What do you think?
Rate this book
Rubicon
Five paramilitary Navy SEAL operators defend the residents of a remote mountain farming village in Afghanistan from attacks by marauding Taliban. Led by the war-weary Hector, the operators and villagers form mutual bonds of honor and respect leading up to a climactic battle where the "Lions of Panjshir" are desperately outnumbered. Based on a story concept by Christopher McQuarrie, screenwriter of The Usual Suspects and director of the recent feature film Jack Reacher, this modern re-imagining of Akira Kurosawa's classic Seven Samurai set within the lens of the current Afghan conflict is given dramatic authenticity by co-writers Mark Long (The Silence of Our Friends, Shrapnel) and Dan Capel (founding member of SEAL Team Six), and includes a forward by first command officer of SEAL Team Six, military consultant Richard Marcinko. This deluxe limited edition hardcover comes packed with a sealed envelope containing story-related artifacts and documents pulled from within the world of Rubicon, expanding on the events in an interactive, puzzle-like fashion.
136 pages, Hardcover
First published August 13, 2013
10 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 19, 2014
There's not much to love about this book. The art can sometimes be great, but more often than not it's muddy. My best guess is this is done intentionally to simulate the confusion of war, but I was frequently confused as to who was on which side. I knew whose side the Americans were on, but it was necessary for them to tell you who was killed because you had no attachment, didn't know the names, and had a hard time realizing who was killed from panel to panel.
I think the biggest crime of this whole book is that it's too short. Instead of feeling like an epic last stand, it comes across as a chore, something they're taking care of in a day or two.
I think the biggest crime of this whole book is that it's too short. Instead of feeling like an epic last stand, it comes across as a chore, something they're taking care of in a day or two.
August 25, 2013
If you are a person who can quickly understand the military jargon/tactical planning aspects of the story, I would highly recommend this graphic novel. Adaptations of all kinds should be encouraged, and this is one of the more innovative ideas I have seen in a while.
That being said, the execution failed for me. Seven Samurai is one of my favorite movies ever, and I also love adaptations of all kinds. Unfortunately the tactics discussed for the defense of the town was largely lost on me so I became confused about 1/3 through when the skirmishes began. Really wanted to like this, too...
ARC courtesy of Diamond Book Distributors, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
That being said, the execution failed for me. Seven Samurai is one of my favorite movies ever, and I also love adaptations of all kinds. Unfortunately the tactics discussed for the defense of the town was largely lost on me so I became confused about 1/3 through when the skirmishes began. Really wanted to like this, too...
ARC courtesy of Diamond Book Distributors, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 4, 2013
An awesome idea, which, seeing as it's inspired by Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai, makes sense. The artwork, while a bit muddy for my taste, fits the theme and the setting of the story. The story is a bit lacking for me, but that is what you get sometimes with some graphic novels it seems. All in all, I'd recommend this one to people who like graphic novels where the super heroes don't wear capes, or people who like military realistic storytelling.
January 5, 2014
Graphic novels seem to be the fallback strategies for failed movie pitches or movies with scripts drastically pruned due to time constraints. Rubicon has a couple of Hollywood big shots involved with its production on the graphic novel medium, but this still fails to really vitalize the book for me.
The idea is based on Kurosawa's Seven Samurais, a movie which I have been unable to complete, despite its influential nature and many acclamations; it was just so damn boring for me so I can't really appreciate any comparisons between the two.
I learned a new term here, fobbit, which means someone in the military who doesn't court death daily like other soldiers by remaining within the Forward Operating Base, and it is a term of disdain. It shows how little I know regarding the military situation but I liked that Rubicon showed that even people who have been stereotyped are capable of courage and actions of worth.
Another thing Rubicon does well is the dynamics between cultures. We have the soldiers juggling relationships and jobs, both of which are equally demanding; we see what takes the most space in the soldiers' hearts... And there's the relationships between the natives and soldiers, both cultural and intimate.
I think the most that appealed to me about this book is the story behind it. It didn't make it as a movie, so it steps onto another medium. In a movie, there are so many collaborators, but in the creation of a comic, there is much more control and steadiness of vision.
The idea is based on Kurosawa's Seven Samurais, a movie which I have been unable to complete, despite its influential nature and many acclamations; it was just so damn boring for me so I can't really appreciate any comparisons between the two.
I learned a new term here, fobbit, which means someone in the military who doesn't court death daily like other soldiers by remaining within the Forward Operating Base, and it is a term of disdain. It shows how little I know regarding the military situation but I liked that Rubicon showed that even people who have been stereotyped are capable of courage and actions of worth.
Another thing Rubicon does well is the dynamics between cultures. We have the soldiers juggling relationships and jobs, both of which are equally demanding; we see what takes the most space in the soldiers' hearts... And there's the relationships between the natives and soldiers, both cultural and intimate.
I think the most that appealed to me about this book is the story behind it. It didn't make it as a movie, so it steps onto another medium. In a movie, there are so many collaborators, but in the creation of a comic, there is much more control and steadiness of vision.
January 8, 2016
An original and topical spin on Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, Rubicon sets the story in counterinsurgent operations in Afghanistan in the present day. The story scales perfectly, and the author has a good ability to keep the tension strong throughout. It's lighter on character than I'd like, and I keep feeling it would be better served by being much longer, to give more screen time to the relationships between the Americans and their Afghan allies, which is the most interesting part of the story, and the least explored.
The book is hampered Stilla's art, which is not professional-grade, and often so amateur that it becomes difficult to parse the action or tell one character from another. It is further sandbagged by the aptly named Dick Marcinko's "'sup, bro," trying too hard, self-conscious warrior introduction, which is at total odds to the nuanced and sympathetic portrayal of Afghans caught up in the war that is one of the book's strengths.
The book is hampered Stilla's art, which is not professional-grade, and often so amateur that it becomes difficult to parse the action or tell one character from another. It is further sandbagged by the aptly named Dick Marcinko's "'sup, bro," trying too hard, self-conscious warrior introduction, which is at total odds to the nuanced and sympathetic portrayal of Afghans caught up in the war that is one of the book's strengths.
September 23, 2013
What a brilliant idea. Take the plot of the movie The Seven Samurai, and relocate it from medieval Japan to modern day Afghanistan. Instead of samurai, use Seal Team members.
When a Seal Team member is killed in Afghanistan, his fellow team members travel to the base to find out what happened and possibly get revenge. When a local village asks for help defending against the Taliban, they round up a couple other soldiers from the base to help defend the village.
The original story idea came from Hollywood screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie ('The Usual Suspects), and is fleshed out by Mark Long and Dan Capel, who is a founding member of Seal Team Six (the book's forward is written by Seal Team Six leader Richard Marcinko). The art by Mario Stilla reminds me of all the great Kubert art on Sgt. Rock comics. It was a fast read, and a look into the lives of Seal members.
When a Seal Team member is killed in Afghanistan, his fellow team members travel to the base to find out what happened and possibly get revenge. When a local village asks for help defending against the Taliban, they round up a couple other soldiers from the base to help defend the village.
The original story idea came from Hollywood screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie ('The Usual Suspects), and is fleshed out by Mark Long and Dan Capel, who is a founding member of Seal Team Six (the book's forward is written by Seal Team Six leader Richard Marcinko). The art by Mario Stilla reminds me of all the great Kubert art on Sgt. Rock comics. It was a fast read, and a look into the lives of Seal members.
August 25, 2013
I haven't read very many graphic novels.
With that said I found Rubicon to be action packed, exhilarating, and true to life.
I suspect that this story has a basis on actual events, I did not read that anywhere but it has the feel of reality or in the very least this exact scenario could have played out over in the Middle East and the majority of us would never know.
Exceptional art work and great pen work. The storyline is fantastic. The only thing that I think I would have like to of seen more of would be greater development in the love stories.
Well done! I look forward to more titles from Mark Long in the future. I highly recommend this graphic novel to anyone that is a fan of modern war literature and reality fiction.
With that said I found Rubicon to be action packed, exhilarating, and true to life.
I suspect that this story has a basis on actual events, I did not read that anywhere but it has the feel of reality or in the very least this exact scenario could have played out over in the Middle East and the majority of us would never know.
Exceptional art work and great pen work. The storyline is fantastic. The only thing that I think I would have like to of seen more of would be greater development in the love stories.
Well done! I look forward to more titles from Mark Long in the future. I highly recommend this graphic novel to anyone that is a fan of modern war literature and reality fiction.
August 19, 2013
Great read. Like the Seven Samurai , the SEALS did their selfless thing protecting the Afghan villagers against the Taliban.
There's no honour in war , only friendship deeper than blood and the destiny of the true warrior.
There's no honour in war , only friendship deeper than blood and the destiny of the true warrior.
March 11, 2025
Excellent graphic novel that builds on the very same Plato quote that opens Hedges's book (War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning) "The only ones that have seen the end of war are the dead." This retelling of Seven Samurai in the context of the War in Afghanistan is powrful. At one point an old woman is offered a captured fighter who pleads for mercy. She responds that she has no mercy to give. This is a statement on how we prosecute wars today.
May 13, 2023
A neat idea with poor execution. This was supposed to be Seven Samurai set in Afghanistan. It's not a bad idea at all. The story telling and art though were very poor. It was difficult to tell which side was which during the battle or even what the objective was besides don't die.
September 20, 2017
Decent art (3), weak story (1) for an average of 2.
January 25, 2018
A good snapshot into the life of military folks, but a one-time read for me.
October 20, 2021
It was a good graphic Novel about a war between the U.S. and the Taliban
August 21, 2013
Well this was actually a very nice piece of reading. Comics are not my main source of fiction intake, as I read mostly fantasy novels, but I thought I should give this a try. I was pleasently surprised at the quality of the drawing and the ability to convey the fast paced action that was going on. The story is nothing too elaborate or far-fetched. It really is just an "average" day in "taliban country" for the US navy Seals. So there is no big intrigue, or psychological games or mystery to solve. There is however plenty of space to get down to morality, war hardships, war "sides", and such themes, which was ver good. It's nicely written with not much swearing, which is a relief. My main complain is really in he lengh section, because it feels like a really short story. Almost like the Expendables in comics veru crammed up. However, I reccomend reading.
October 13, 2018
(2 star review) The art was choppy and not always consistent, the military lingo was only rarely explained so half the time I didn't know what was going on (especially during the battle scenes), and the characters were not well developed. We only got background info on the red-haired guy, so I didn't really feel any sense of loss when one of the other characters died. I really liked the concept (Seven Samurai in Afghanistan) but was disappointed in its execution.
(3 star review) Apparently I'd read this four years ago; I'd forgotten that I'd read it at all. I was a little more impressed this time around, and actually appreciated the military lingo and the authenticity it lent to the story. Once again, the concept is better than the execution, but I definitely liked it better this time around.
(3 star review) Apparently I'd read this four years ago; I'd forgotten that I'd read it at all. I was a little more impressed this time around, and actually appreciated the military lingo and the authenticity it lent to the story. Once again, the concept is better than the execution, but I definitely liked it better this time around.
Read
September 10, 2013Graphic novels are wonderful constructs. They allow us to tell stories unlike any other and impart an understanding to readers that simple text on the page is in capable of. That’s not to knock the beauty of text, but the Seven Samurai retold as Navy SEALS, as awesome as it sounds, just wouldn’t work in text alone. That’s why it’s great that there is a graphic novel of exactly that – Rubicon by Mark Long, Dan Capel, Mario Stilla and Christopher McQuarrie.
Greg's full review at: http://www.adventuresinscifipublishin...
Greg's full review at: http://www.adventuresinscifipublishin...
May 1, 2016
Fairly satisfying modern tale of Navy SEAL operators in Afghanistan defending a village from the Taliban. I appreciated the complex setup of tension that likely occurs to soldiers where encounters have great consequences. If say or do the 'wrong' thing then you lose trust, respect and aid. Since one of the authors Dan Capel is a founding member of SEAL team six then you have authenticity in tale. Brief interview after text ddescribes wanting to emulate 'Seven Samurai.' If into current military visions then recommend watching documentary 'Restrepo.'
August 19, 2013
What a rush of adventure this was, I enjoyed it thoroughly. I saw this in an email from NetGalley and I'm quite glad I chose to download it. Having grown up in a military family I've always been interested in military stories and history so knowing this graphic novel was written by men who served in the sandbox it made it feel more "authentic."
Thank you to all of those who have served our country.
Thank you to all of those who have served our country.
July 8, 2013
Conceptually, this was a very different comic than your standard Spider-Man, X-Men, etc. sort of fare. I enjoyed it. It was interesting to take a very classic story and retranslate it not only to the comic book medium, but to update its time and place to SF and SEALS in Afghanistan was pretty cool.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews