The Other Side Book

My project to explore the world of graphic novels continues into 2020 with The Other Side - a work published in 2006 by Jason Aaron and illustrated by Cameron Stewart.
This comic book tells a story of the Vietnam war.
In it we follow the fortunes of two young recruits.
Bill Everette, a small town boy, is called up to serve but is deeply unenthusiastic about joining the American army. Vo Binh Dai however, is keen to join the ideological struggle of the People's Army of Vietnam and to avenge the slaughter and destruction he sees around him.
Both are naive and subject to propaganda and the casual racism of those around them.
We track the two conscripts through similarly inhuman training regimes and then on into the horrific war where their paths will inevitably cross.
The artwork does well to capture the horror and absurdity of the war ........ at times dreamlike and beautiful, at others brutal.
No punches are spared and the text and pictures are unflinching.
The book was created in memory of Jason Aaron's cousin, Gustav Hasford - a combat correspondent and acclaimed writer who experienced the conflict first hand and later wrote the screenplay for Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket.
A hard hitting and worthwhile tribute - much recommended.