Heaven by Frank Taylor

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MWSA Review
FE Taylor’s book titled Heaven: The Other Side is a picture book for adults on the topic of death, dying, heaven, and the afterlife. The book is a compilation of sayings and expressions of sympathy offered at viewings, memorials, and in obituary columns. The black and white illustrations are clear and well-done. Perhaps those reading this book could find comfort in coloring these pictures.

Heaven is meant to be comforting assurance for the reader as to what lies ahead. I understand Mr. Taylor's thoughtful premise but feel that occasional use of scripture substantiation would have given more weight to his words.

Congratulations to FE Taylor for undertaking the production of Heaven despite having dyslexia.

Review by Nancy Panko (May 2021)
 

Author's Synopsis
This book illustrates a view of life after death through the eyes of a dyslexic. Among the many symptoms of dyslexia reading comprehension becomes difficult when the meaning of words are visualized before they are placed in context. Visualizing the literal meaning of words makes metaphorical understanding challenging. Experiencing several dyslexic symptoms the author illustrates how he views Heaven from the sentiments of loved ones left behind.

ISBN/ASIN: 978 1 7326539 9 3

Book Format(s): Soft cover

Review Genre: Collections—Religious/Spiritual

Number of Pages: 48

Full Mag: Veteran Stories Illustrated, Vol. 3 by August Uhl

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MWSA Review
Full Mag: Veteran Stories Illustrated, Vol. 3 is filled with true veteran stories, written and illustrated by other veterans, allowing the storyteller, the editors and writers, and the graphic artists to all participate and heal together.

Some of the stories have never been told to anyone, and are obviously deeply personal to the veterans relaying the tale. I specifically like how stories from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War all appear in the same issue, with consistent artwork and quality. This sends a subliminal message that while parts of war may be different, much of it as perceived by the combatants may be very similar.

Hats off and a Bravo Zulu to the Full Mag team; I look forward to Volume Four.

Review by Rob Ballister (March 2021)

 

Author's Synopsis
Full Mag: Veteran Stories Illustrated, Vol. 3 is a unique veteran history and art project in graphic novel form. Full Mag presents the stories of our veterans in their own words with illustrations in sequential graphic art. Every story presented is the result of an interview by our team or the written contribution of the veteran. This ground breaking third volume includes the following first-person accounts

WW II Combat Engineer, crossing the Rhine- by Harold Vachal, art by J.W. Erwin

WW II Soldiers overrun during the Battle of the Bulge- by Bob Buntin, art by Gary Martin

WW II Airman shot down over Italy- by Eldon Dahl, art by Nossretep

WW II and just after, B-29 crew over the Pacific-by Norm Meuller, art by Thomas Muzzell

A Marine's Story: from childhood during the Depression to Pacific island battles to Korea, presented in four chapters plus Q&A, by Marvin Strombo, art by Gary Martin, Fernando Ruiz, Kim DeMulder, and Max Davenport

WW II, Nisei 100th Battalion, Go for Broke- by Stan Izumigawa, art by Lou Manna

Baghdad ER, 86th Combat Support Hospital-by Dacia M Arnold, art by Cassandra Dale

Afghanistan, bird's eye view over 10 years-by Darin Gaub, art by Thomas Muzzell

Operation in Cambodia-by Mark Potes, art by Lou Manna and Bill Anderson

Replacement at Inchon and rodeo rider-by James Aplan, art by Thomas Muzzell

These are stories that can only be told by those who experienced the events themselves. Full Mag provides a unique platform for veterans to tell their stories while simultaneously allowing artists to honor these warriors through the application of their skills, as cultures have done since the dawn of mankind. This 88-page perfect bound, magazine sized, graphic novel is a publication unlike any other. Printed in the USA on 80# high quality paper.

ISBN/ASIN: ISBN 978-0-578-77216-5

Book Format(s): Soft cover

Review Genre: Artistic—Graphical Novel/Comic Book

Number of Pages: 88

Katusha: Girl Soldier of the Great Patriotic War by Wayne Vansant

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MWSA Review

Wayne Vansant’s Katusha: Girl Soldier of the Great Patriotic War is as well written and exhaustively researched a graphic novel as you will find.

Ekaterina Andreaevna Tymoshenko, better known as Katusha, is a Ukrainian teenager just graduating secondary school as the Germans invade Russia. Her education has not prepared her for what she must do for her family and her country. Thankfully, her Uncle Taras is familiar with the ways of war and trains Katusha, her brother Vasily, and her adopted sister Milla to survive in the woods, first as refugees, then as partisans. As her skills grow and Russia recovers from the attack, Katusha and her sister are enlisted as tank crewmen in the Red Army, where they will fight in the huge tank clash of Kursk as well as make the drive to Berlin. Along the way, Katusha finds love, but is it enough to cover all that she has lost?

This book is a wonderful introduction to graphic novels if you are not familiar with the genre. Well-researched, the military illustrations, technology, and nomenclature are spot on, as is the history of the Eastern Front. I particularly liked how the author showed the human side of so many great battles; it is easy to research the strategy of a battle, but harder at times to grasp the feelings and emotions of the people that fought it. Vansant does an excellent job of developing characters, especially since compared to a novel he has limited text in which to do so. There are also a few actual photographs worked into the story, which are used to great impact.

If you enjoy military graphic novels, you will love this; if you are not familiar with graphic novels, this is a great place to start!

Review by Rob Ballister (May 2020)

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Author's Synopsis

This is a Historical Fiction story of a 16-year-old Ukrainian girl who graduates from the tenth and final year of school the night before the German Invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941. The story follows her through the experiences of the German occupation, fleeing with her family to the forest, getting involved with partisan activity, joining the Red Army and finishing the war as first a tank driver, and then as a tank commander. Seen through Katusha's eyes, we experience the war as she does, covering the war in minute detail. Note: The name Katusha was a song during the war, as it is now.

ISBN/ASIN: Paperback::978-1-68247-425-9, Ebook: 978-1-68247-439-6
Book Format(s): Soft cover
Review Genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 572

Full Mag: Veteran Stories Illustrated, Vol. 2 by August Uhl et. al.

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MWSA Review

FULL MAG: Veteran Stories Illustrated is an innovative blend of text and art in the style of classic Sgt Rock-style comic books, but raised to a level of accomplishment previously unseen. In nine stories told by the people who lived them, we read of military exploits from World War II to Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The stories are bridged by a rather mysterious Narrator who eases the transition between eras and introduces the succeeding stories.

In vividly rendered art, sometimes black and white, sometimes full color, FULL MAG's artists, letterers, and colorists reimagine the author's take in words and especially art to produce classic comic book-style panels bursting through their margins with colorful explosions, screaming soldiers, and roaring fighter jets—even those traditional sound effects (KA-BOOM!) as the bombs and IEDs go off.

As a retired Navy CPO, I was particularly drawn to “Seafloat,” the story of a Navy riverine boat crew in Vietnam. The artwork is superlative and drew me into the narrative, and it even included a photograph of the boat crewmen included in the story. As we say in the Navy, BZ—well done.

In that same story is a powerful, high-action rendering of F-4 Phantom II fighter-bombers pulling out of a bomb run after dropping napalm on enemy forces. You can almost smell the JP4 fumes from the howling engines and feel the concussion of the fiery explosions. This sort of kinetic engagement occurs throughout the magazine.

Though a graphic novel—a “comic book”—FULL MAG also addresses the very serious topics of PTSD and prospective veteran suicides in a story (“In a Baghdad Instant”) by a female vet. She discusses her struggles with PTSD and thoughts of self-destruction traced to a closed-head injury, and gives props to the VA for her treatment and eventual recovery.

FULL MAG is a terrific read, a terrific graphic novel, and a terrific tribute to the men and women of the armed forces. Strongly recommended.

Review by Daniel Charles Ross (April 2020)

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Author's Synopsis

Full Mag: Veteran Stories Illustrated, Vol. 2 is a unique veteran history project in graphic novel form. Full Mag presents the stories of our veterans in their own words with illustrations in sequential graphic art. Every story presented is the result of an interview by our team or the written contribution of the veteran specifically for Full Mag. This volume includes first-person accounts from Operation Market Garden and the Waal river crossing, the Battle of Okinawa, the liberation of the Philippines, stories from Vietnam include "Phu Bai Intersect", "Plain of Reeds", and "Seafloat" and stories from OEF/OIF include "In a Baghdad Instant" and the conclusion of "Hidden Valor". These are stories that can only be told by those who experienced the events themselves. The team of artists include both established pros and emerging talent and several of the artists are veterans themselves. Full Mag provides a unique platform for veterans to tell their stories while simultaneously allowing artists to honor these warriors through the application of their skills as cultures have done since the dawn of mankind. This 84-page perfect bound, magazine sized, graphic novel volume is a publication unlike any other. Printed in the USA on 80# high quality paper.

ISBN/ASIN: 978-0-578-43002-7
Book Format(s): Soft cover
Review Genre: Artistic—Graphical Novel/Comic Book
Number of Pages: 84