Trenches

by Scott Mills

.html by Scott Mills
Scott Mills is back! And this time he hits the trenches... Lloyd and David Allenby are two brothers with little in common, except the will to survive World War I. When they arrive in the trenches of the Western Front, they have no idea of the misery and violence that awaits them. Can an aloof Major be the father-figure and guiding force in their desperate battle for survival? Or will the estranged brothers be swallowed up before they can come to terms with each other? Trenches ... a beautiful story in an ugly war. Perfect Bound. SC, 8x7, 176pg, b&w

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, War, Historical Fiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2002

Reviews

[Jan Philipzig · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mills’ loose, cartoony drawing style may at first glance seem inappropriate for the brutal realities of World War I, but I found it quite refreshing in the context. While it never trivializes the experience of war, it removes some of the dust the topic has gathered over the years. Scott McCloud argues in Understanding Comics that the cartoony style has the unique ability to penetrate the surface of a topic and explore "the world within,” and the cartoony style of Trenches accordingly traces actual human concerns and emotions underneath all those cold and yellowed World War I statistics. Now, if only those human concerns and emotions were a bit more... I don't know, complex? unexpected? captivating?

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am reading this with other WWI comics work, including Terrorist (about the assassination that in part triggered the war), multiple books by Jaques Tardi, and The Great War by Joe Sacco. The latter and Trenches take a look at the Battle of the Somme, but this is a complete contrast in styles and approaches. Sacco's is silent, incredibly detailed, meticulously true to the time, and Trenches is sketchy, cartoony. The former feels like realistic comics history; the latter feels rushed and way too spare artistically and narratively, and yet the story of the two brothers who go to war together achieves a little intimacy because of the informality of the approach. It feels personal. But is nevertheless too cartoony and sketchy to really feel like it is even in the same ball park as Sacco and Tardi, two of the comics greats of all time. But I want to support these smaller projects, too!

[Jose D · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book trenches is like a comic book and has some bad words and i rated it a 4 star because it has a lot of action and they went to war and stuff like that i think that people that like action will really like this book.

[Tim Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Considering how many comics there are set in World War 2, there are startlingly few set in the Great War (World War 1). This is one of very few. I was really hoping for something... more?

[Matt Graupman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lloyd and David are brothers, literally and figuratively. As biological siblings, they couldn’t be more different; Lloyd is meek and sensitive while David is macho and abrasive (and if that wasn’t clear enough, he’s also in a polyamorous relationship with two women). As soldiers in World War I, they have much more in common: brothers-in-arms in the no-man’s-land muck of France. It’s against this chaotic backdrop that cartoonist Scott Mills explores the unique relationship between the two men, how stress clarifies personality, and the meaning of family. It’s an ambitious, poetic, and dirty little graphic novel.

“Trenches” hinges on whether or not you think Mills’ cartoony style is appropriate for a war comic. I think it is. Though very simple, his character designs are easily distinguishable and his minimal settings, reminiscent of Simon Moreton’s work, leave things to the reader’s imagination, not a bad thing in such a bloody locale. The only time things get a little too abstract is in the battle scenes, when it can be hard to figure out exactly what’s going on; it’s sort of like when action movies film fights scenes too quickly and tightly, making it hard to follow the action. On the other hand, though, the jumble of lines and dialogue does a nice job of simulating the madness of warfare. Mills has a great ability to capture the vulnerable masculinity of scared men and I found the ending to be actually quite emotional.

Slim in pages but big in heart, Scott Mills’ “Trenches” surprised me. Though it may look somewhat like the Beetle Bailey newspaper comics, it’s a mature book about war and its ability to forge the bonds of brotherhood. While not perfect, it’s riveting, sad, and thought-provoking.

[Alejandro Fernandez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trenches by Scott Mills Historical fiction. The book was about this man going into war but he was going to get married but he went to war and almost died.I did not like the book because I didn't know what was happening I just kept reading. I wouldn't recommend this book to no one because it is boring and you don't know what happens in the book. If you like boring books then read it but if you don't, don't read it.

[Tj T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have recently finished the book "Trenches" by Scott Mills. The book was about the world war 1 and how to survive in these ugly days. A lot happens like when one of the Soldiers get their leg bitten off. In this book you never knew was gonna happen next and that why I love it so much. I think you are missing out if you don't read it because even if you don't like violence it is worth the time to read this amazing book.

[Madison Akins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not good! I was really disappointed!

[Tyler Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not that I didn't like this book, just that there's honestly not a ton to recommend. The story of two mismatched brothers and their commanding officer in the trenches during WWI is interesting, but not exceptional. Meanwhile, the loose, airy and sometimes rushed looking art by Mills honestly didn't do a whole lot for me. I know that he is going for a simple look, but in too many places it just seemed hurried and not really well considered, with characters often being indistinguishable and some scenes being a little too confusing to follow easily. While that confusion works for some of the wartime scenes, it plays against the story in other places.

Honestly, I wanted to like this more, since I love supporting comics like this. But, in the end it wasn't quite my cuppa tea.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up in a sale. It was only 10% of the original price so I didn't feel like this book owed me anything. I've seen a lot of criticism of this book but I enjoyed the way it was done. It is a personal story rather than being of some major known event but I like the focus on the mundane of life in the trenches and brotherly relations. I think the sketching style is great for the confusion of war.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minimal text, one color, loose-lined drawing. The story is very well done and the minimalist style helps focus the story from the larger, overwhelming idea of the war to the experiences of these three men.

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good job portryaing the confusion of war and the different types of soldiers that fight them. I liked this book, it was quick and well told. That said, it felt like it was missing something and often it was confusing who was talking and felt very rough.

[Joey · Rating 3 out of 5]

strange and frenetic. the art and story gave me a sense of feeling dizzy and disoriented. great tactic when describing world war I in graphic novel form.

[Geoff Sebesta · Rating 1 out of 5]

Chibi World War I? What is the point of this?