Vietnam Journal
Vietnam Journal is the acclaimed series from Don Lomax, nominated for a Harvey Award, and collected as a series of graphic novels not only reprinting the entire series but also issues that have never seen print in comic form before. The story is a look at the Vietnam War through the eyes of a war journalist as it chronicles the lives and events of soldiers on the front line during the Vietnam War. It is written and drawn by Don Lomax, a Vietnam War veteran.
Eight volumes have been released thus far and Don is working on all new material which will make up Book Nine.
It has been recommended by the Military Book Club and called a "Book You Should Own" by Entertainment Weekly.
Below is an interview with Don about the series and some reviews about the acclaimed series
"... VIETNAM JOURNAL is one of the most gritty and brutally honest war stories ever published."--- Comic Book Resources
"... the best comic book portrayal of Vietnam I have ever read. Its probably one of the best works ever put down in any art form about the war."--- Daniel Robert Epstein
"A powerful collection of stories and history of the Vietnam War, c.... ---- School Library Journal
"Lomax bases his fictional work on his real experiences in Vietnam in 1966, with powerful results."---Publishers Weekly
"..the best war comic in more than 35 years...grade A+"— Comic Buyers Guide
Interview with Don Lomax
What can you tell us about the series, Vietnam Journal?
LOMAX: Vietnam Journal came into existence in 1987 through the small independent company, Apple Press, its publisher/owner was Mike Catron. Mike, an advocate of the military and somewhat of an historian ask me if I would be interested in coming up with a comic based on the Vietnam conflict. He thought it would be a good fit due to my tour in-country in the Army. I jumped at the opportunity having a slug of stories, both first hand and through word of mouth itching to get out, which I had accumulated in my own Vietnam experience. It was as simple as that, Vietnam Journal was born.
How did you "break" into comics?
LOMAX: My first professional sale was to one of those Reader's Digest size pulp joke books that glutted the newsstands in the early '60. I made $5 on a b&w cartoon and was on top of the world. I expected to be rich by the end of the year. That was my only sale for the next decade. Then I sold a b&w strip to Easyriders Magazine entitled ';Puttin' With the Rat'. It turned out to be a regular for several years. Lots of magazine work followed. So you might say I came into comics from the back door from the slick "girly" magazine venue. It was several years doing that before I got my first job with an actual comic book published. I worked for First Comics, Pacific, Warp Graphics and several others before my run at Apple with Vietnam Journal.
So, do you have any kind of educational background for your comic skills or are you self taught?
LOMAX: No structured training what-so-ever. Everything I do, good or bad, is all trial and error...with the emphasis on error.
What's the best project or situation that you've worked on or with in your career so far?
LOMAX: My best project is always what I am working on at that present time. I think most comic artists can relate to that. The joy is in the creation.
What's the best advice to give any aspiring creators?
LOMAX: I spent a lot of years trying to copy other styles...trying to fit in. Though a lot of that process was fundamental and of course necessary I never created anything worthwhile until I let my inner-compass guide me. Be yourself and draw what you like to draw. If you don't then art just becomes another mundane job and you will resent the work. I am closing on the end of my career and though I never actually "broke into" mainstream comics I wouldn't change a thing.
Anything that you worked on that you would love to go back to?
LOMAX: I did a comic back in the ';80s entitled Captain Obese. It was originally published by Warp Graphics and I am thinking about bringing it back in full color, perhaps next year if I can find a publisher. I broke down the first of the year and taught myself Photoshop---only 20 years after the rest of the biz---I am having a blast with it. I am still a novice at it but I am coming along.
What's next for you?
LOMAX: Lunch...then a nap.
QUICKSHOTS
Who is your favorite comics writer?
LOMAX: Alan Moore. I worked with him on American Flagg for First Comics. His scripts were a delight. They were like reading a novel. Everything went into them, I wish to heaven I had saved them but who knew?
Who is your favorite "classic" comic artist?
LOMAX: Jack Davis
Who is your favorite current comic artist?
LOMAX: Too many to single out one.
Do you read digital comics or plan to soon?
LOMAX: I don't own a cell phone or IPOD or anything of that ilk at present but who knows? Like Morgan Freeman famously said in The Shawshank Redemption, "Get busy living or get busy dying."
What is your favorite movie?
LOMAX: The Magnificent Seven
What TV shows are you watching?
LOMAX: Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, The Weather Channel.
For more information on Vietnam Journal, visit:
http://www.transfuzion.biz/TITLES/VietnamJournal.htm
Vietnam Journal has its own Facebook page. Like it to make Don happy!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vietnam-Journal-series/168967946461177?ref=hl
Gary Reed is the publisher of Transfuzion Publishing and was the former publisher of Caliber Comics. As a writer, he has written a number of graphic novels and comics including Saint Germaine, Deadworld, Baker Street, Renfield, Raven Chronicles, A Murder of Scarecrows, and others. Outside of Talking Transfuzion, he has his regular blog covering a wide variety of topics at reedgary.blogspot.com and his website www.garyreed.net
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