Ennis War comics

Battlefields: Green Fields Beyond 1-3

Garth Ennis finishes up his Sergeant Stiles trilogy by taking him to the Korean War.  It’s as adequate as the first two parts.  The problem is that there’s no real arc to Stiles’ story.  He moves from engagement to engagement without really changing.  The execution or plot has to be really good for that to work, and that’s not the case here.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Battlefields: Motherland 1-3

Battlefields: Fall and Rise of Anna Kharkova 1-3

The Anna Kharkova trilogy, on the other hand, just got better and better as it went along.  Talk about watching a character change over the course of their life, with each issue having a profound impact.  

Her response when tasks w/ 6 new trainees...

...as she remembers her own first day.

It’s unfair how much Anna had to deal with.  The hits just kept coming for her.  Some of it was self-inflicted, but really - The unfairness of it all is what lingers in my mind.  I weep for her.  For everything she went through, for the happy ending she’ll never get.  She deserves so much more than the few moments of glory scattered throughout her life, including this final one that will only end poorly.  

At least she's content for the first time in a long time.

This ranks among Ennis’ best, and he’s got a lot of good stuff.  It’s been a hidden gem in my collection, and I need to remember it.  (It doesn’t get the Pure Joy rating only because of the sad ending (which is what makes it so good).  Yeah, it’s a tricky one.)

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Really good

War Stories 1-3

Ennis takes his talents from Dynamite Comics over to Avatar Press.  He starts things with a very generic story; Teenager from a small town in America heads to Europe to fly in WWII.  He falls in love with a young widowed mother.  He flies a few missions, gets wounded, and marries her.  There are absolutely no surprises.  The only thing that stands out is the surprising sweetness of the ending.  That got me.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice