The Ettatorial for the Week of 2-3-10
A small week of releases this week for me, a total of 3 books in all. And while all of them were good, ones I really enjoyed (for those wondering the books were: The Question #37, Siege #2, and Criminal The Sinners #4), none of them really seemed to strike me for a pick this week. So instead, I’m delving into my vast trade paperback library for a pick for you.
Your pick this week is The Unknown Soldier (1998) by Garth Ennis and Kilian Plunkett. A true under-rated (and unremembered) classic, this might be my favorite thing Ennis has ever written in his prolific career. The story of one man throughout 40 years of American war, and just what he has done for and to his country is a remarkable tale. This is an exploration of duty, honor, battlefield morality, patriotism, and the consequences of all those things on one man. I was originally sold this trade back in 1998 at a comic shop in Waterloo Iowa, by an enthusiastic manager who informed me he had actually sold more of this series in issue form than the Heroes Reborn titles and issues of Spawn at the time, a truly remarkable feat (one that in hindsight is partially unbelievable, but sincere in it’s recommendation). He told me it was the best Captain America story never published, and after multiple readings and a number of years to think about that statement, I have to agree. No, this isn’t a book with a brightly clad spandex super hero, but it’s message and themes are ones that a mature reader familiar with Captain America would look for. I personally think this is a Vertigo title just begging for adaption by Hollywood, and think it would translate well to the big screen. I don’t think that would happen now, as Vertigo has another Unknown Soldier title currently being published (to rave critical reviews, but I haven’t checked it out) and like I stated previously, this sadly is a largely unremembered (one could say unknown) book. Insightful, thought-provoking, with complex themes and emotion behind it, with just enough of the good old-fashioned explodo for those not into the deeper stuff, this is a true classic. It’s the reason I’m glad to have the Ettatorial, to bring books like this to light to the rest of you. Sadly, after an exhaustive search online, I can’t give you a link to any online stores with it in stock as it is out of print. So while you can still find it from private dealers, or possibly find it at a comic shop, this one might be difficult for you to obtain. That’s okay though, as it’s worth it, and hopefully any of you that do manage to get a copy will agree.
That’s it for this week folks, your pick for the week. I’ll see you back here next week, same time, same channel.
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