Saturday, January 20, 2024

Quickshots: Apache Delivery Service

 


About the only thing that makes this graphic novel a western is the word Apache; regardless, I loved it.  It has some of my favorite story elements:

·       A main character who doesn’t fit well among other people

·       A vast wilderness

·       Shit exploding

We follow Ernie, a US Army forward observer in the Vietnam War, who much prefers to be out in the jungle away from people calling in airstrikes (the eponymous “Apache Delivery Service”, although Ernie is Dine / Navajo) rather than dealing with racist ass hats at the base.  While out on a long solo scout he runs into an out of place by about 15 years French colonial, who enlists him to help find some buried Nazi treasure.  The treasure is, of course, in a mountainous area that may or may not be haunted but is certainly filled with Viet Cong.  Paranoia and mayhem ensues.

The story zips along, the artwork of the jungles and mountains are lush, the main character reminds me of the quiet, reflective moments of Zen that Larry Hama tucked away in GI Joe back in my childhood.  Fantastic read.



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