cover image Alan’s War: The Memories of G.I. Alan Cope

Alan’s War: The Memories of G.I. Alan Cope

Emmanuel Guibert, . . Roaring Brook/First Second, $24 (304pp) ISBN 978-1-5964-3096-9

Guibert writes and draws for American G.I. Alan Cope in this poignant and frank graphic memoir of young soldier who was told to serve his country in WWII and how it changed him forever. When he first enters Fort Knox at 18, he is young and impressionable, more of a dreamer than “the military type.” Slowly, Cope grows through his experiences in the war. He forges candid friendships with his fellow soldiers and remains ever insightful in his recollections of the war and his life afterward. Together, Cope and Guibert forge a story that resonates with humanity. Guibert’s illustrations capture the time period vividly. While the subject matter is familiar from many wartime memoirs, Guibert’s fluid, simple but assured linework captures the personalities of Cope and his friends, elevating the material to a far more affecting level. (Oct.)