The Return of Johnny Walker

As someone who has never read a graphic novel and was never really into comics growing up, I was initially most aware of all the formatting uniqueness of Shooting War. Which bubble do I read first? What about the text boxes? Are there really no page numbers? O how no page numbers will foil all of Dr. Lennon's creative group assignments ahahahaha. I was maybe expecting more of a consistent format/illustration, but I did really like that each page was completely unique in terms of size of illustrations, how the text was presented, what type of illustration was used, real photographs (is that cheating - should it be called a photo novel?), tv representation, magazines mock-ups, etc. I think Lappe and Goldman did a great job of using all resources and keeping things fresh from page to page. Mostly because of this I have to disagree with those of you are saying this was not a quick read. I am not a fast reader by any means - and I flew through this in a couple hours. It was interesting, funny, and definitely relevant to most of our lives. Who hasn't seen their favorite bodega or dive bar swallowed up by American Apparell, Lucky Jeans, or Urban Outfitters? Who doesn't hink that the political and military portrayals are at the very least a possibility? I think Lappe and Goldman are especially talented in their mocking of the news media - their tv, magazine, newspaper visions were hilarious and right on the money - I have no doubt we WILL see some of those headlines in the near future. But let's be honest, will Staten Island ever be cool? Ok I'm glad we all agree there.


There were many parts in the book that I thought were very cliche. I think many will say - "that's intentional you thick-headed infidel! It's a satire, they're making of the genre as well as mainstream America." I guess this is true to an extent, but I think this very good graphic novel is a few original scenes away from being great. Scenes like bar scene with Crowley, slipping Dan Rather the memory cards, humvees getting blocked by rubble, etc. It didn't seem as much satyrical as it was an overly convenient and familiar way to move the plot along, introduce characters, or solve a problem. Was Crowley's character really any different in your mind than the millions of movie seargents we're used to? I partially feel this way because other aspects of the novel were so creative - suitcase nukes, Communist Iraqi's comparing the U.S. to Russia. I guess it was hard for me to separate at times what was satire and what was poor character or plot development.

More interesting moments/good times in Shooting War -
I love a jacked up badass Dan Rather texting warnings and spouting cheesy lines.

I definitely thought Jimmy was having sex with Sameera at first, not the New York Mag reporter, that was well done. I was waiting for that moment the whole novel in disgust and was happy that it did not happen. An example of the afforementioned originality missing from other perhps satyrical elements of the novel.

As others mentioned - the newscrawls on the bottom of GlobalNews were hilarious! Along with the Post, New York Mag, etc.

What if Jimmy Burns really did work for the Sword of Mohammed the whole time? I think this makes sense, and kind of like it - as if Jimmy Burns were a successful John Walker.

How do you feel about the last two pages explaining the authors/illustrators intentions?

I was impressed that the whole thing was digitally drawn.

Why did the American soldiers have the bluelight eyes? A skull, a cross, darth vader? It seemed a little out of place as a dialogue on christian influence, etc. Did this really contribute anything? What was intended by it?

Are we supposed to think Jimmy Burns has held true to his corporate hatred ideals in the end? Has he changed? I'm not sure. What is the effect of the anti-corporate stuff in the novel, does simply placing a kfc, mcdonalds, and starbucks at army bases really say anything?

BS

Killing Curiosity

After finishing Jarhead - I feel an absolute sense of anticlimaticization. Some might say Swofford intended it that way, its a metaphor for the war, blah, blah. If this is true, it is not clever, it is just sad and pathetic. You get all riled up and excited for these guys that the war is finally going to start, they will finally get their moment, have some great 1600 yard pink mist kills, degrade some Iraqi soldiers...something. But alas, nothing. They heaviest fire they come under is from their own buddies. They are so desperate to latch onto something warish that Swofford gets pissed about missing out on the glory of phoning in the coordinates of the enemy to the airforce. I feel like Swofford had some pretty strong political thoughts going at the start of the second half, just before the war starts, but similarly in the end he briefly mentions a quick withdrawl and going from protector to intuder, then offers up Desert Storm as healing wounds from Vietnam? Not sure I can get down with that. I wanted him to preach a little more, if nothing else. He does a good job of driving home the point of leaving Iraq unsatisfied, but I can't feel the emotion/frustration of it as well as earlier in the book (His almost? suicide vs. killing curiosity). It seems it should be even worse post-war, when there isn't even hope of a potential kill left - tell me a story about Kheun shooting someone in a bar fight, about Johnny Rotten becoming a superstalker serial killer, or how everyone got drunk and did a field-fuck in the Dublin airport bar, something to leave me laughing or at least make me think, not leave me indifferent.

There were some second-half highlights though -

I like the AnyMarine Letters, and that some of them end up having wierd lettersex with midwest farmers' daughters. It reminds you how young these guys actually are when they are receiving senior portraits from girls their age. I clearly remember writing these letters (of the non-sexual nature) in my 5th grade class - I really hope I was not jerkoff fodder for some jarhead.

The believablity issue comes back in a few different ways. Swofford spends a lot of time talking about what absolute liars Marines are and that they are not to be trusted - the whole Fowler story, his brother, himself when he was younger. His dad seems to be a fairly stand-up guy, but he was not a Marine right? Are we supposed to believe he has made a lifelong commitment to being honest upon entering the Marines? However, I will have to say that he has no problem admitting to pissing his pants anytime a mouse farts near him. This lends him some credibility and makes me feel like this is indeed a memoir - also nothing actually exciting happens, which only happens in truly, truly horrible novels.

I'm a big fan of the fighting hole - hourglass imagery/metaphor and the sand itself actually driving him crazy. Dig the hole, it gets filled in, dig it again...has a very Sisyphus feel to it. I also likes that he connects the hourglass to kids' boardgames - it doesn't get more wholesome or American than that does it? And they are actually playing Axis vs. Allies the night before the War is starting...another reminder that they are just kids.

I really like the whole part about him being appointed prayer leader, without any prayer - reminds me a lot of Catch 22 (my second favorite book of all time - you MUST read this book if you haven't - it is hilarious) as does the the sand hourglass stuff - in war, whatever doesn't make sense makes more sense. He also makes it a point to mention how religion cannot exist in the military, but how many leaders fight wars and make military decisions based on their religious beliefs - pretty insightful - but isn't there also that saying "There are no atheists in foxholes?" I meant fighting holes sorry.

Finally I have to weigh in on the whole field-fuck scene and say that I disagree that it is this angry, intense thing. I mean the guy on the bottom is laughing and cracking jokes about the guys pretending to screw him. I think it really is just a product of being in an over authoratative environment with little freedom, and these guys are just kids. Any opportunity to get back at a superior, to actually hold some power over them is priceless...and often comes in very childish forms...come on, lighten up...BS

Brewster's Millions

In honor of all the drunken shenanigans in Jarhead, I brewed some beer this weekend to put my recollectional skills to the test - how's that for a connection to the text? I've been brewing beer for about a year and a half now for no good reason other than people seem to get excited when you tell them you have a bunch of homemade beer and they should come over and drink it. I won't lie. I do harbor dreams of becoming the next Brooklyn Brewery(did you know there are 9 million people and only four breweries in all of NYC) but for now I have no investors, no space, no original handcrafted, perfected recipes - just a bunch of thirsty, cheap friends. That's not to say our friendship is cheap, but rather they prefer alcohol of the inexpensive variety.

Over the weekend I brewed a Pale Ale and and an Amber Ale and will be brewing a Bourbon Porter later this week. Which brings us to the current predicament - what to name these beers, what does the label look like? Furthermore - what should I name the brewery that will one day be known world-wide? I used to live a few blocks from the Gowanus Canal and my former roommate and I brewed beer under the fake name Gowanus Brewery. Previous beers have been named things like Phyrst Batch Ale, Indians Pale Ale (I'm a Cleveland Indians fan), Brooklyn Bitter,

Amber Alert Ale, Gowanus Wheat, Giant Patriot Ale (for last years' superbowl), O'Gwanus Stout and McWanus Red Ale (for St. Patty's day), Sashaberry Summer Ale (for my girlfriend Sasha's B-day), you get the point. Long story short - I live in a new place where I no longer have to listen to my roommate talk about beers like a lover "It has a strong backbone, potent character, and soft, fruity mouthfeel." So I need a new name for the new Brewery. I live near the corner of President & Henry St. so my only idea so far is President Henry Ales, but I think its kinda lame - Any suggestions?

Also, I want to put it out there that I would like to brew a 21st Century Lit Class Beer to be drunkened on the last day of class. I will brew whatever people suggest - SO WHAT KIND OF BEER DO YOU LIKE?

BS