Pat Mills (W) & Joe Colquhoun
Publisher: Titan Books (8 Aug 2014)
Paperback
Black and white
320 pages
Book Dimensions:
26.6 x 19.7 x 2.6 cm
ISBN-10: 1781169144
ISBN-13: 978-1781169148
£19.99
From UK comics writer Pat Mills ("Marshal Law," "Requiem," "Vampire Knight," "Slaine") and legendary artist Joe Colquhoun ("Johnny Red") comes a truly classic piece of British comics history, by turns thrilling, humorous and horrifying.
Often heralded as the greatest British comic strip ever created, "Charley's War" tells the gripping story of an underage British soldier called Charley Bourne fighting during World War I.
Now with completely remastered comic strips, this is the definitive edition of "Charley's War," covering Charley's first arrival in the trenches, the battle of the Somme, and a terrifying zeppelin raid over London.
I think I have both said and written this before but here goes. This is a fantastic book. It collects volumes 1-4 into over 300 pages and the research by writer and artist is immaculate. Having had a family friend who was a "boy soldier" (mascot) in the British army long after the First World War I can tell you there were still horror stories echoing many in this book.
As a piece of history this is an important book. It is a book that should be in most school libraries not to mention public libraries. Why? Well, as noted, it gets all the facts right for one and then you have the lives and story of not just Charley Bourne but those around him. Everything is "of the period".
When it comes to the artwork you find that it is this that really "sells" the story. In fact, you do not think "that was well written" or "nicely drawn" because the two meld to make a perfect sequence. The art is immaculate and so far removed from Colquhouns basic starting-in-comics work decades before that it goes to show just how good he was.
You could just show British soldiers in one of the first tanks in standard uniform but, no. Some are shown wearing a peculiar face-mask and this was to protect the crew from shards/splinters of metal from the tank when it was hit by shells. But there are the cavalry charges -out-dated by that time but still "popular with the officers"- the gritty, gut-wrenching trench warfare and hand-to-hand fighting, the every day filth and slog -singing "happy birthday" with gas-masks on- and the cruelty. Oh, and the zeppelin raids.
As a youngster I thought Charley's War was a good war story but it was only later that I learnt to appreciate the work involved and just how good it was. This new edition is so immaculately reproduced that you might be forgiven for thinking (based on the artwork but not for ignorance) this was all new. Looking at my old newsprint editions of Battle the flimsy paper and the far from top-notch printing (according to the printer the company wanted cheap -bigger profit on the cover price then) and comparing them with this completely digitally re-mastered volume....no comparison.
At the moment there is a great fuss (when the media/people can be bothered to turn away from all the pap in print and on TV) about the 100th Anniversary of the First World War of 1914-1918. Next year it won't be so hip or trendy and it'll be something else. But -but- if you want to give your kids, students or even yourself a look at -I cannot call it "entertainment"! - something that will give you a great set of stories centred around a war that, unlike any before, changed the world then this book is it.
AND it's under £20.00!
There is, however, one thing that can be written about this book: whether it is in 50, 60, 70 or even another hundred years, it will still be fresh because it is "of the period" and a cracking good story -no super robots, no men in jet-packs or any of the pulp nonsense you find in other books based in this period. In fact, I feel that I am being insulting even mentioning other "comics" in connection with this book.
In fact, Charley's War: A Boy Soldier in the Great War will always remain a classic that can never be either repeated or out-done!
£19.99
From UK comics writer Pat Mills ("Marshal Law," "Requiem," "Vampire Knight," "Slaine") and legendary artist Joe Colquhoun ("Johnny Red") comes a truly classic piece of British comics history, by turns thrilling, humorous and horrifying.
Often heralded as the greatest British comic strip ever created, "Charley's War" tells the gripping story of an underage British soldier called Charley Bourne fighting during World War I.
Now with completely remastered comic strips, this is the definitive edition of "Charley's War," covering Charley's first arrival in the trenches, the battle of the Somme, and a terrifying zeppelin raid over London.
I think I have both said and written this before but here goes. This is a fantastic book. It collects volumes 1-4 into over 300 pages and the research by writer and artist is immaculate. Having had a family friend who was a "boy soldier" (mascot) in the British army long after the First World War I can tell you there were still horror stories echoing many in this book.
As a piece of history this is an important book. It is a book that should be in most school libraries not to mention public libraries. Why? Well, as noted, it gets all the facts right for one and then you have the lives and story of not just Charley Bourne but those around him. Everything is "of the period".
When it comes to the artwork you find that it is this that really "sells" the story. In fact, you do not think "that was well written" or "nicely drawn" because the two meld to make a perfect sequence. The art is immaculate and so far removed from Colquhouns basic starting-in-comics work decades before that it goes to show just how good he was.
You could just show British soldiers in one of the first tanks in standard uniform but, no. Some are shown wearing a peculiar face-mask and this was to protect the crew from shards/splinters of metal from the tank when it was hit by shells. But there are the cavalry charges -out-dated by that time but still "popular with the officers"- the gritty, gut-wrenching trench warfare and hand-to-hand fighting, the every day filth and slog -singing "happy birthday" with gas-masks on- and the cruelty. Oh, and the zeppelin raids.
As a youngster I thought Charley's War was a good war story but it was only later that I learnt to appreciate the work involved and just how good it was. This new edition is so immaculately reproduced that you might be forgiven for thinking (based on the artwork but not for ignorance) this was all new. Looking at my old newsprint editions of Battle the flimsy paper and the far from top-notch printing (according to the printer the company wanted cheap -bigger profit on the cover price then) and comparing them with this completely digitally re-mastered volume....no comparison.
At the moment there is a great fuss (when the media/people can be bothered to turn away from all the pap in print and on TV) about the 100th Anniversary of the First World War of 1914-1918. Next year it won't be so hip or trendy and it'll be something else. But -but- if you want to give your kids, students or even yourself a look at -I cannot call it "entertainment"! - something that will give you a great set of stories centred around a war that, unlike any before, changed the world then this book is it.
AND it's under £20.00!
There is, however, one thing that can be written about this book: whether it is in 50, 60, 70 or even another hundred years, it will still be fresh because it is "of the period" and a cracking good story -no super robots, no men in jet-packs or any of the pulp nonsense you find in other books based in this period. In fact, I feel that I am being insulting even mentioning other "comics" in connection with this book.
In fact, Charley's War: A Boy Soldier in the Great War will always remain a classic that can never be either repeated or out-done!
Perhaps you should send a letter to your local gov. about this comic book and recommend that they put in it school libraries.
ReplyDeleteYou are kidding? We have someone who got voted in as a "right on, liberal" but turns out he's a full blown conservative: wants to shut down libraries and many other facilities. Even my offer of free copies of every Black Tower book to the central library was turned down. :-/
ReplyDeleteComics are a greatly misunderstood and undervalued art form and resource in the UK. Comics may be ( to slightly misuse a quote from you on another issue ) of far less impact on the world than Einstein's morning stool but they can bring complex issues and ideas to children ( and not just children ) in a memorable, entertaining and impactful way. Think Professor Britain ( spelling ? ) and the 'Cutaways' in the Eagle - think (early) Strontium Dog, Invasion 1999 and RO-Busters dealing with subtle issues of racism, might-is-right ? and humanity. Plus a lot more. A lot more. Anyways - I rant. Must be my medicines. I'm off to teach some people. Looking forward to your letter. TTFN
ReplyDeleteI'll be posting the letter Monday -long story. Ahhh, the old "cut-aways"!!
ReplyDelete