Day of Infamy: Attack on Pearl Harbor

Osprey Graphic History #1

by Steve White, Gary Erskine (Illustrator), Jerrold Spahn (Illustrator)

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack on American military bases in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Masterfully planned and executed, the attack devastated the US Pacific Fleet; in less than two hours, Japanese aircraft had sunk or damaged all eight US battleships anchored in the harbor and had destroyed 151 planes. Thrust into battle, the United States could have only one response: war.
DAY OF INFAMY portrays the attack that drove the United States into World War II in full-color, historically-accurate comic book narrative. Featuring the personal stories of front-line heroes like Ken Taylor, George Welch, and mess attendant Dorie Miller, DAY OF INFAMY also provides rich background material – causes and consequences, key players, and a glossary of terms – as well as a list of additional resources that encourages readers to delve further into the time period. DAY OF INFAMY is the ultimate way to experience how Pearl Harbor unfolded and to introduce a lifelong passion for reading.

Genres: History, Graphic Novels Comics, World War II, Military Fiction, Japan, Comics, Nonfiction

48 pages, Paperback

First published February 27, 2007

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Steve White is a British comic book writer, paleoartist, and occasional colourist who has mainly worked with 2000 AD.
(source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Jurij Fedorov · Rating 3 out of 5]

These battle overviews are always a tad short, dry, to the point, and too focused on dates and names. But I actually learned a few new things here. The attack involved a few submarines which I had forgotten about for some reason. We see how American soldiers react too late. A military base is as easy to attack as a small village. The Japanese Zero planes drop torpedo's successfully everywhere.

The author doesn't really explain anything. What is smart and what is stupid? Could the defense have been better? What damage did the Japanese cause monetarily wise? What defense did work out well? What was protected successfully? Would a third attack have been a night disaster or the final blow needed? How did the Japanese media react to this? How about German and British media? What did the Japanese in USA say? The book is just too short and barebones to be a fulfilling exploration of the attack. But it presents it step by step fairly well. I would say it's nothing special. I did enjoy it, but it could have been 30 pages longer and focused on smaller events.

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A basic but vivid overview of the attack that brought the US into World War II. White provides a good balance between individual stories and a big picture view that covers American and Japanese perspectives.

[Sean Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this graphical history of the attack, has lots of very basic information but does well to show the extent and chaos of the event with a few personal stories.