The 'Nam Question

[CarlosHathcock93]

Hello all! I was intirested in the comic book "The 'Nam", but couldn't find any sites that had information on it, besides the short Wikipedia article. Are there any sites dealing with this series?

[Kirk G]

The Nam was not terribly popular when it came out, being overlooked by Nam Vets, and fanboys weren't lookiing for them at the time. But SINCE then, offspring of Nam vets have been VERY interested, and issues have dried up.

Don't know if there are any websites or organizations pursuing them. I suspect some Viet Nam Vetran groups are promoting the series as a way to teach their young about the war, or at least, spark more interest in their affairs.

But I really don't know....

[nweathington]

Actually, I believe the first issue of The 'Nam outsold X-Men the month it came out. I remember a lot of buzz around the book those first few months. Unfortunately, it quickly passed.

The comic — at least the first 20 issues — was also reprinted as a black-&-white magazine in order to get a more adult audience interested. In fact, its beginnings can be traced back to another black-&-white mag, Savage Tales. The vignettes in Savage Tales don't tie in directly to The 'Nam, but there is a definite connection.

[Slam_Bradley]

The first twelve to sixteen issues were also put out in trade paperback collections (I don't recall if there were 3 or 4 collections). This was back when trades were still fairly new and not terribly common.

[Schmakt]

I've got nothing for you except to say that I picked up the first four issues for $2 a while ago and really liked them. Will be looking to, at the very least, finish out that first arc whenever I stop being poor. :)

[Kirk G]

Actually, I believe the first issue of The 'Nam outsold X-Men the month it came out. I remember a lot of buzz around the book those first few months. Unfortunately, it quickly passed.


Gotta agree with that. The first issue had a lot of buzz... but the comic buying population at the time, quickly lost interest when wolverine wasn't featured in it....:D :rolleyes:

[Perry Holley]

The early issues written by Doug Murray were the best (and why hasn't Marvel put out an "Essential 'Nam" collection, anyways?).

Doug Murray on The 'Nam (http://www.slushfactory.com/features/articles/052502-murray.php)

[matt levin]

I thought The Nam was o.k. Just, ok. It was a cleaned up depiction of the war, although, I guess for Marvel comicbooks of the time, it came close to gritty and realistic. But not really, for me:

at the same time, Don Lomax's "Vietnam Journal" was also appearing, and here is where I found what seemed truest to the war, and to war coverage. There are two (at least two?) collected trades of Vietnam Journal readily available, but with a caveat: very little is looked away from: the war in all its gory insanity and heroism is depicted, graphically. Definitely a for older readers title. And, as such, waaaay recommended!

Matt

[dupont2005]

i like the series. i picked up a bunch of them for a quarter each when i was a kid

[Paradox]

nweathington makes me remember:

Actually, I believe the first issue of The 'Nam outsold X-Men the month it came out. I remember a lot of buzz around the book those first few months. Unfortunately, it quickly passed.

I suspect that may have had more to do with Michael Golden (incredibly hot at the time) than the book itself.

[MDG]

I suspect that may have had more to do with Michael Golden (incredibly hot at the time) than the book itself.
I think the fact that it was promoted as a realistic look at the war got it a larger crossover audience than people buying it for Golden's art (which was very good on the book).

[MichikoS]

all near mint and in very good conditionUm, yeah. :tongue:

[Jamie]

Um, yeah. :tongue:

Hey now, maybe they're kept next to a box of After Eights?

I wouldn't pick on him, though; it's just something people say for emphasis. LIke "new and improved".

I might check out an Essential volume if one ever came out. Isn't one of the issues in (or set to be in an upcoming) Essential Punisher? I seem to recall Frank Castle crops up in an issue, obviously covering his time in country.

[dupont2005]

Hey now, maybe they're kept next to a box of After Eights?

I wouldn't pick on him, though; it's just something people say for emphasis. LIke "new and improved".

I might check out an Essential volume if one ever came out. Isn't one of the issues in (or set to be in an upcoming) Essential Punisher? I seem to recall Frank Castle crops up in an issue, obviously covering his time in country.

3 issue story arc

[Jamie]

3 issue story arc

Thanks for the clarification. My memory isn't what it used to be... or is it? I can't remember.

[DoubleWide]

It was a pretty good series until the three part Frank Castle story, then it went downhill from there. :mad:

[b4ustandsi]

you can pick up a lot of the early issues fairly cheap at milehighcomics. the latter issues are hard to find and more expensive...but thats fine since most fans say these issues were bad

[jsnrdy]

A big part of the initial draw (and the reason the early issues sold well) is because of the strength of the 80s GI Joe phenomenom. The Nam books attracted alot of the GI Joe fanboys but didn't keep them when they realized two things:

- It was closer to NBC's Tour of Duty than the animated GI Joe series
- Neither Snake Eyes nor Storm Shadow were making an appearance

It was good series- it just fell victim to a case of targeting the wrong audience...

I agree with a previous post that Vietnam Journal was stronger material for the intended audience...

[b4ustandsi]

im going to check out the vietnam journal for sure.

out of topic but is the entire seasons of tour of duty worth the $100 to own?

[jsnrdy]

out of topic but is the entire seasons of tour of duty worth the $100 to own?

It doesn't have the original soundtrack which was a big part of the draw of the show. (Who didn't love Paint it Black by the Stones opening up the credits?) If you can overlook that, it's a decent purchase. It is cheaper just to buy the seasons individually though. Personally, I'd take that route...