lurkerwithout | Sunday Trade: The 'Nam

The 'Nam written by Doug Murray, Pencils & colors by Michael Golden, Inks by Armando Gil, Letters by Phil Felix

Published in the mid-80s The 'Nam was built around an unused cover for G.I. Joe. Then Marvel Editor in Chief handed it to editor Larry Hama and told him to create a book around it. Hama agreed but only if he could get it done right. And so in the midst of all its super-hero books Marvel put out one of the more realistic war comics. And one based on the Vietnam conflict at that. Hama tapped two tour Vietnam vet and freelance writer Murray to handle the writing chores. And Golden, who draws people with a slightly cartoonish exaggeration but excels at realistic weapon details, as artist...

The book ended up doing surprisingly well, getting mainstream critical support, winning awards and drawing praise from veteran's groups. And despite being a Comics Code approved book, it stays remarkably true to its source material...

Hama and the creative team expected that The 'Nam would be lucky to last a dozen issues, but it ran for over eighty. It survived changes in writer and artist and even attempts to tie it into regular Marvel continuity (the last several issues had guest appearances by the Punisher). This trade collects the first four issues, introducing PFC Marks, the 23rd Mechanized infantry and Sgt. Polkow's squad...