The 'Nam, Vol. 2

The 'Nam #2

by Doug Murray, Mike Golden, John Severin

It's 1967, and you are there--but how long will the men of the 23rd Infantry Division be able to say the same? Marvel's groundbreaking saga of the Vietnam War continues with flashbacks on the front, worries in the world (a.k.a. back home) and murder in the ranks. Plus: The first appearance of Mike "Ice" Phillips, one of the few soldiers who stayed with the series until nearly its end. COLLECTING: The 'Nam #11-20

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, War, Marvel, Historical Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Sleepy Boy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oof the importance of the artist really shows here. Not sure why but mid series the artist changed and it's just no where near the quality of the first gent they had inking. Real noticeable lack of detail and accuracy. EG: a Sgt. has some sort of made up Frankenstein amalgamation folding stock shotgun then a few panels over it has the correct wooden stock/looks like an actual shotgun used in the Vietnam era.

Hopefully Volume 3 gets better but I think I'm starting to see why the series didn't end up getting the trade paperback treatment all the way to the end.

[Frédéric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still interesting but not as good as vol.1.

Two main factors to explain this drop:

- After Ed Marks gets back in the World at the end of his tour only Rob Little remains as a link and the new characters introduced feel like silhouettes. The new gung-ho loot is too much cliché and the guy making stories -forgot his name- is quickly boring.
On the whole the best issue would be Ed on leave back home and his incomprehension at what's happening in the U.S. at the time.

- After Michael Golden's departure the art greatly diminishes in quality. The Wayne Van Sant/Geoff Isherwood team illustrating most of the book is lightyears from the Golden/Beatty duo.

After a promising great first volume the series tends to level down to more standard war comics. Pity, really.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done. The issues where Marks writes about his experience coming home would be a great teaching tool if it could found in a single issue reprint.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The artist changes with this volume, and while I liked the art in the first volume better, it's still works great. I like that the stories aren't incredibly text heavy and let the art do a lot of the talking. This is superb story telling.

[Sean Chick · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the art is weaker as the series goes on, I thought the stories were more nuanced and the soldiers more developed. They deal with more difficult personal situations, getting away from the more action oriented first volume. That said, many characters die or get wounded or are introduced, and it left me asking "who is that?" Still, it packs a lot more punch than one expects from 1980s Marvel.

[Mouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still one of the greatest war comics ever created. However this volume isn’t nearly as good as the first volume. Maybe it’s because Ed is gone from the war, or maybe it’s the change in art, but this particular volume has sort of a jumpy chaotic feel to it. Some of the characters are a bit too cliche and others are just a bit too bland.

[Dkolacinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

For all the people that died, died. For those who fought valiantly, in fear, looking for valor and finding only chaos and confusion. For all those who sacrificed their lives, their feelings, their love for one another. And for those who put them in harm's way, safe in their politics, both military and socially and for a society who rebukes them for serving and sacrificing their all, we sing.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

This continue to be a very good story based on realistic events that happened in Vietnam. I wish the artwork were a little better or clearer at times because it was hard to tell what was happening in certain battle sequences. Certainly eye-opening, and my understanding of history is much greater because of it.

[Clint the Cool Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really Good

I like this series a lot. It's really more about Vietnam in general than any particular character or characters. This is a pretty interesting approach. Good art and good story. Recommended!

[Todd Glaeser · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories are good, including a fantastic story illustrated by John Severin. However, Michael Golden is missed and most of the characters from the first volume have rotated out.

[Javier Muñoz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sigue siendo buena serie, pero sin el dibujo de Michael Golden (en este tomo sólo dibuja 2 números) no es lo mismo

[Robert Kimberlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT BOOK. SUPER GOOD STORIES AND ART. WONDERFUL CHARACTERS.

[Khairul Hezry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The further adventures of the 23rd. True to the book's real-time progression, Ed Marks the soldier we started the book with has served his 1 year tour and gone home. Many of the faces from volume 1 have left as well (some in body bags) and they get a new 2nd lieutenant. Unfortunately, he's a bit gung-ho and puts everyone in unnecessary danger. Will a 'fragging' be far behind?

The great stories are marred by the lack of a regular art team. There are 3 pencillers and 4 inkers handling the art chores. The results aren't bad but with different people penciling every other issue, it just looks inconsistent.

[Atticus · Rating 4 out of 5]

The consistency of great story telling throughout this series continues in the second volume. I dare say I enjoyed it even more than the first one. My favorite issue so far has to be #19 "Milk Run." I cannot wait to start Vol. 3.

[Timo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good war drama, but the departure of the artist Golden did bit of a dent to the appeal of this series.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worthwhile

Good dramatized retelling of the American soldier’s experience in Vietnam. A nice contrast to GI Joe style glorification of war.

[Mhorg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great volume

Like in the war, people in the comic rotate in and out, they get wounded and killed. There's no marvel way here, just honest storytelling.