Drafted: An Illustrated Memoir of a Veteran's Service During the War in Vietnam

Parker (the Beavis & Butthead comics) mixes dark humor and genuine pathos in this cockeyed account of his Vietnam-era tour of duty. Drafted in 1966, Parker admits he was “not cut out for a career in the army.” He details his stint from boot camp and basic training through his promotion to second lieutenant and service in the Army’s nuclear missile battalion. Though he never sees duty in Vietnam (the closest he comes is a sadistic training camp in Oklahoma meant to simulate POW captivity), it’s not an easy ride. He recalls graphic deaths during training (one fellow soldier is killed in a crash while out celebrating the birth of his baby) and overseeing 13 military funerals for those who died overseas (during one, a little girl calls endlessly for her dead father), as well as the everyday tyranny of ranking officers. Parker reels off anecdotes in a casual narrative style reminiscent of his frequent collaborator, Harvey Pekar, with cartoony, slapstick art. He lucidly details technical aspects of military service and jargon, from the finer points of shining combat boots to the proper mess hall procedure to pass the potatoes. Parker’s wartime stories tickle the funny bone and jab at the heart. Agent: Judith Hansen, Hansen Literary. (Sept.)