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The Other Side
Two young men who have never met fight on opposite sides of the war, and neither can face the reality of his situation until it is too late.
144 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2007
8 people are currently reading
789 people want to read
About the author
Jason Aaron
2,359 books1,678 followersJason Aaron grew up in a small town in Alabama. His cousin, Gustav Hasford, who wrote the semi-autobiographical novel The Short-Timers, on which the feature film Full Metal Jacket was based, was a large influence on Aaron. Aaron decided he wanted to write comics as a child, and though his father was skeptical when Aaron informed him of this aspiration, his mother took Aaron to drug stores, where he would purchase books from spinner racks, some of which he still owns today.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
March 18, 2021
(B+) 78% | Good
Notes: More illustrative than narrative, it lacks originality, but crescendos a riff of horror and grief to poignant dénouement.
Notes: More illustrative than narrative, it lacks originality, but crescendos a riff of horror and grief to poignant dénouement.
January 17, 2020
My project to explore the world of graphic novels continues into 2020 with The Other Side - a work published in 2006 by Jason Aaron and illustrated by Cameron Stewart.
This comic book tells a story of the Vietnam war.
In it we follow the fortunes of two young recruits.
Bill Everette, a small town boy, is called up to serve but is deeply unenthusiastic about joining the American army. Vo Binh Dai however, is keen to join the ideological struggle of the People’s Army of Vietnam and to avenge the slaughter and destruction he sees around him.
Both are naive and subject to propaganda and the casual racism of those around them.
We track the two conscripts through similarly inhuman training regimes and then on into the horrific war where their paths will inevitably cross.
The artwork does well to capture the horror and absurdity of the war ........ at times dreamlike and beautiful, at others brutal.
No punches are spared and the text and pictures are unflinching.
The book was created in memory of Jason Aaron’s cousin, Gustav Hasford - a combat correspondent and acclaimed writer who experienced the conflict first hand and later wrote the screenplay for Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket.
A hard hitting and worthwhile tribute - much recommended.
This comic book tells a story of the Vietnam war.
In it we follow the fortunes of two young recruits.
Bill Everette, a small town boy, is called up to serve but is deeply unenthusiastic about joining the American army. Vo Binh Dai however, is keen to join the ideological struggle of the People’s Army of Vietnam and to avenge the slaughter and destruction he sees around him.
Both are naive and subject to propaganda and the casual racism of those around them.
We track the two conscripts through similarly inhuman training regimes and then on into the horrific war where their paths will inevitably cross.
The artwork does well to capture the horror and absurdity of the war ........ at times dreamlike and beautiful, at others brutal.
No punches are spared and the text and pictures are unflinching.
The book was created in memory of Jason Aaron’s cousin, Gustav Hasford - a combat correspondent and acclaimed writer who experienced the conflict first hand and later wrote the screenplay for Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket.
A hard hitting and worthwhile tribute - much recommended.
October 1, 2017
Sometimes a literary work's power can supersede its subject. Surreal horror meets the Vietnam War. The double perspective, from the American and Vietnam sides, is incredible and unique. The artwork though? Beautiful and horrifying.
September 2, 2011
Jason Aaron takes us back to the Vietnam war where a young man from Alabama is drafted to fight for the US Army and another young man from North Vietnam is drafted to fight for the Vietnamese Army. The book follows the stories of these two young men as they train for war and make their way to the battlefields where their paths are destined to cross. Welcome to the Other Side.
Aaron is probably one of the best new comics writers to emerge in the last few years and having read his work on big Marvel properties like Wolverine and Punisher, I can say that I was already deeply impressed with the man’s abilities in writing amazing comics. “The Other Side” shows Aaron giving range to his storytelling abilities, leaving the superhero world behind to tell the story of real life heroes with no superpowers but with no less heroism or anguish or humanity to them than any other.
Needless to say the story is harrowing. Aaron spares no gruesome details to this bloody chapter of American and Vietnamese history. The genocide being enacted by the Vietnamese army against its own people, the atrocities being committed by the Americans with weapons like Agent Orange, the mutilated piles of dead bodies being flung into mass graves, the mutations following the introduction of such devastating chemicals to humans and indigenous animals – the reader is exposed to it all.
Aaron also takes you into the minds of these two young men as they take in this hellish nightmare and how their young minds are slowly warped to the point where the American man is hallucinating dead bodies following him everywhere and his gun talking to him, to the Vietnamese man who imagines gods and monsters talking to him and taking him on a Dante-esque journey through hell.
Cameron Stewart does an amazing job with the art. I loved his work on Grant Morrison’s Batman Vs Robin and am so glad that that job was given to him for his work on this book. The pages of military characters trudging through forests are juxtaposed with flights of fantasy as Stewart takes the character’s madness and lets loose beautiful drawings of dragons in the sky, an army of zombies crawling across a burning field, and subtle changes to the heroes’ faces as the days make their mark on their souls. Truly amazing work.
There were a couple of moments in the book where I felt Aaron and Stewart had taken liberally from that famous Vietnam masterwork “Full Metal Jacket” (particularly the drill instructor) until I read the afterword where Aaron mentions that “Full Metal Jacket” was written by his cousin who also wrote the book the film was based upon “The Short-timers” and that “The Other Side” was written in tribute to his cousin’s great work.
This is an unforgettable and compelling piece of comic book art, the kind of book that deserves a far wider audience than just those who read comics. It’s well written, well illustrated, and a fantastic read. The ending in particular will break your heart. A powerful book, highly recommended.
Aaron is probably one of the best new comics writers to emerge in the last few years and having read his work on big Marvel properties like Wolverine and Punisher, I can say that I was already deeply impressed with the man’s abilities in writing amazing comics. “The Other Side” shows Aaron giving range to his storytelling abilities, leaving the superhero world behind to tell the story of real life heroes with no superpowers but with no less heroism or anguish or humanity to them than any other.
Needless to say the story is harrowing. Aaron spares no gruesome details to this bloody chapter of American and Vietnamese history. The genocide being enacted by the Vietnamese army against its own people, the atrocities being committed by the Americans with weapons like Agent Orange, the mutilated piles of dead bodies being flung into mass graves, the mutations following the introduction of such devastating chemicals to humans and indigenous animals – the reader is exposed to it all.
Aaron also takes you into the minds of these two young men as they take in this hellish nightmare and how their young minds are slowly warped to the point where the American man is hallucinating dead bodies following him everywhere and his gun talking to him, to the Vietnamese man who imagines gods and monsters talking to him and taking him on a Dante-esque journey through hell.
Cameron Stewart does an amazing job with the art. I loved his work on Grant Morrison’s Batman Vs Robin and am so glad that that job was given to him for his work on this book. The pages of military characters trudging through forests are juxtaposed with flights of fantasy as Stewart takes the character’s madness and lets loose beautiful drawings of dragons in the sky, an army of zombies crawling across a burning field, and subtle changes to the heroes’ faces as the days make their mark on their souls. Truly amazing work.
There were a couple of moments in the book where I felt Aaron and Stewart had taken liberally from that famous Vietnam masterwork “Full Metal Jacket” (particularly the drill instructor) until I read the afterword where Aaron mentions that “Full Metal Jacket” was written by his cousin who also wrote the book the film was based upon “The Short-timers” and that “The Other Side” was written in tribute to his cousin’s great work.
This is an unforgettable and compelling piece of comic book art, the kind of book that deserves a far wider audience than just those who read comics. It’s well written, well illustrated, and a fantastic read. The ending in particular will break your heart. A powerful book, highly recommended.
March 8, 2019
Written as a homage to Aaron's cousin, Gustav Hasford, who wrote the book Full Metal Jacket is based on, The Short-Timers. The story does draw elements from that story, especially the character of Pyle from the movie. The story is told from both sides. One, a young Alabama man drafted into a war he wants no part of. He's a major screw-up who is haunted by the ghosts of dead soldiers while his gun tells him to kill himself. On the other side, a North Vietnamese boy who strongly believes in fighting for his country. He's sometimes plagued by visions of dragons and dreams of zombies. As you can tell, the book is heavily influenced by visions and hallucinations interspersed with the horrors of war. Aaron and Stewart pull no punches. Seen throughout the book are limbs blown off and mounds of dead bodies. This is a harrowing read, sometimes tough to get through, but worth it as a way of not forgetting how war truly affects us.
June 11, 2023
Two sides of war, one from a perspective of a fresh recruit from Alabama and another from a perspective of a farmer's son who joined NVA. One doesn't want to be there in the jungle, surrounded by ghosts. Other wants to liberate his country and people.
Good writing, lot of gruesome and shocking details, but I couldn't connect to the art and occasional comic drawing that suits more in a humoristic comic book than here. Different artist would lift this story couple of notches.
As for the story, nothing new, but well written.
Good writing, lot of gruesome and shocking details, but I couldn't connect to the art and occasional comic drawing that suits more in a humoristic comic book than here. Different artist would lift this story couple of notches.
As for the story, nothing new, but well written.
August 5, 2014
3.5 Stars, I wanted to be blown away by this...I wasn't, but I was impressed with Aaron's early non-supes work. Knowing his cousin wrote the book that inspired Full Metal Jacket helped, so you know this was a personal connection for him. I like that the title applies to so many facets of the story: the other side of: Vietnam (the march South for one); the enemy is the other side; living and the other side is the dead; sane, and insane on the other side; new guys, and seasoned killers on the other side. You get the drift...
If nothing else this book made me sad, for all the wasted potential of the lives thrown away for nothing; sad for those who got drafted only to be called baby-killers when they got home, and spat on. Unfortunately, 40+ yrs later, we've experienced other similar wars, and we have some of the same issues...lord I hope the soldiers don't have it THAT bad still...
The art is strong, compliments the tones of the book properly.
I also found the intro to be good, about wanting this remembered, who gives a shit that it's a comic, at least someone is writing and others will read about it.
Some good very solid early career Aaron; worth a read for all his fans. (though not much humour in this one...if any)
If nothing else this book made me sad, for all the wasted potential of the lives thrown away for nothing; sad for those who got drafted only to be called baby-killers when they got home, and spat on. Unfortunately, 40+ yrs later, we've experienced other similar wars, and we have some of the same issues...lord I hope the soldiers don't have it THAT bad still...
The art is strong, compliments the tones of the book properly.
I also found the intro to be good, about wanting this remembered, who gives a shit that it's a comic, at least someone is writing and others will read about it.
Some good very solid early career Aaron; worth a read for all his fans. (though not much humour in this one...if any)
August 27, 2011
Fascinating insights into two very different training & motivational approaches to mustering an army, and how it affects not only the individual actions of soldiers but also the outcome of the whole war.
Then the real slog hits - holy god is this hard to get through, unrelenting, painful, numbing stuff. I had to put it down about 2/3 the way through, take a break, read some funny stuff on the Internet, grab a snack. It was *that* hard for me to experience just how unrelentingly depressing, inhumane and soul-crushing the actual *experience* of fighting this war was for the boys on the ground.
Which makes this an all-star, kudos-earning, compelling storytelling effort on the part of the creators. When I'm that repulsed by the work, that means they did an incredible job reaching out from the pages and hitting me square in the emotive muscle.
Then the real slog hits - holy god is this hard to get through, unrelenting, painful, numbing stuff. I had to put it down about 2/3 the way through, take a break, read some funny stuff on the Internet, grab a snack. It was *that* hard for me to experience just how unrelentingly depressing, inhumane and soul-crushing the actual *experience* of fighting this war was for the boys on the ground.
Which makes this an all-star, kudos-earning, compelling storytelling effort on the part of the creators. When I'm that repulsed by the work, that means they did an incredible job reaching out from the pages and hitting me square in the emotive muscle.
December 30, 2017
This is a gut-wrenching look at the war in Vietnam as seen by the soldiers on both sides. It is a painful read that also does a beautiful job of portraying the psychological damage war does to those forced to endure it. It is not for the squeamish but I highly recommend it.
Note: This graphic novel is dedicated to pays homage to the author's cousin, Gustav Hasford, veteran and author of The Short-Timers, the novel that was made into the movie Full Metal Jacket.
Note: This graphic novel is dedicated to pays homage to the author's cousin, Gustav Hasford, veteran and author of The Short-Timers, the novel that was made into the movie Full Metal Jacket.
December 25, 2017
CHRISTMAS DAY READ FOR 2017 (which isn't actually a goodreads tradition I have but let's pretend it is).
This was fantastic. Over the year I've become a big Jason Aaron fan but there's still so much of his great work I've yet to read. This was one of those books. It's a brilliant war comic about the Vietnam war, expertly drawn by Cameron Stewart.
I've not read many war comics so I didn't know what to expect when coming into this but it did not disappoint. I also like the decision to tell the story from both the American and Vietcong sides.
This was fantastic. Over the year I've become a big Jason Aaron fan but there's still so much of his great work I've yet to read. This was one of those books. It's a brilliant war comic about the Vietnam war, expertly drawn by Cameron Stewart.
I've not read many war comics so I didn't know what to expect when coming into this but it did not disappoint. I also like the decision to tell the story from both the American and Vietcong sides.
March 15, 2011
An interesting graphic novel contrasting two recruits and their experiences during the Vietnam War...on opposite sides of the conflict.
June 5, 2012
A powerful graphic novel contrasting the lives of two soldiers; one American, and one Vietnamese, during the Vietnam war. It pulls no punches, and is graphic in its violence and language; I'd say brutally frank. It's not a comfortable read, but it does feel like a valuable one.
March 25, 2019
Jason Aaron is the master of depicturing social injustice, horrors of life, war and the desperation of people living in places we wouldn't like to live. It could be trashy Native American reservation or tunnels under Vietnam jungle and trenches of Khe Sahn base. Aaron does his homework, reaches for inspiration, study the stories. And you can see that in The Other Side. Beautiful two main stories, each one with its own hero - US Marines grunt and NVA conscript, both 19 years old boys from the lower class of their countries. We can see their struggles, their mindset side to side until they eventually came together to the great finale. I really like the topic of the Vietnam conflict, and this fits all I know very well. From both the historical point and the atmosphere of that time and place. Bot characters are different but similar - Binh Dai motivated by duty to his country, to the land of his ancestors and safety of his family going for months based just by direction and few guides here and there to join the fighting. He writes his diary and put his imagination in some mythic story. On the other side, you got young Everett nicknamed "Alabama". Drafted to US Marines Corps, motivated by nothing and haunted by the visions of the dead, avoiding conflict and being reckless and scared. I felt sorry for the Binh Dai, fighting his just cause, and I felt desperation for Everett and his will to live and go home, especially in trenches sieged Khe Sahn which are very similar to the Word War ones. The story is great, I must give that to Aaron. His writing is just by my taste. The end is a bit sudden, not very satisfying, but in this case, it somehow fits the Vietnam conflict theme. The art is amazing. Work with panels is great, panels both work well with each other and inside itself (for example working with background and foreground) and this is just a beautiful piece of a comics book. I can't give a full star rating, and I would love to give 4 and a half stars here because even The Other Side is awesome, the five-star feeling is not there yet. I hate 5-star rating just for this reason.
August 10, 2018
The artwork is great and the focus on the psychological aspect of battle training and the conditions of war are an eye-opener to the realities of an armed conflict that were censored in the propaganda. One of things I noticed for the first few pages is that Billy Everette, the US soldier, has panels where blue in the predominant color and Vo Binh Dai, the Vietnamese soldier, has red. The rest of the comic doesn't use this distinction, but the differences between the two soldiers are just as obvious. The story proceeds to jump between the two, showing their almost forced recruitment and grueling training where patriotism is shoved down their necks and hatred for the enemy is seeded in their hearts. Then the war itself which takes a dramatic toll on both of them.
Billy is seeing dead people during training. His rifle is speaking to him, demanding that he shoot himself. Vo Dai isn't fairing much better with his nightmares where he sees his family slaughtered and accusing him of being at fault for their deaths. They both finish training and, while both of them are afraid of death, Billy prays to God to protect him, while Vo Dai hopes he won't die before making his sacrifice worth it.
Billy is seeing dead people during training. His rifle is speaking to him, demanding that he shoot himself. Vo Dai isn't fairing much better with his nightmares where he sees his family slaughtered and accusing him of being at fault for their deaths. They both finish training and, while both of them are afraid of death, Billy prays to God to protect him, while Vo Dai hopes he won't die before making his sacrifice worth it.
September 14, 2017
I can see by your coat, my friend
You're from the other side
There's just one thing I got to know
Can you tell me please, who won?
-CSNY, "Wooden Ships"
Once again, we have another prime example of what the graphic novel medium can do, and why this art form should never be pigeonholed as being all caped crusaders or cartoon hijinks. THE OTHER SIDE is one of those books you can offer a person who claims they dislike comics.
THE OTHER SIDE is a unique take on a Vietnam War story. The story of two soldiers, Bill Everette, American, and Vo Binh, Vietnamese, are followed opposite each other, until their final tragic encounter. It's not a gung-ho story attempting to glamorize war, nor does it demonize the young men drafted into its gears. Rather, THE OTHER SIDE captures the horror and senselessness of war--particularly the confusing nature of Vietnam--and its physical and psychological tolls. It's something much bigger than the lives of the individuals it steamrolls through.
Readers of this edition will also appreciate the preface with insights from the veteran on whose story this book is based, and the creator's photo travelogue of his own visit to modern-day Vietnam.
I won this very nice hardback book from the publisher through the Goodreads Giveaways program.
You're from the other side
There's just one thing I got to know
Can you tell me please, who won?
-CSNY, "Wooden Ships"
Once again, we have another prime example of what the graphic novel medium can do, and why this art form should never be pigeonholed as being all caped crusaders or cartoon hijinks. THE OTHER SIDE is one of those books you can offer a person who claims they dislike comics.
THE OTHER SIDE is a unique take on a Vietnam War story. The story of two soldiers, Bill Everette, American, and Vo Binh, Vietnamese, are followed opposite each other, until their final tragic encounter. It's not a gung-ho story attempting to glamorize war, nor does it demonize the young men drafted into its gears. Rather, THE OTHER SIDE captures the horror and senselessness of war--particularly the confusing nature of Vietnam--and its physical and psychological tolls. It's something much bigger than the lives of the individuals it steamrolls through.
Readers of this edition will also appreciate the preface with insights from the veteran on whose story this book is based, and the creator's photo travelogue of his own visit to modern-day Vietnam.
I won this very nice hardback book from the publisher through the Goodreads Giveaways program.
October 15, 2017
I read this in comic book format when it originally came out years ago, and I had a vague memory of being unimpressed. But in the years since, I have come to admire Jason Aaron as a writer so I thought I should use the reissue of the collection as an excuse to revisit a story I might not have fully appreciated on the first go-round.
Well, I wasn't wrong. This fever dream look at the Vietnam War is not something I'm ever going to be fond of reading. The fantasy elements don't really work for me, and the rest doesn't stand out from the many depictions of the Vietnam War I have previously seen and even seems pretty derivative of those same works.
Well, I wasn't wrong. This fever dream look at the Vietnam War is not something I'm ever going to be fond of reading. The fantasy elements don't really work for me, and the rest doesn't stand out from the many depictions of the Vietnam War I have previously seen and even seems pretty derivative of those same works.
April 22, 2018
I was quite impressed with how Mr. Aaron chose to write this book. His portrayal of both sides fighting reminded me of Shigeru Mizuki's Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths (in regards to growing up in middle-TN, we were "educated" to believe that the other side lacks humanity. As I read other accounts, I began to realize that I was misinformed). The way in which he told the story provided both characters with a sense of humanity, whereas the reader can see both main characters as protagonist and antagonist. The artwork was beautiful and horrific simultaneously.
October 7, 2024
I realize now that I know nothing about Vietnam. This was a great primer for me to learn more. Picked this up for Stewart's art, and it did not disappoint.
December 11, 2025
Full Metal Jacket tadında nefis bir Vietnam hikayesi.
December 15, 2009
I don't know, maybe this should be 5 stars. There was really nothing wrong with it,... though the build up seemed stronger than the so called resolution,... kinda like the war itself. Excellent writing and excellent art!
January 31, 2011
Brutal, original take on Vietnam somehow achieved when it seems like every Vietnam story had been told by 1985. Aaron blends grotesque visuals and intense psychological trauma to invoke a feeling of chaos and confusion in the reader, all the better for this setting.
August 27, 2012
There's a sameness to the (admittedly very few) Vietnam stories I've heard. Lots of ghosts and lingering dread. That seems about right.
November 8, 2017
I wanted to like this more than I actually did. Not much here that you haven't seen before though.
January 23, 2018
A powerful read. The real cost of war has seldom been captured so well in the graphic novel form. A must read.
March 9, 2019
Feels weird giving this low marks. War is hell, and that's important to never forget. The idea of showing soldiers on both sides of the conflict as protagonists is admirable, but neither had any agency whatsoever, which was also kind of the point, I guess, so the result was a lack of any sort of story. Also, the US soldier having constant hallucinations, even back in boot camp, before seeing the real horror, felt overdone. The 'Nam, Vol. 1 was much better.
November 29, 2024
4/5 = Quality, literary merit, whatever
1/5 = Personal enjoyment
“The Other Side” is a hard read. It shows the Vietnam conflict from the perspective of a young Marine from Alabama and a young man who joins the Vietcong. The American is haunted by ghosts of dead soldiers and the Vietnamese man is guided/confronted by spirits.
1/5 = Personal enjoyment
“The Other Side” is a hard read. It shows the Vietnam conflict from the perspective of a young Marine from Alabama and a young man who joins the Vietcong. The American is haunted by ghosts of dead soldiers and the Vietnamese man is guided/confronted by spirits.
October 15, 2017
Brilliant and hard hitting!
September 23, 2018
This was a pretty intriguing story. The hallucination elements where a little confusing tho
Read
January 7, 2018Gruesome and thought provoking, but not much more to it than you would expect—the horrors of war. It's nice to see it presented from both sides however.
November 19, 2017
In case you weren't already keenly aware, The Other Side serves as a good reminder that war is hell - for both sides of the conflict. The story follows two characters, an American GI and Vietcong guerilla, who eventually meet up in battle after separately grueling introductions to the reality of warfare. It's all quite sobering. Jason Aaron's writing is superb and touching. Cameron Stewart's art is detailed and emotional. The ghouls that haunt the GI's waking life are an evocative touch. I was disgusted, yet amused by the jawless spectre constantly poking his head up to moan "Uhh?"
But the narrative, after charging forward in the first two issues, grinds to a halt as we see our two characters constantly being beat to hell by Vietnam. I understand that this change in pace represents the juxtaposition of dullness and ferocity that is war, but I found myself skimming Aaron's numerous text boxes at times since it all started to feel the same. Nonetheless, even with small narrative issues, I came out of the story feeling pretty damn glad that I'm safe in my apartment - and pretty damn mad that we seemingly haven't learned many of the ground-level lessons of Vietnam.
But the narrative, after charging forward in the first two issues, grinds to a halt as we see our two characters constantly being beat to hell by Vietnam. I understand that this change in pace represents the juxtaposition of dullness and ferocity that is war, but I found myself skimming Aaron's numerous text boxes at times since it all started to feel the same. Nonetheless, even with small narrative issues, I came out of the story feeling pretty damn glad that I'm safe in my apartment - and pretty damn mad that we seemingly haven't learned many of the ground-level lessons of Vietnam.
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