The Hot Zone Club

A tale of steamy romance, thrills, battles and non-stop adrenaline; no, this isn't "Desperate Housewives." It's "Army@Love," the monthly series from comic icon Rick Veitch and Vertigo/DC, pairing the hilarity and irony of U.S. war politics with fiery soap opera-esque dramatics. Set in the not-so-distant future where war continues to thrive in the Middle Eastern region of "Afbaghistan," "Army@Love" spins the satirical tale of an American government roping in recruits with the marketing of a perpetual `Spring Break'-style army, where the booze flows, the sex is wild and cell phones still get service, even in the midst of battle. The first six issues, condensed in "Army@Love Vol. 1: The Hot Zone Club," introduces us to the outrageous cast of characters, and continues their stories in the following collection, Army @ Love VOL 02; Generation Pwned (Army@love). Among heated extramarital affairs, hypnotist magicians, malevolent Wiccan charms and gun-toting robots, "Army@Love" offers a mix of the ridiculous amongst potent social commentary - and it's a veritable M16 blast to read.

This graphic novel offers a fantasy perspective on war that I am sure many soldiers wish was a reality. Follows the lives of a select military unit, with high-tech equipment, and the many entanglements they find themselves in, also has a freaky side. Enjoyed, and will read the rest of the series.

I have been a huge fan of Rick Veitch for many years, and this comic gives me NO reason to change! Many who know his more surreal work (Abraxxas and the Earthman, Can't Get No, etc.) might not be aware that he is equally skilled at more linear stories. Those that know his TMNT, Greyshadow, etc. stuff will not be surprised at all. Do yourself a favor and, if you belong to one camp, check out the other material. In fact, if you see his name on something just pick it up. In my experience, Rick Veitch's work is unfailingly rewarding. Multi-layered, beautifully executed and a hell of a lot of fun. A real "thinking man's" comic author!

Rick Veitch's Army@Love will very much appeal to fans of all stripes. This book is a scathing parody of our current military adventuring in the Middle East that is laugh-out-loud funny and sexy as hell. Think Chaykin's American Flagg transposed into our current reality (not much of a leap, actually). Veitch's imagineering is so endlessly inventive and frightfully credible he may find unwittingly himself drafted into service to re-remake the military for the 21st Century.

What happens when an unpopular war goes on too long? How do you manage to enlist? Rick Veitch shows a possible future where these issues have to be dealt with. Simply put, the Army finds a way to dress combat in a way that will appeal to young folks. This is done with the creation of MOMO, or Motivation and Morale. Young folks have become addicted to adrenaline thanks to their usual entertainments. The Army can meet that need through combat. It also supplies top secret "retreats" which are really bacchanalian orgies of booze, drugs and sex. The story is told in two parts. One part is that of the director of MOMO and how he keeps the product moving. The second part is told through a combat squad and some of their family members. How do married couples handle issues that could arise if word got out about what is really going on at the front? High-tech gadgetry keeps the troops mostly safe so that they can enjoy the post-combat parties. Well-realized characters populate this view of the future that looks like it could be very possible. This is an excellent start to a good-looking series. This is a Vertigo title so consider it R-rated at the very least. Although billed as a combination of a war comic and a romance comic it does not suffer from the lack of dimensionality these two genres are often associated with. Instead this is a fresh new approach. I can't wait to read more.