War Fix

by David Axe, Steve Olexa (Illustrator)

War can be addictive. So testifies journalist David Axe who’s been there, in the middle of the action in Iraq. The high is potent no matter how much you know how dangerous it is... Here’s Axe’s journal of dealing with his addiction, the high, the sheer excitement of being in there, in the battle, the cost to his life, never mind the threat. A new form of visceral self-analyzing comics journalism starts with this book... An allegory for the US?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, War, Memoir, History

192 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2006

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is war a drug you can get addicted to? journalist David Axe has to answer that question if he wants to move on with his life. I think this book looks at something we often do not talk about: journalist and photographers who cover wars have to be traumatized by what they have seen in the course of doing their job.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

the story was interesting and i enjoyed it but the set up of the actual comic was confusing and the lettering was awwwwwful. if you're gonna make a comic, make it legible, thank you and goodnight

[Loyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Axe and Steven Olexa's War Fix examines the life of a stimulus junkie reporter, who despite all common sense, needs to place himself in a war zone (in this case, Iraq) in order to feel alive. The artwork is edgy and powerful, and the story is well-told and detailed, even as short as it is.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 start for the amazing artwork - otherwise didn't care for the story much.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is good, the visual narrative is extraordinary.

[Bryanzk · Rating 4 out of 5]

War, war never ends...

[Elwyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not good.

There's some non-conventional design choices that impair legibility. The use of cursive is tolerable. Sometimes speech bubbles change background colour for no reason. Some points there seem to be time jumps but then are not.

The story is interesting enough. However, it isn't particularly new. I was also expecting more depth.

[Mick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good exploration of war and its addictive qualities as experienced by a journalist. Some of the flow between panes was a little confusing game. Worth a read for those interested in journalism, war correspondence, graphic novels, and war in general.

[♪ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars. Solid storytelling, even with ambiguity of panel placement. The novel had enough substance in its few pages, but it lacked development.

[Elijah ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ · Rating 1 out of 5]

guys what did I just read or struggle to read with that font

[Bryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this yesterday and this morning looked at it and couldn't recall whether I had read it.

A fictional account of a reporter's experience in Iraq written by a reporter who has been in Iraq. I would have been more interested in a memoir.

Published 20 years ago this would have been a groundbreaking work of serious comix! The medium has evolved to the point where this book becomes merely interesting. The art is muddy at times and the writing can be precious. Examining the motives of war-time journalism is a but I think I'll stick to Joe Sacco.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story itself wasn't so bad and the diaglouge or thoughts were interesting. But the layout of the it was just so awkward that its hard to enjoy the bit that is enjoyable. I think that if this was a rough draft it would be a good start but as a graphic novel it doesn't hit the mark. It needs to be more indepth and well structured. It isn't a bad quick read but it isn't as good as it has potential to be. The story is there but it needs to be fleshed out more and the layout needs to be more organized. It could be good instead of being...eh.

[SA · Rating 3 out of 5]

An early take on David Axe's war correspondent experience; the letters on this were irritating as all hell, but I liked the art and thought it worked well as a way to convey this story--particularly the scenes without narration, the interstitials. I don't know that black and white was the best choice here, but as usual, Axe gets to his thesis with impact. As the man said:

Fuck that, I ain't had a war since Somalia. I had to get some.
Swarr, from Generation Kill

[Tracey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost never believe this about a book: The story needed more text all over. I think I get what author David Axe was trying to say, though most of my grasp comes from Steve Olexa's amazing artwork. For the protagonist being a journalist, he only sketches in events, leaving holes that get partially filled through the art. Deep, difficult ideas deserve more written treatment than a skittering movement across their surfaces.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mediocre story that could have been better if it had been more fleshed out and less disjointed. A somewhat superficial look at the addictive aspects of war and the idealized media/entertainment tinted perspective that many Americans have of violence and war vs the devastating realities.

I did like the artwork which felt interesting and unconfined by traditional comic boxes, but in saying that the art was hard to follow on certain spreads and pages.
Overall it was just ok... :/

[Malbadeen · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's books like this and Joe Sacco's that make me really re-think smashing "comics and graphic novels" onto the same "shelf". I re-think it, then I remember I'm more lazy than thoughtful and I leave them where they are.

[Joseph Young · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seemed like a glorification of the desire to view war. There didn't really seem to be much point to book, except perhaps to explain some people's self-destructive obsession with war. Nothing compelling about the book.

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gorgeous art and some really nice moments but a fair share of the layouts were confusing and a fair share of the story felt detached. A good editor could of turned this one around.

[Natalie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am not a big reader of graphic novels--this is my first actually. But really, what a load of crap. AND, it is not written by Olexa but by Axe and Olexa.

[Whatsupchuck · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. Didn't really make a lasting impression.

The illustrations were the best part.

[Mo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't finish. Art was impossible to follow as was the story, but maybe that was the whole point...

[Mickey Bits · Rating 5 out of 5]

How must it be, to be so attached to conflict as to need to go to the latest war, the latest conflict? This book addresses that.

[Aneesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

At least graphic novelists are writing about something that might be important.