The ’Nam: 1966-1969

Guest post by Matthew Ilseman

 

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All in all, this ain’t Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos.

So goes the first story in The ‘Nam; 1966-1969 Omnibus.

Back in the 1980s, Marvel Comics decided to print a war comic about the Vietnam War. Chief editor Jim Shooter gave the job of development to fellow editor Larry Hama, a Vietnam veteran working at Marvel. Hama hired fellow vet Doug Murray to write it. They decided to use the comic to try to tell what it was like over there.

Comics have a long and mostly venerable history of war stories. Surprisingly many comic creators had military experience. Jack Kirby, often called the most important man in comics, had been a combat infantry man during World War II. Bob Haney, known as Zany Haney for his far out storylines, had been on a ship during the Battle of Okinawa. Artist Sam Glanzman created an autobiographical series about his time in the Navy.

Yet, at the same time war stories would also often be simplistic action-adventure stories. Hama and Murray wanted to do something different. They wanted to tell the story of the average grunt who just wanted to do his job and come home alive. As such the comic happen in “real time” that is each monthly issue represented a month the War. The soldiers would often not see who was firing at them in battle as was often case in real life. Real events would be referenced. There would be “no John Wayne heroics.”

The art was by Michael Golden, Wayne Vansant, the before-mentioned Sam Glanzman, and others.

Murray would craft one of the best and most affecting war comics ever written.

Most of the stories center on the 23^rd Infantry Brigade and its members. The main protagonist is Ed Marks, a green draftee. The first 12 issues follow him as he loses his greenness, and a significant part of his innocence. Later issues would alternate between his story trying to adjust back to civilian life after deployment and the lives of the other soldiers in the 23^rd.

There are some standout stories. These include issue seven’s “Good Old Days” which tells the story of a Kit Carson Scout. That is a former Viet Cong who switched sides to fight for the Americans. The story is a composite of the real lives of three members of the Viet Cong, not all who switched sides.  The following story “In the Underground” deals with the life of a Tunnel Rat. There are also the 5^th to the 1^st tales. Originally published in Marvel’s black and white Savage Tales magazine, these are darker and grittier than the ones about the 23^rd since they did not have to obey the Comics Code Authority, the industry censorship board.

Other issues deal with the Tet Offensive. This is the only the really multiple part story in the Omnibus. It is bloody and grim and deals with how an American victory becomes a defeat in the media. There are also stories on the home front about the anti-war movement which the media also misinterprets. Journalists, whose job is to tell the truth, don’t always do that which is still relatable today. The comic also deals with racial tension between the troops. There is a CO whose incompetence, cowardice, and outright cruelty gets him fragged. There is also a CO who starts green but becomes a competent leader. One issue deals with the controversial Phoenix program, and not really favorably. Apparently, a future issue was going to deal with My Lai.

So there are controversial issues in the book. It, however, avoids preachiness. It tells what happens and lets the reader decide. In time when simplistic narratives dominate the news cycle this is refreshing. I would however say Murray’s sympathy is with the average soldier in the war. The anti-war activists come across as self-righteous and ignorant. That said, the comics also shows the horror of war. Sympathetic characters get maimed and killed. The characters are people with good and bad in them even those on the other side of the war.

The ’Nam would become a surprise seller for Marvel. It would actually be very well received by veterans of the war. While some thought it being a comic book trivialized the war most were receptive to it. The Bravo Organization of veterans would give it award for the best portrayal of the war beating out Oscar Stone’s movie Platoon.

This would not last. Hama would leave the editorship and new editor come in. This editor wanted to bring in superheroes. This would lead to conflict with Murray who eventually left. Other writers would come in. There would be a crossover with the Punisher. So, yeah…

These issues are not collected in the Omnibus. I haven’t read them so I can’t offer an opinion on them really but I don’t really want to read them either. That is because the ’Nam was not meant to be a simplistic action story. It was meant explore something tragic and controversial in American history. Any one who is interested in the war should read the stories in the Omnibus even if you are not a comic fan.

In his afterword, Larry Hama writes:

“Read it and think a little about our politicians and their eagerness to send out our sons and daughters in harm’s way with their hands tied behind their backs by idiotic ‘rules of engagement.’ Read it and ponder our inability to learn from history. Read it and understand why thousands of soldiers come home from war and never talk about it.”

We need to do that.