The acclaimed Vietnam Journal comic book series from Don Lomax, nominated for a Harvey Award, is collected and presented as a series of graphic novels. Vietnam Journal is a look at the Vietnam War through the eyes of a war journalist, Scott ‘Journal’ Neithammer, as he chronicles the lives and events of soldiers on the front line during the Vietnam War. Creator Don Lomax based Vietnam Journal on his experiences on his tour of duty in Vietnam in the mid 1960’s. In BOOK THREE, Scott ‘Journal’ Neithammer returns to Vietnam, having recovered from his war injuries, but his expectations of being assigned to a safe area dissipate as he is dropped into the middle of a firefight in the Mekong Delta. Neithammer joins up with a new group deployed in the Vietnam War by the US Navy…the Seals. They’re not exactly happy with the older ‘Journal’ tagging along but orders are orders. The problem is ‘Journal’ can’t really figure out what the Seals’ orders exactly are. As preparations get underway for the Dak To engagement, ‘Journal’ ventures out into the jungle but ends up escorting a pregnant villager to safety only to discover she’s really with the enemy. And afterwards, as a battle rages towards occupying a hill that has no significant value, ‘Journal’ finds he has to deal with both choking gas and Vietcong snipers. These stories plus a short story titled Dustoff are included in Book Three. Collects issues #9-12.
Entertainment Weekly labels Vietnam Journal as a graphic novel you should own and is recommended by the Military History Book Club, while Max Brooks (World War Z) names Vietnam Journal as one of his best war comic series.
Lomax bases his fictional work on his real experiences in Vietnam in 1966, with powerful results. It is Lomax’s concern for average soldiers that, in the end, makes his work significant. - Publishers Weekly.
This is, without a doubt, the most graphic, realistic and emotionally powerful portrayal of the Vietnam War that’s ever been seen in comic form. - Jason E. Aaron, Wizard’s 2008 Best Writer.
Even today, VIETNAM JOURNAL is one of the most gritty and brutally honest war stories ever published. - Brian Cronin, Comic Book Resources.
A powerful collection of stories and history of the Vietnam War, created by a veteran of both the war and of war comics. - Douglas P. Dave, School Library Journal.
