In Country

"The Long Sticks," the first Punisher Invades The 'Nam story, concludes with The 'Nam #53 in a story written by Roger Salick with art by Mike Harris and Jimmy Palmiotti. Additionally, I take a look at Tim O'Brien's 1994 novel In The Lake of the Woods.

The 'Nam heads in a brand new direction for two issues as we take a look at the Vietnam War experience of Frank Castle, who is also known as The Punisher. That's right, it's THE PUNISHER INVADES THE 'NAM! This one is brought to us by Roger Salick, Mike Harris, and Jimmy Palmiotti and is the first of a two-part story where Frank combats a fellow sniper. Don't miss "The Long Sticks" from The 'Nam #52. Plus, stick around for bonus coverage from the 2015 Baltimore Comic-Con where Jimmy Palmiotti himself tells me a little bit about his work on the book!

Our three-part chopper pilot and donut dolly romance story comes to an end as does Doug Murray's run as the writer of The 'Nam with issue #51, "Stone Age," which has art by Herb Trimpel. Plus, in a Halloween-themed extra feature, I take a look at "A Spectre Stalks Saigon" from an issue of DC Comics' Ghosts from the 1970s, which includes some historical context of its own.

The 'Nam reaches a milestone with issue #50 and I continue my look at series creator Doug Murray's final story arc with this second part of a three-part story about a donut dolly and a chopper pilot. It's "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" by Doug Murray and Herb Trimpe. Plus, in the second half of the episode, I take a look at the first episode of the 1988 coming-of-age sitcom, The Wonder Years.

Doug Murray returns to give us the first of a three-part story arc about a helicopter pilot in what will be his final storyline on the book. It's The 'Nam #49, "What They're Fighting For," brought to you by Doug Murray and Herb Trimpe. Plus, in the "added feature" portion of the episode, I take a look at the second (and last) "5th to the 1st" piece by Dough Murray and Michael Golden from Savage Tales #4, "The Sniper. Plus ... listener email!

Chuck Dixon returns for another issue and Wayne Vansant and Tony DeZuniga hande the art on "The C-Note" from The 'Nam #48. Also in this episode is the added bonus of another story--in fact, it's the very first Doug Murray and Michael Golden story from Savage Tales #1, "The 5th to the 1st." Plus ... listener feedback!

Jacqueline Zambrano writes a fill-in issue that addresses the racial tension between two of the guys of the 23rd in a story titled "Brothers-in-Arms," which features art by Wayne Vansant and Tony DeZuniga. It's all in The 'Nam #47! Also, starting this episode, I cover another piece of Vietnam-related pop culture. For my first extra feature, I take a look at G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #26 and 27: "Snake Eyes: The Origin," which was written by Larry Hama with art by Hama, Steve Leialoh, Frank Springer, and Andy Mushynsky. Plus ... listener feedback!

Chuck Dixon returns to fill in and give us a look at a group of Marines in late April 1970 with issue #46 of The 'Nam. It's a story that actually seeds something for later on down the line, although we'll have a couple of other storylines before we get there. So check out "On the Clock" by Chuck Dixon, Wayne Vansant, and Tony DeZuniga. Plus, I'll have historical context, which includes a musical selection by Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young; as well as listener feedback, which includes some Iron Maiden!

We are back to our usual business this time around and back to Vietnam with a little detour into the Korean War along the way as Martini and Daniels find a soldier's diary and we see his life in the army as told over the course of nearly 20 years. It's The 'Nam #45, "Looking Out for Number One" by Doug Murray, Wayne Vansant and Tony DeZuniga. As always, in addition to the summary and review of the issue I'll be taking a look at the historical context, letters and ads. Plus, I have a special announcement concerning the show's format as well as listener feedback!

Just after my extra-sized episode 50 comes another special episode. This time, I am talking about The 'Nam but instead of covering a specific issue, I have a special guest, 'Nam creator and writer Doug Murray! He and I sat down to talk about his experience in the war, his comics career, his time on the book, and the work he is currently doing as a novelist.

It's an extra-sized 50th episode of In Country. We've hit the halfway point in our journey through The 'Nam as well as our look at the Vietnam War as a whole, so it's time to look at a novel and movie that share a name with this podcast: In Country. In this episode, I take a look at the novel In Country, which was written by Bobbie Ann Mason and was published in 1984. It's the story of Sam Hughes, a teenage girl in Kentucky whose father died in the war and her efforts to discover more about who seh is so that she can better understand him as well as her uncle Emmett, who continues to cope with his Vietnam experience. The film version, from 1989, was directed by Norman Jewison and stars Bruce Willis and Emily Lloyd. A quick note: This episode contains explicit language

Doug Murray is back after a brief fill-in by Chuck Dixon for The 'Nam #44, a story entitled "Football Hero" that is a meditation on the fear that can paralyze a man, especially in the 'Nam. As always, in addition to the summary and review of the issue I'll be taking a look at the historical context, letters and ads.

Chuck Dixon fills in for regular writer Doug Murray with a tale that takes us forward in time to April 1970. "The Weight" is a collection of three separate war stories told by GIs in a bar in Saigon with art by Wayne Vansant and Geof Isherwood and a cover you heard Mr. Vansant talk about when I interviewed him in episode 14. As always, in addition to the summary and review of the issue I'll be taking a look at the historical context, letters and ads.

We are back in The 'Nam with this episode as I take a look at The 'Nam #42, which is called "Inquiry" and was written by Doug Murray with art by Wayne Vansant and Stan Drake. As always, in addition to the summary and review of the issue I'll be taking a look at the historical context, letters and ads. And this episode has some special historical context to it, as issue #42 takes place in July 1969 so I spend some time on the Apollo 11 moon landing.

It's time for another break from our regular coverage of The 'Nam to talk about a classic Vietnam War movie. This time around, I take a look at Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket, the 1987 film starring Matthew Modine, R. Lee Ermey, Adam Baldwin, and Vincent D'Onofrio. It's a film known for its look at basic training as well as how war can harden a soldier. I give some backstory on the film, a summary, and review. WARNING: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS GRAPHIC LANGUAGE. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

THOR! IRON MAN! CAPTAIN AMERICA! In The 'Nam?!?! That's right, True Believers, it's an action-packed issue of our favorite book featuring the mightiest heroes of the Marvel Universe! Join me as I take a look at The 'Nam #41, brought to you by Doug Murray, Wayne Vansant, and Geof Isherwood! As always, in addition to the summary and review of the issue I'll be taking a look at the historical context, letters and ads.

Up the river without a battle? NOT IN THE 'NAM! It's time for The 'Nam #40, a story that features the crew of a PT boat headed down river where they get into some real deep trouble. It's brought to us by writer Doug Murray and guest artist Pepe Moreno. As always, in addition to the summary and review of the issue I'll be taking a look at the historical context, letters and ads.

Freedom ... OR DEATH! The struggle between a Vietnamese father and son over their ideals and feelings toward the American troops in their country is shown in The 'Nam #43, which is brought to us by Doug Murray, Wayne Vansant and Geof Isherwood. As always, in addition to the summary and review of the issue I'll be taking a look at the letters, ‘Nam Notes, and ads.

"If the sniper doesn't get him ... the land mine will!" Tensions come to a head among the boys of the 23rd and there's some tense action in The 'Nam #42, which is brought to us by Doug Murray, Wayne Vansant and Geof Isherwood. As always, in addition to the summary and review of the issue I'll be taking a look at the letters, ‘Nam Notes, and ads.

The 23rd gets ambushed in the main plot and subplots come to a head in "Colorblind," which is the title of The 'Nam #37, a comic brought to you by Doug Murray, Wayne Vansant, and Geof Isherwood. As always, in addition to the summary and review of the issue I'll be taking a look at the letters, ‘Nam Notes, and ads.