’s narrative so effectively that we, the readers, are not alienated from this story, but rather can begin to grasp, at least in part, what was happening in Syria, what was happening in this specific life of one person.

The graphic novel was also featured in the Dailyklappentext book podcast episode 497.

We are grateful for the first reviews and features on the German release of Al Faẓia’, and look forward to the upcoming English publication by the University of Toronto Press in November 2026.  

‘Two Roses’ book launch featured in Der Tagesspiegel

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On April 13, 2026, Der Tagesspiegel published an article by journalist Lars von Törne, ‘“We are all little miracles”: The Holocaust survival story of Rose Lipszyc’, about the book launch and graphic novel Two Roses: A Story of Deception and Determination in Nazi Germany. In his feature, Lars stated that what makes the graphic novel special is that:  

“…every scene and every detail was developed in close collaboration not only with Rose Lipszyc, with whom Libicki became friends during their work together, but also with a team of historians and other experts who verified all the facts and gave the narrative a form that goes far beyond a simple retelling of history.

The sold-out book launch was hosted by our project partner the Toronto Holocaust Museum on March 25, 2026, and Lars was among the family, friends and general public who gathered to celebrate Holocaust survivor Rose Lipszyc, whose story is recounted in Two Roses. The launch included a panel with Rose and graphic artist Miriam Libicki, joined by co-editors Mark Celinscak and Charlotte Schallié and moderated by professor Sara R. Horowitz. The article showcased photos from the launch, as well as a selection of pages from the graphic novel.

Pages from Two Roses featured in the article. Panels by Miriam Libicki.

The graphic novel “Two Roses” tells this adventurous life story in a gripping way, with clear and accessible illustrations.
– Lars von Törne

Der Tagesspiegel is a major German daily newspaper with a circulation of over 100,000. The article was published just a few days before the exciting news that Two Roses sold out its first print run of 1,200 copies. Congratulations to Rose, Miriam, Mark and Charlotte, and everyone on the Two Roses team for this well-deserved success!

Rose Lipszyc and Miriam Libicki. Photo provided by DWM Creative for the Toronto Holocaust Museum.

“I hope our book will resonate with many young people,” she says. “I was their age back then—perhaps this will help them understand the story better.”
– Rose Lipszyc

To read the full Der Tagesspiegel article in German, follow this link. For non-German speakers, please use your browser’s auto-translate feature.

Two Roses is also available for purchase from the University of Toronto Press here.

Sold-out book launch of ‘Two Roses’ at Toronto Holocaust Museum – Mar 25, 2026

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The Survivor-Centred Visual Narratives project offers its heartfelt appreciation to the Toronto Holocaust Museum for hosting the book launch for Two Roses: A Story of Deception and Determination in Nazi Germany. At the launch, we honoured Rose Lipszyc whose story is featured in Two Roses. Joining Rose on stage was graphic artist Miriam Libicki, and co-editors Mark Celinscak and Charlotte Schallié. The panel was moderated by York University’s Sara Horowitz. The sold-out event was a beautiful tribute to Rose and the launch of this important work.

Book launch photos provided by DWM Creative for the Toronto Holocaust Museum, March 25, 2026.

Book launch of ‘Two Roses’ at Toronto Holocaust Museum – Mar 25, 2026

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We are delighted to announce that the Toronto Holocaust Museum will host the book launch of our graphic novel Two Roses: A Story of Deception and Determination in Nazi Germany on March 25, 2026. Developed by graphic artist Miriam Libicki, Two Roses depicts the story of Holocaust survivor Rose Lipszyc and her aunt Róza Finkielsztaj in Nazi Germany.

The program will include a panel conversation with Rose Lipszyc, Miriam Libicki, and co-editors Mark Celinscak and Charlotte Schallié. The discussion will be moderated by Professor Sara R. Horowitz (York University). Copies of the book will be available for purchase, and be purchased online at the University of Toronto Press.

Registration is free of charge, and guests may explore the galleries and engage with Rose’s testimony as part of the museum experience before the event.

For more information, visit the Toronto Holocaust Museum‘s page: https://torontoholocaustmuseum.org/events/two-roses-book-launch

We sincerely thank the dedicated team at the Toronto Holocaust Museum for their coordination of the book launch and making this a special event to honour Rose and her legacy of Holocaust education.

We would also like to acknowledge this event was made possible with additional funding support from the Government of Canada’s Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program’s new initiative, the National Holocaust Remembrance Program (NHRP). This program supports initiatives that seek to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and help improve Canadians’ understanding and awareness of the Holocaust and contemporary antisemitism.

Please register in advance, as space is limited, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Publication of Barbara Yelin’s ‘Emmie Arbel. The Colour of Memory’

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We are delighted to announce the publication of Barbara Yelin’s graphic novel ‘Emmie Arbel. Die Farbe der Erinnerung’ (Emmie Arbel. The Colour of Memory) documenting her extensive memory work with Emmie Arbel.

Born in Holland in 1937, Emmie Arbel was deported with her Jewish family in 1942 and survived the Nazi concentration camps Ravensbrück and Bergen-Belsen as a child. Her parents and grandparents were murdered by the Nazis in the Holocaust.

Emmie Arbel now lives near Haifa, Israel. She often travels to Germany to speak as a contemporary witness. Although her childhood was marked by death, speechlessness, abuse and loneliness, she looks back on a life full of rebellion, self-empowerment and humour. In her constant effort to bring her memories out of the silence, the consequences of the Holocaust become visible – in her life, with her family, in every single day.

Barbara Yelin’s graphic novel is based on her personal encounters and numerous intensive conversations with Emmie Arbel. It is a continuation of the first collaboration, and includes 40 pages already published in the anthology “Aber ich leben” (CH Beck) (“But I Live: Three Stories of Child Survivors of the Holocaust” (University of Toronto Press) from 2022.

Edited by Charlotte Schallié and Alexander Korb, the graphic novel will be published on November 6, 2023 and is available to purchase from Reprodukt Publishing.

Reviews and Mentions

Find the article here (German only).

“For her, drawing, Yelin once said, is a process of searching, recognizing and carefully approaching reality. In ‘Emmie Arbel – The Colour of Memory’ she masterfully shows where this process can lead.”

Lars von Törne, 2023