ASTANA – The parallel lives of George Washington and Abylai Khan, two leaders who lived in the same era but on opposite sides of the world, are explored in “When Eagles Soar,” a new bilingual comic book written by Shymkent-based author Bek-Ata Daniyal and illustrated by Astana-based artist Abylay Karin.
The cover of the comic book. Photo credit: the authors
The comic book brings together the first U.S. president and the Kazakh ruler through their experiences as military leaders and political figures who sought to unite their people during periods of major change. Their stories highlight the challenges they faced, the decisions they made and the legacies they left for their countries.
“When Eagles Soar,” which was presented on Sept. 29 at the American Centers in Astana and Shymkent, is available in English and Kazakh.
For Daniyal, the similarities between the two historical figures make the story particularly compelling.
“Both comics are historical and educational, but the second comic, ‘When Eagles Soar,’ seems the most fascinating to me because it shows how similar the lives of these two great rulers and contemporaries were. The project shows what decisions Abylai Khan and George Washington made for the benefit of their countries,” Daniyal told The Astana Times.
“When Eagles Soar” is the second installment in a comic book series marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. It follows the debut e-comic, “The Long Journey to Liberty,” also created by Daniyal and Karin.
Daniyal, who holds a degree in film and television, said the decision to use comics as a storytelling format was driven by their ability to combine historical information with visual storytelling and reach younger audiences.
Bek-Ata Daniyal. Photo credit: the American Corners in Astana and Shymkent.
“Comics as a form of storytelling are not new. They are widely used in the United States, Europe, Korea, Japan and other countries through stories in pictures. Information is better perceived by young people in this format, and many adults also enjoy it. Information is conveyed not only through text but also through visual perception,” said Daniyal.
For Daniyal, the visual element is an important part of making historical narratives accessible without reducing their educational purpose. The format allows readers to follow historical events through both dialogue and imagery.
The two projects were developed through close collaboration between Daniyal and Karin. Daniyal worked on the scripts and proposed ideas for the characters and scenes, while Karin developed the visual interpretation.
“I proposed the images and wrote the script, but our artist, Abylay Karin, found wonderful visual solutions and made the comics colorful,” Daniyal said.
Presentation in Shymkent. Photo credit: the American Corners in Astana and Shymkent.
Daniyal said he grew up reading Marvel and DC comics and watching Western animation. His interest in American culture was strengthened through visits to his brother in the United States.
Karin, an artist from Astana, is the creator of “Alterno,” a comic sold through stores across Kazakhstan. Alongside illustration, he studies programming and is interested in game development and entertainment design.
The project was written by Ali Leilich, a former press and public affairs officer at the U.S. Embassy in Astana. The bilingual publication was developed as part of cultural and educational activities marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.
“Comic books are a universal language for connecting young audiences with history. Through the remarkably parallel lives of George Washington and Abylai Khan, we hope readers in Kazakhstan see how these two men, alive at the same time in history yet from different parts of the world, wrestled with the same challenges as boys, then gaining responsibilities as young soldiers, who then became military leaders and political unifiers and true statesmen, each leading their people independence,” said Ali Lejlic.
A digital edition is available free of charge through the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan’s Instagram account.
