Alan’s War is a graphic memoir of the late American G.I. Alan Cope, as told to the artist/writer Emmanuel Guibert. The book begins as a war story: Cope was an eighteen year old in California when he was drafted to serve in the Second World War. He arrived in Eastern Europe just as the war was ending. Cope’s war story doesn’t focus on the glory of battle; he is very aware that his role in the war effort is fairly small. More important to him are his experiences living in Europe, where he meets and develops strong relationships with civilians along with his fellow servicemen. After the war, Cope serves as a chaplain in Europe, and then briefly returns to California. From there, it becomes clear that Cope’s time in the service had set him off on a spiritual and intellectual quest that lasts for the rest of his life.

Guibert beautifully and faithfully illustrates Cope’s deep friendships, rambling travels, and expanding ideas in gorgeous ink-wash. His images are blurred and nostalgic, much like Cope’s memories. Cope’s wonderful storytelling skills are evident in every frame, but what is most remarkable is the intimate friendship that readers can sense between the elderly war veteran and the young artist who brings his story to life. War novels often tell stories of men who are broken by war; Alan's War paints a brighter picture of an ordinary boy who is transformed into a wise and generous man by his experiences. This graphic novel was a joy to read. Guibert is in the process of writing a second book based on his correspondences with Cope: Alan’s Youth, which I am waiting for with great anticipation. ( )

I found out about this graphic novel after reading The Photographer, also by Guibert. Guibert randomly became friends with WWII veteran Alan Cope, who began telling him war stories. So Guibert put this novel together to illustrate Cope's memories. I loved the simplicity of Guibert's art - simple lines, greys. And his writing style was great - it made you feel as if Cope was right there talking to you about everything. ( )

This is beautifully drawn and well written story. The problem is it is not all that interesting. The protagonist joins the army but never hears a shot fired in anger. His post war life would be fascinating if you met him at a dinner party but does not have the weight to carry a graphic novel. ( )

Who knew? I saw this and picked it up in idle curiousity, without opening it and brought it home. It languished, as books acquired by whim sometimes do, but I picked it up on the way out the door yesterday to look at while I was waiting at the veterinarian. And then I came home, got in bed and finished it. I somehow did not realize it was a graphic novel. I was startled at the freshness of the drawings and loved the sober, straight story. This man Alan Cope was at first a sort of vague, unformed kid who is drafted after Pearl Harbor, experiences the stiff and rapid maturation process of military service in wartime and emerges at the end of the book as a man I would have love to have met. This is not the war of movies or novels. He is not the veteran of the VFW, but his experiences in the war are so profoundly a part of the man he became.
It is not a monumental work, but it is an excellent book that will bring the war experience home to many of us, literary or artistic, who cannot see ourselves in the adventures, histories or movies of WWII battle scenes. ( )

A gentle and honest walk through the experiences of a young man in the second world war.