Written by Brian Anthony, Jalysa Conway,
Megan Ferrell Burke, Rev. William J. Bellamy
Artwork by John Bivens, Arturo Lauria, & Kelly Fitzpatrick,
Cecilia Lo Valvo, & Ryan Cody
Revealed by Picture Comics
The very first grown-up document I ever purchased was Sgt. Barry Sadler’s “Ballad of the Inexperienced Berets,” an unexpectedly huge hit in in any other case Beatles-crazy 1966.
I used to be 7.
By the point I used to be 9, although, I had began paying loads of consideration to the protestors and was in opposition to Vietnam. I by no means personally had household who went however loads of college students in my courses misplaced older brothers or uncles.
DC’s Sgt. Rock comedian books have been thinly disguised anti-war comics, and Marvel’s Sgt. Fury was principally a straight journey comedian with a WWII setting.
Again within the Fifties, the corporate that will develop into Marvel had extra gung-ho, violent anti-communist pro-war comics whereas EC Comics had Harvey Kurtzman’s traditionally correct however doubtlessly left-leaning ant-war comics. I tended to keep away from all of ‘em. Then, no less than.
After I did begin studying them, I discovered fairly a number of to be very well-written and drawn, if greater than a tad repetitive at instances.
In spite of everything, there have been solely so some ways you may say, “Conflict is dangerous…” or “Conflict is GOOD” for that matter.
Soldier Tales, a brand new ebook from Prime Cow through Picture, and in affiliation with the US Veterans Artists Alliance, manages to supply up 5 pretty authentic approaches to battle comics. Nicely, the fifth is definitely a textual content piece by the late comics legend, Denny O’Neil.
The remainder are all written by army veterans and embrace all kinds of settings and types. The quilt doesn’t do that ebook justice. It makes it seem like a standard battle comedian, which it isn’t.
The Reverend William J. Bellamy writes a private piece about his work as a photographer; Brian Anthony presents a science-fiction piece; Jalysa Conway gives up a slice of life, as much as the minute, household story; and Megan Ferrell Burke offers us the primary story within the ebook—my private favourite—one other sci-fi story, illustrated in a singular, computer-aided fashion by Arturio Lauria.
Two black individuals, two white—two males, two ladies. Their respective instances within the army, regardless of totally different eras, have given every creator a selected perspective that instructions consideration, and every one in every of them tells the story they wanted to get out.
Whereas I nonetheless have my doubts {that a} trendy battle comedian, even an anthology like this one, may keep away from changing into formulaic, I’ll admit that Soldier Tales has managed to efficiently accomplish that. Each story right here on this ebook gives one thing new, one thing private, and one thing nicely executed certainly.
Booksteve recommends.
