Graphic Novel Review: THE 'NAM Vol. 1

The late ‘80s were dominated by superhero comics. All other genres were pushed aside to make way for the latest Spider-Man or Batman title or the latest debut of an all new Marvel or DC character but war comics were seen as something that was dead and buried. Then in ’86 Marvel debuted what was thought to be an oddity and a gamble with the very real and very gritty title The ‘Nam, which depicted events during the Vietnam war in a very realistic manner from the grunts point of view. Although not an instant success, The ‘Nam became one of the most ground breaking titles of the ‘80s. This first volume collects the first 10 issues of the series.

When the title was originally released, I didn’t catch on to it until the issue 8 or 9 and I was hooked immediately. It was unlike any other title I had ever read. Trying to pick up back issues was extremely hard as they became immediate collector’s items but Marvel (the company that released the title) was smart enough to reprint back issues in the form of The ‘Nam Magazine (covers of which are included at the end of the graphic novel). This graphic novel is a reprint of an earlier version just rebound and recolored (the original graphic novel covers are also included). This is a very handsomely presented collection of one of the greatest war comics.

Reading the series in sequential order is a revelation as the stories were designed to be in real time and there be a month of time that goes in between each story (the release date of each issue) so reading the series in which it was meant gives you a whole different perspective on the events and characters of the series especially when very well liked main characters are killed off at a moment’s notice (similar to that of the real war). People coming to the title for the very first time will benefit from this and those (like me) who haven’t read the series since it was originally released will be given a new perspective on one of the greatest of all war comics.
 

Graphic Novel Review: WEREWOLF BY NIGHT: IN THE BLOOD

Marvel has re-envisioned one of their earliest characters Werewolf By Night for a new age and they do an excellent job of it in the new series WEREWOLF BY NIGHT: IN THE BLOOD, which finds Jack Russell, a man cursed into a werewolf when the moon is full, trying to live a normal life despite his wolf-like tendencies. When the story begins Jack is awaiting a newborn child with his girlfriend Cassie. He secretly steals away for the three days in which he wolf’s out to lock himself up in an impenetrable cage so that he doesn’t hurt anyone.

After the latest full moon, Jack returns home to find Cassie dead and his child ripped from her womb. Fearing that his wolf personae may have been the cause he flees just as the police arrive to see him with his dead wife. With nowhere to run Jack hides away in obscurity until he learns a cabal of secret agents are after him and may be able to help him. Now Jack must unravel the mystery of the death of his wife while also unlocking the secrets of his past which will shape his future.

Written by Duane Swierczynski with artwork by Mico Suayan, IN THE BLOOD is a violent and horrifying story as can only happen in Marvel’s MAX line of comics. Fans of horror comics will love how the werewolves are updated Marvel style as Suayan’s art is lush and made even more relentless by Ian Hannin’s colors.

This could have been a fairly routine story and series but together Swierczynski, Suayan, and Hannin create one of the highlights of the MAX comics line. This is work that will put the Werewolf By Night character back into the minds and hearts of horror fans everywhere.

As an added bonus, included in this graphic novel are reprints of Tomb of Dracula #18 and the original Werewolf By Night #15 which is the character’s first encounter with Marvel’s version of Dracula.

 

Graphic Novel Review: MARVEL ZOMBIES 2

I’m not one for reading anything that the comic book company Marvel has put out in almost a little over a decade but when I heard that writer Robert Kirkman had his hands in the original graphic novel I couldn’t help myself. This was the man who brought horror back to comics with his phenomenal ongoing series THE WALKING DEAD, so, if he was behind the series it couldn’t be all that bad. Point of fact is that the first MARVEL ZOMBIES series was an unquestionable success, so, who am I to be the one to say that there was no need for a second series.

MARVEL ZOMBIES 2 opens years after the first series ended in which all the superheroes of the Marvel universe became infected with a zombie plague turning them all into flesh eating zombies who practically devoured everything on Earth. After eating the Silver Surfer and Galactus, the surviving zombie-superheroes flee Earth in search of more food. In this new series the zombie-superheroes have eaten everything that they can and now set their sights on returning to Earth in order to find Reed Richards dimensional machine that will allow them passage to another world so that they can find a new world to feast upon.

When the zombie-superheroes return to Earth they have a surprise in store for them as an aged Black Panther and Forge had assembled the last of humanity in a settlement that they refuse to let go to the menace of the zombies. Things get even more complicated as a zombie-Wasp has taken up refuge with the survivors and has learned how to live in peace without letting the “hunger” of being a zombie get to her. Now it’s a fight for survival as humans battle zombies, zombies battle zombies, and everything is fair game.

Kirkman presents a compelling story where there are no easy answers or solutions to what lies next for humanity. This is a theme he’s put to great use in his THE WALKING DEAD series and works on a much bigger canvas then that series. Sean Phillips’ artwork compliments Kirkman’s story perfectly. The story is filled with great references from Marvel’s history and will be a favorite with comic book fans.

Like the first series this series steps far beyond anything that most readers of Marvel’s comics is accustomed to which makes the series that much better and now that the creators realize that they have a hit on their hands this series is left open for the impending third story in the series. I recommend this to both fans of Marvel comics and those readers who just want to read a very good story. I may not read anything else that Marvel puts out but I’ll continue to read this series as long as they continue putting them out.