The Other Side #1 of 5
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Cameron Stewart
Company: Vertigo
The Vietnam War was 40 years ago, the boom of movies, novels and comics exploring Vietnam was 20 years ago, but the war is still relevant, still a source of pain and angst and insight into politics and the human condition. The Other Side explores the War from two viewpoints, that of a newly drafted American soldier and a newly recruited soldier for Vietnam. In so doing, writer Jason Aaron explores the similarities of soldiering, the differences of philosophy between the two forces and the human reaction to being taken from your life and dropped into a messy state of war. There are elements of the book reminiscent of seminal Vietnam film Full Metal Jacket, especially the drill sergeant scenes, but the book has a fresh voice, tinged with horror elements, and carried off to visual perfection by Cameron Stewart and Dave McCaig.
Jason Aaron is a new voice in comics, a writer who broke in with a Wolverine back-up story and then turned in what many an artist and editor described as “one of the best scripts they’ve ever read.” It was good enough, in fact, to get Cameron Stewart, a pretty big name artist, to not only sign onto it as his new project but to fly out to Vietnam to do visual research for the book. After reading The Other Side #1, it’s pretty clear why folks would feel strongly about the book. Aaron takes familiar subject matter, a story and setting that has been covered pretty heavily, and makes it at once intense, dark, horrific and completely engaging for the reader.
The Other Side is very dark, but it’s also very approachable. No one would describe it as a breezy read, but it is very easy to get wrapped up in the story, and there are fun touches in an otherwise serious subject. On the one hand, the book opens with the brutal death of an American soldier, described in gruesome detail, and features a young man cracking up in training, to the point where he sees zombie-esque hallucinations and imagines his rifle talking to him with a foul-mouthed homicidal bent. On the other, the rifle’s dialogue is sort of darkly hilarious, the drill sergeant provides plenty of over-the-top comedic dialogue and there’s a very real, very relatable human story of two young men just hoping to get out of a combat zone with their physical bodies or their honor intact.
Aaron’s story explores the politics of the Vietnam War, but he does it by exploring it through the eyes of the characters. The contrast in recruitment and training between Alabaman Billy Everette and Nam Phong’s Vo Binh Dai not only develops the personal stories of these two men, it shows in microcosm the conflict between the two forces, both philosophically and in terms of their military approach. While Billy suffers physical and psychological humiliation to toughen him up for combat, Vo Binh Dai endures over-the-top propaganda about their superiority and infallibility. Billy is drawn in by duty to his government, and is reluctant at best. Vo Binh Dai steps up when recruiters come to his village and is motivated by atrocities committed against his people and a sense of personal honor.
While Aaron’s script is undoubtedly as good as promised, it would be a mistake not to give a huge share of credit for the book’s success to artist Cameron Stewart and colorist Dave McCaig. Stewart gives the book a look that reminds me a lot of EC’s horror comics. While there’s a definite realism at work, the book carries a tone of something otherworldly, conveying the descent of both the lead characters into a different world, one that seems by turns bizarre and terrifying. The bug eyed, constantly yelling drill sergeant, the bloody and mauled “ghosts” that haunt Everette’s waking life and the visions of horror tht take the terrors of war and amp them up a few degrees all combine to give The Other Side a tone that is more horror than war comic. Even seemingly mundane scenes, like Billy’s training or Vo’s boarding of a train bound for combat, carry with them a spooky aura.
The Other Side is an examination of the Vietnam War, and it is very specifically tied into that war, but it also has general appeal to it. Even this early on, it’s exploring the horrors of war, specifically the psychological toll taken on those left behind and those dragged away from their normal lives into a military role that will shape them permanently. It does this with a dark sense of humor as well as a horror edge that will probably appeal to those seeking out a spooky, affecting comic as much as those looking for a meditation on the nature of military service in general or the Vietnam War specifically.
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I think Cameron Stewart’s a “big name” artist to discriminating readers such as us, Randy, but I don’t think he’s broken through to a wider audience. And I think that’s Stewart’s choice. He’s opted for projects that are going to have smaller audiences, and that’s fine. But when you refer to “big name” artists these days, I think of David Finch or Jim Lee. We would agree Stewart’s better, of course.
Jason Aaron offers a script that seems like it came from a much more seasoned comics writer. He makes the most of the medium, and his narration constructs the story and characters meticulously.
09 Oct 2006 at 11:50 am
QuoteYour point is well-taken, but what I mean is that, at least as far as DC goes, I suspect that Cameron could have had his pick of projects. He picked Other Side, and I think that speaks well for Aaron’s script. I mean, you’re right, Cameron isn’t as big a “name” as Finch or Lee to the fans, but he’s worked with Grant Morrison, Ed Brubaker, Peter Milligan, he’s got serious heat on him as far as editorial is concerned.
09 Oct 2006 at 12:24 pm
QuoteThis comic was the big suprise for me this week. The american side of the story has a bit of a Full Metal Jacket vibe and the portrayal of the both sides definitely work. And it certainly doesn’t hurt to have Stewart pencilling your book
09 Oct 2006 at 1:19 pm
QuoteI love this book. Can’t really add much to what Lander said. Great stuff
09 Oct 2006 at 1:51 pm
QuoteI did *not* expect this to be as terrifying as it was. I knew there were creepy elements, but this one really gets under your skin.
09 Oct 2006 at 3:00 pm
QuoteI did not pick this up, but I will now. I am very fascinated by the Vietnam War. It was the first time a government used television as a propaganda tool during war. (Hitler and Walt Disney used the radio and newsreel footage).
America erred in Korea and then made a bigger mistake in Vietnam. Remember, the Korean War was never settled (no treaty) and we lost the Vietnam War. No doubt our soldiers have suffered, but the country of Vietnam lost over one million people during the conflict.
As an addendum, being an ex-service man, I found Full Metal Jacket to be the best movie to capture boot camp. I also found We Were Soldiers with Mel Gibson, to be the first movie to show the Vietnamese as people.
10 Oct 2006 at 10:13 am
QuoteAs an addendum, being an ex-service man, I found Full Metal Jacket to be the best movie to capture boot camp. I also found We Were Soldiers with Mel Gibson, to be the first movie to show the Vietnamese as people.
Out of curiosity, did you see Jarhead? I’ve never served, but that looked like a movie that really captured the modern military experience in the first Gulf War, warts and all.
10 Oct 2006 at 11:49 am
QuoteI’ve played a bit of Battlefield: Viet Nam on the pc and thought the real thing would be fun.
Then I read ‘the Other Side’.
10 Oct 2006 at 1:52 pm
QuoteNo, I did not see Jarhead (Jamie Foxx??). I think the vets of WWII and Korean War did not view the Vietnamese Conflict as a war. On that note, I don’t think the invasion of Iraq (1991 invasion) was a “war”. We were sold a bag of beans by our government on that one (4th largest army in the world?!?!).
It is good to see you writing again, I have been reading your reviews for years (yes you are that old).
10 Oct 2006 at 5:39 pm
QuoteNo, I did not see Jarhead (Jamie Foxx??).
He had a small role, played up in the trailers after he won the Oscar. The movie is mostly carried by Jake Gyllenhall and Peter Sjarsgaard. I’m sure I mis-spelled one or both of those names.
It is good to see you writing again, I have been reading your reviews for years (yes you are that old).
I know, I recognized your name and your handle from previous sites and emails. As for being old… sadly, that one’s no surprise either.
10 Oct 2006 at 6:17 pm
QuoteThis was an amazing comic; possibly the most unsettling book I’ve read since Black Hole.
11 Oct 2006 at 12:42 am
QuoteOk, I’ll buy.
13 Oct 2006 at 7:16 pm
QuoteI wouldn’t say this was enjoyable but it was a great read and Cameron Stewart’s art was fantastic. When I heard about the ghosts talking the American soldier it sounded a bit contrived but after reading the book it worked pretty well. Definately looking forward to the rest of the series…
18 Oct 2006 at 6:51 am
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