Johnny Red #8
Titan Comics 2016
Written by Garth Ennis
Illustrated by Keith Burns
Coloured by Jason Wordie
Lettered by Rob Steen
Johnny and the surviving members of his beloved Falcon Squadron face execution – not at the hands of the hated Nazis, but by their own side, as the Soviet secret police prepare to eliminate all knowledge of the ghastly secret hatched by Stalin and Hitler!
When I finished this issue I started to cry. Honest tears because of just how damn powerful Garth wrote this entire story. War books may not be as popular as they once were, we see so much violence today that we’ve become desensitised to the plights of what has come before. World War II was supposed to be the war to end all wars and while we know it wasn’t we forget what they fought for. Oppression and freedom to live lives that were theirs.
The people who fought, exactly the people like these Falcons, fought not for their leaders they fought for their homeland, the people themselves who couldn’t fight. That afterwards we don’t pay them enough respect that they deserve for all that which they’ve done can be heartbreaking to realise. Shuffled off, forgotten and sent away they fought so that we could have the lives we lead today and where’s the appreciation, the respect and showing them the dignity that they richly deserve?
Garth’s story and its characterization here is so incredibly powerful. Not only do you get caught up in all sides of the opinions expressed by the characters you see the larger picture. You see through their eyes what this was all about. You also see how the war changed those who survived and wished they’d never experienced it all. I’ve never in my entire forty six years of life been as moved to tears through a myriad of emotions from sadness to anger to pride and then understanding as this story and this single issue has.
It’s not just been Garth’s story either. Keith plays a very large role in getting the reader to experience those emotions as well. From the everyday people to the aerial battles with magnificent flying machines to the cold earth below brings this to life with emotion, skill, passion and desire. The old man recanting the story of his friends, yes even after all these years, tragedy and death they remain friends and family to him, Rodimitz his faced etched with the years that weigh heavily upon him bring that infinite sadness and even now looking upon my eyes swell.
Story’s like this need to be read by the old, young and saved for future generations because they can do things more exquisitely what history books cannot. War isn’t about the leaders of countries it’s about the men and women who fight and whom they fight for.
Titan Comics 2016
Written by Garth Ennis
Illustrated by Keith Burns
Coloured by Jason Wordie
Lettered by Rob Steen
Johnny and the surviving members of his beloved Falcon Squadron face execution – not at the hands of the hated Nazis, but by their own side, as the Soviet secret police prepare to eliminate all knowledge of the ghastly secret hatched by Stalin and Hitler!
When I finished this issue I started to cry. Honest tears because of just how damn powerful Garth wrote this entire story. War books may not be as popular as they once were, we see so much violence today that we’ve become desensitised to the plights of what has come before. World War II was supposed to be the war to end all wars and while we know it wasn’t we forget what they fought for. Oppression and freedom to live lives that were theirs.
The people who fought, exactly the people like these Falcons, fought not for their leaders they fought for their homeland, the people themselves who couldn’t fight. That afterwards we don’t pay them enough respect that they deserve for all that which they’ve done can be heartbreaking to realise. Shuffled off, forgotten and sent away they fought so that we could have the lives we lead today and where’s the appreciation, the respect and showing them the dignity that they richly deserve?
Garth’s story and its characterization here is so incredibly powerful. Not only do you get caught up in all sides of the opinions expressed by the characters you see the larger picture. You see through their eyes what this was all about. You also see how the war changed those who survived and wished they’d never experienced it all. I’ve never in my entire forty six years of life been as moved to tears through a myriad of emotions from sadness to anger to pride and then understanding as this story and this single issue has.
It’s not just been Garth’s story either. Keith plays a very large role in getting the reader to experience those emotions as well. From the everyday people to the aerial battles with magnificent flying machines to the cold earth below brings this to life with emotion, skill, passion and desire. The old man recanting the story of his friends, yes even after all these years, tragedy and death they remain friends and family to him, Rodimitz his faced etched with the years that weigh heavily upon him bring that infinite sadness and even now looking upon my eyes swell.
Story’s like this need to be read by the old, young and saved for future generations because they can do things more exquisitely what history books cannot. War isn’t about the leaders of countries it’s about the men and women who fight and whom they fight for.
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