‘Super Soldiers: A Salute to the Comic Book Heroes and Villains Who Fought for Their Country’ Review

Collin Stetzner Posted On June 13, 2019

For the first time at Full Circle, we’ve been given the chance to do something out of our wheelhouse by reviewing a book. Veteran turned author, Jason Inman, provided us with an advanced copy of his new book Super Soldiers: A Salute to the Comic Book Heroes and Villains Who Fought for Their Country.

Jason Inman’s name sounded familiar to me at first but I just couldn’t remember how. That changed quickly as I soon remembered him as a co-host on DC All Access! This, of course, isn’t all Jason has done, as he’s also written several comic books, such as Jupiter Jet, but most importantly Jason risked his life while serving his country while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005.

Inman’s book sets out to uncover the commonality between real-life soldiers and soldiers from the pages of comic books. Who better to make this analysis than someone who has comic book knowledge and the experience of serving his country.

Needless to say, when I heard of this upcoming book, I was immediately drawn to it and was excited to read it, and I am happy to report it doesn’t disappoint. Super Soldiers draws on a collection of some of the most popular heroes and villains to serve their country but also features some lesser knowns to fans unfamiliar with comic books. Featuring the likes of Captain America (obviously), Hal Jordan and Captain Marvel. As I said though we also see some unfamiliar faces; including Flash Thompson, Nuke, and even Captain Atom! Of course, these aren’t all the characters Inman dives into so if you want to know who else, I suggest you purchase the book.

In each chapter, Inman gives the reader background information on the character and tells us fascinating stories, which highlight their careers as a soldier. It’s clear throughout that intense research has been done on the subject matter. The biggest surprise of the book for me was how funny it was! Jason’s wit and comedic ability are very evident which makes the reading experience that much more enjoyable. The only gripe I could relay about this book is that occasionally Inman spends too much time focusing on a character’s story which can take away from the section about their service.

Mixed into the book are some personal details about Jason’s time in Iraq and his experience as a soldier. This helps the reader immensely as it gives us a true connection between the real world and the worlds of these fictional characters. Along with this, he is also able to explain to the reader clearly how an actual soldier should act, regardless of the branch he or she is serving in. It provides a break in some parts so you aren’t just lost in the fantastical worlds of these heroes and villains, you’re able to be brought back into the real world.

In the acknowledgment section of the book, Inman talks about doubting his ability as a writer. This book is a clear indicator that he shouldn’t. Super Soldiers is an amazing read, even if you aren’t someone who finds themselves reading very much. I know this is a cliché said about many books but, you won’t want to set this down! Everything Inman set out to accomplish with this book he does. I feel fully confident when saying I would highly recommend ‘Super Soldiers’ to anyone, especially veterans and fans of comic books.

Super Soldiers releases worldwide on June 18, 2019.