Shooting War

by Anthony Lappe (Author), Dan Goldman (Illustrator)

This was a very interesting mixed-media graphic novel. It is based in the future, where corporate consumerism has almost completely merged with the news media.

The setting: a few years from now, President McCain is fighting several wars on many fronts, terrorist activities have started to occur on U.S. soil. A blogger who was in the right place at the right time is given press credentials and pushed as the 'new hot thing' in delivering the news. He gets assigned to report on the war in Iraq, which is one of the older, less interesting wars the United States is involved in.

What happens from that point is a purely satirical look at the difference between flash and substance, between what is and what is wanted, and how media + war may create a whole new way of fighting.

Though the writer is familiar with very fringe news reporting, I don't think it's fair to paint this book as either liberal or anti-war. The war seems to be the backdrop, and the old labels of liberal and conservative seem to have less and less meaning.

Anyway, I found it a very compelling read. Both wickedly funny, stunningly dramatic and very insightful.

(*The link to the book above will take you to the Amazon ordering page. If you order it through here, I get a small amount of credit that might let me buy more books some day. You can probably order this book through your local comic book (highly recommended) store or at any book store. I am only linking to books and things that I personally like.)