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Billy Tucci is well known for his various military comics, displaying a realism of both art and storytelling rarely seen in comics. (I recommend highly “Sgt. Rock: The Lost Battalion”, based on actual events in World War II.)
Now, he’s announcing his latest work, a non-fiction account of controversial private security firm Blackwater Security Consulting’s experiences in Iraq and elsewhere.
I’ll make no judgment until I see the book, but no matter what, it’s most likely to be quite a read! If you’re at CCI:SD, stop by his booth at #1801 and pick up a preview, as well as admire his other work!
The press release and samples follow. Click on images to enlarge.
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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
[contact information]Booth #1801 at San Diego Comic-Con from July 11th, to July 15th
Crusade Fine Arts, Ltd
“The Blackwater Chronicles” by Artist/Writer Billy Tucci. The Inside Story, Now A Major New Graphic Novel Series.
Writer/Artist Billy Tucci, (creator of “Shi”, “A Child Is Born” and re-energizer of the classic “Sergeant Rock”) will release a sneak preview edition of “The Blackwater Chronicles” at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con. Only 200 copies per day are allowed to distributed to the 130,000 attendees expected. Only 1000 posters and sneak preview books have been printed for the event.
“The Blackwater Chronicles ” are a new series of non-fiction illustrated books set for release during 2013 that detail the real-life adventures of the controversial private security company. The first book in the series is based on Robert Young Pelton’s “Licensed to Kill, Hired Guns in the War on Terror”.
Billy Tucci has applied his skills to capture extraordinary realism and intense emotion to bring these brutal real-world experiences to the graphic novel genre.
“Like most people, all I had heard or read concerning private security contractors was that they were reckless cowboys whose actions in Iraq and Afghanistan were considered almost criminal by the media who weren’t there. Then I read the amazing first-hand experiences in Robert Young Pelton’s book, “Licensed To Kill”. Pelton lived, rode and flew under fire with Blackwater and other PSCs on their daily missions. His book and the men he introduced me to provided incredible insight to the men behind the myth and the sacrifices they made” Tucci stated.
The first book entitled “Blackwater Bridge” will detail the dangers of the Mamba Team, a group of unsung rogues, misfits and heroes who ran the most dangerous road in Baghdad in slow-moving South African armored vehicles. Inside the terrifying story arc is a deeper tale. An ex-Marine haunted by a delayed flight to Iraq. An incident that prevented him from being slaughtered in Fallujah but sent someone in his place. The mem
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The smell of smoke on the air in San Vicente. Hot, close, almost no breeze. Bananas ripening, pugua ready, and yellow flowers on vines and laburnam trees ( a/k/a golden shower trees).
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While we're consumed in Saipan with the daily soap opera of our local government, the world has many other facets worth paying attention to.
An Icelandic volcano has put forth such a massive ash cloud that airports across Europe have been shut down for three days.
The U.S. has indicted some top level Blackwater officials. Blackwater was a CIA contractor providing "security" in Afghanistan and Iraq, but several of its people were involved in shootings that led to federal investigations.
There is a new meaning to the phrase "self-educated." So much real education is available online these days. I'm still exploring Khan Academy, which I read about in our local newspaper (teen section). It seems like there is a lot more free education to be had.
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Eve Donegan, Sales and Marketing Assistant
Gérard Prunier is a widely acclaimed journalist as well as the Director of the French Centre for Ethiopian Studies in Addis Ababa. He has published over 120 articles and five books, including The Rwanda Crisis and Darfur. His most recent book, Africa’s World War: Congo, the Rwandan Genocide, and the Making of a Continental Catastrophe focuses on Congo, the Rwandan genocide, and events that led to the death of some four million people. Below is a brief look at the current movements of the Somalia pirates and a proposed alternate way of understanding these so-called “terrorists.”
This piece could be taken as being tongue-in cheek. In fact it should be thoughtfully considered, beyond its apparently provocative aspect.
Since the spectacular seajacking of a Ukrainian transport carrying thirty-three battle tanks heading for Southern Sudan last September 25th followed by the capture of a Saudi tanker carrying $100m of crude oil, the international community has been in a big huff about the notorious Somali pirates operating off the coast of Puntland. They have been called “terrorists” and are now chased by naval units from Germany, France, the United States, China, Australia, India, Russia, Japan, Great Britain, and even Iran. The highly respectable American Enterprise Institute, which in this case seems not to see the original quality of their business initiatives, has declared that “even if ridding Somalia of pirates would by no means solve the country’s problems, it is an absolute first step.” Seven Private Military Companies (PMCs) are on the ranks for the privilege of shooting them with the most advanced technology, including Blackwater of Iraq renown. An energetic blogger is calling for “shooting them on sight.” Their sin? Capturing about 110 ships in 2008 and making $150m in ransom money. The main loss was for the shipping companies, forced to pay higher insurance premiums. If we look more closely at the phenomenon, what do we see?
• Starving young men in small fiberglass boats powered by outboard motors going hundreds of miles from shore on dangerous seas.
• They shoot but try not to kill. So far only one hostage has been shot out of hundreds of seamen taken.
• Many die, like the five man crew who drowned after getting the ransom for the Sirius Star tanker. They lost their lives and their money. One body was washed ashore with $153,000 in his pocket. His relatives put the money to dry. A hard way to keep your family alive.
• Yes, they build big houses, buy shiny cars and sweep beautiful girls off their feet. PMCs operatives who hope to shoot them have fairly similar career plans.
• Those who are captured go to jail, contrary to their militia fellow countrymen on land who murder, loot and rape civilians without any international interference.
Let’s be frank, those boys are no angels. But why focus so much on them? The reason is simple. They cost international business a lot of money, which is absolutely scandalous: Somalis are supposed to kill each other and not come out and tamper with shipping lanes and insurance rates. The Suez Canal Authority is losing millions because of these fellows. Why can’t they get themselves some Toyotas with rocket launchers and join the ranks of the Islamists? If they did, nobody would bother them. But then no more booze, beautiful girls or shiny cars. All they could do would be to pray to Allah and highjack a Red Cross truck, like true Somalis.
[...] a quote Billy Tucci is using to promote his new comic, which is all about (and sponsored by) private military company Blackwater: Like most people, all I [...]
In addition to action-film-style handjobs like this, I encourage anyone curious about the mercenary outfit Blackwater to look into the people behind it and their sociopolitical agenda.
I live in Blackwater-founder Erik Prince’s backyard, and know people who used to know him (back when he still associated with regular folk, well before he defected to the United Arab Emirates). He’s part of the local plutocracy: son of a local billionaire, brother-in-law of Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos (a stalwart opponents of the public school system), himself the son of Amway founder and anti-gay Mammon worshiper Rich DeVos. This family of richer-than-Romney aristocrats really are not good people, and the way Blackwater is run reflects the militaristic pseudochristian values upon which it was founded.
But they shoot and blow things up real kewl, don’t they?
Yeah, I’m going to look for the truth about this corporation that thrives on war in the pretty comic book which they are financing. That sounds like an excellent idea to me.
Pelton lived, rode and flew under fire with Blackwater and other PSCs on their daily missions. His book and the men he introduced me to provided incredible insight to the men behind the myth and the sacrifices they made” Tucci stated.
Tucci clearly hasn’t heard of the term “regulatory capture” as it applies to regulatory personnel who are suppose to evaluate and make sure that the activities of large banks are legal, but get very cozy with the banks to the point they stop regulating and begin to identify with those that they are regulating. The banks, then, feel free to break whatever rules they may.
I sincerely hope no-one buys this propaganda piece of shit. Frankly, I’m surprised you’re even promoting this.
What an abomination; the worst kind of blind propaganda. There is so much accurate and horrific information about Blackwater/Xe out there, this is a disappointing effort at best. Why give any press at all to this, except to do a critical reading pointing out all of the untruths and mythologizing?
So in the comic world, fictional violence is cool but when it comes to real heroes protecting Americans from violence…the truth is propaganda?
Please. The above folks would be peeing in their fantasy costumes if they had to enter the real world.
Can’t wait to see what Billy has created. Did a great job with Sgt Rock. This one looks even better.
You’ll come for the art, but you’ll stay for the war profiteering!
[...] Read more… [...]
“So in the comic world, fictional violence is cool but when it comes to real heroes protecting Americans from violence”
I feel so much safer that all those Iraqis and Afghanis are dead!
Please tell me how the drunken black water personnel who put a bullet in the Iraqi vice president’s body guard’s head was protecting me or any other Americans. I’m also curious what Americans the woman on the side walk was about to hurt when they swerved into her, ran her over, and kept driving. And was that 9 year old boy and his baby sister in the car they opened fire on a significant threat? I picture you as one of those guys at the “Free Hat” rally.
Saw the preview book. Wonderful art, fascinating story.
Despite what all the jibber jabber heads above are posting about. There were two guys who are actually on the cover signing and talking
The Blackwater Chronicles is about personal stories. The First Book is just about one team where each person has something that affects his life. Tucci put a lot of work into the frames. Going to be an interesting project.
There is nothing corporate in the book or at least in the preview pages.
OK that is my opinion based on checking out the book. All the conspiracy theory nuts may resume their rants.