How do you write a comic about war in a post 9/11 world? Is it appropriate to glorify the exploits of the military when 1 in 5 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffers from post-traumatic-stress-disorder? Do we want answers to these questions or do we just want to play Call of Duty?

I was hoping Men Of War might be the comic book equivalent of The Hurt Locker. It’s not, but writer Ivan Brandon has crafted something I wasn’t expecting.  In this issue we’re introduced to Sgt. Rock’s grandson, Corporal Rock, who is sent on a rescue mission with an elite team of soldiers. Unfortunately, the mission falls apart when they encounter a SMD (Superhuman of Mass Destruction). We’ve seen soldiers against super heroes in comics since Superman but the twist with this is that it’s being told from the soldier’s perspective. I will definitely read the second issue.

The second story features a pair of Navy Seals fighting a sniper with phoned-in art by Phil Winslade. I think they should lose the second story and drop the price from $3.99 to $2.99. Sometimes less is more.