Onward towards our noble deaths

This first English translation of legendary Japanese cartoonist Mizuki's 1973 antiwar screed is a lightly fictionalized account ( 90 percent fact. he claims in an afterword) of his time in the Imperial Army during WWII. Though some 30 soldiers are introduced in the opening character guide, no more than a few ever really differentiate themselves, a fitting reminder of the low premium that war puts on individual life. What comes through clearly is the litany of indignities the soldiers endure on a daily basis from slap-happy officers, perilously unforgiving conditions, and sudden outbursts of death on the receiving end of the enemy's bombs and bullets. Most gut-twisting is the grunt's-eye view of the lunacy of gyokusai ( nobl. suicide attacks), which several men somehow survive only to face theirarmy's brutal intolerance for their loss of honor. Mizuki's realistic settings, rife with fiery explosions and jungle squalor, are sharply contrasted by the cartoony figures. A war story without an ounce of glory but with pathos in bulk.--Chipman, Ia. Copyright 2010 Booklist

The first English translation of the work of 90-year-old Mizuki, a celebrated gekiga and manga artist in Japan for more than 40 years, is based on Mizuki's own experiences in the Imperial Army in WWII. The story follows the fate of doomed troops fighting in New Guinea as they face hunger, malaria, and the brutality of their own officers, who administer nightly beatings. Mizuki illustrates the soldiers in a "cartoony" style, but uses a detailed, realistic style for his backgrounds and landscape panels, capturing the beauty and desolation of the remote locate. The dual styles underline the complexity of the story, which alternates between broad comedy mocking the absurdity of the army's hierarchy and growing horror at the abuse of the infantrymen and the officers' commitment to the idea that one must die for one's country. First published in Japan in 1973, Mizuki's graphic novel remains a powerful condemnation of war, worthy to stand beside the greatest antiwar comics. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

During World War II, a battalion of Japanese soldiers, undernourished and chronically ill, has been commanded to defend its location on the island New Britain. Then comes an order comes: gyokusai-a suicide charge. Best described as a fictionalized memoir from his time in the Imperial Army, this work by Mizuki depicts real, flawed characters in a story that is 90 percent true. Mizuki's work has been famous in Japan for decades, and this translation will gain attention in the English-language reading market. With an endorsement by noted Japanese translator Frederik L. Schodt (Manga! Manga! The World of Japanese Comics), this graphic novel also contains helpful historical background. The black-and-white illustrations create a stirring duality: cartoon-drawn characters set against a realistic and highly detailed background. In addition, Mizuki builds suspense as the enemy is always advancing but never quite clearly depicted. Verdict For anyone who enjoys reading about history, war, or Japan, this graphic novel will introduce a new, though considerably well-established, voice to the English canon. Recommended for older high school students and adults, as this includes violent elements commonly found in war narratives.-Joanna Schmidt, George Fox Univ., Newberg, OR (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.