Rolling Blackouts: Dispatches from Turkey, Syria, and Iraq #[nn]

In "Starting Out," comic journalist Sarah Glidden travels to Iraq and Syria with fellow journalists Sarah and Alex, accompanied by Dan—a former U.S. Marine and old friend of Sarah Stuteville—on a journey that blends personal reflection with the realities of war-torn regions. The story unfolds as a thoughtful, grounded exploration of memory, witness, and the complexities of reporting from places shaped by conflict.

In "Traversing the KRG," Sarah Stuteville and her companions navigate the rugged terrain of northern Iraq, their journey toward Sulaymaniyah marked by quiet tension and unspoken questions. As the road stretches ahead, Sarah grapples with doubts about Dan’s accounts, hoping her observations on the ground will reveal what his words have concealed.

In "Sulaymaniyah, Iraq," Sarah Stuteville travels through the Kurdish region, meeting Sam Malkandi—a man deported from the U.S. after his name surfaced in the 9/11 Commission’s report—while grappling with the elusive responses she needs from Dan to shape her story. The piece captures quiet moments of connection and tension as personal histories intersect with broader political shadows.

In "Damascus, Syria," Sarah and her team navigate the tense landscape of refugee camps in Syria, conducting interviews with displaced Iraqis. When Dan departs abruptly, leaving behind an incomplete conversation that unsettles the group’s dynamic, the weight of unspoken stories lingers. The journey ends with Sarah returning to the U.S., carrying the echoes of what was witnessed but not fully understood.