Representations of the Vietnam War in the comic book The Other Side Cover Image

Obraz wojny w Wietnamie w komiksie The Other Side
Representations of the Vietnam War in the comic book The Other Side

Author(s): Patryk Masny
Subject(s): History, Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Visual Arts
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego
Keywords: Jason Aaron; Cameron Stewart; The Other Side; comic book; war comic; Vietnam war; Gustav Hasford

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of this article is to present the portrait of the Vietnam War (1965–1975) in the comic book The Other Side by Jason Aaron and Cameron Stewart, from the point of view of the historian researching this conflict. I analyze this comic in two dimensions: juxtaposing its narrative with historical reality and with other narratives about the Vietnam War present in American culture. I examine if The Other Side repeats some of the “Vietnam war myths” as well, especially because of the claims of its authors. I take a closer look to discern what interpretation of the history of the Vietnam War was made in the comic. I also present how the authors used events, characters and historical terms to give their work an anti-war overtone. The influence of fiction, memoirs and works of writers such as Ambrose Bierce, Gustav Hasford as well as the reporter group called Snuffies on the final shape of the comic is also discussed.

  • Issue Year: 149/2022
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 741-765
  • Page Count: 25
  • Language: Polish