Katusha
Girl Soldier of the Great Patriotic War
- 2019 INDIES Winner
- Honorable Mention, Graphic Novels & Comics (Graphic Novels & Comics)
Wayne Vansant combines thorough military and historical detail with unforgettable characters in his epic masterwork Katusha.
Vansant has long specialized in telling stories of war, from Marvel’s comic series The ’Nam to his many graphic novel histories. Katusha differs from these others, first in its length—originally published in parts, this edition collects the entire story, including the never-before-published last third, under one cover—and second, in its expert use of fictional characters to elevate dramatic tension while informing the reader about events in Ukraine and its surroundings during World War II.
Katusha is the nickname of the book’s central character, a young Ukrainian girl who sees her life irreparably transformed by the war. She’s drawn into the fighting, and in a long, continual battle for survival, she eventually becomes a tank operator for the Russian army, bearing witness to the war’s most significant battles.
Katusha grows in many ways throughout the book: from a naïve young telephone operator to a seasoned warrior and from a child to a full-grown woman, hardened but capable of love. Vansant develops Katusha, her family, and her friends well, resulting in multiple viewpoints as characters are separated by the war’s events.
Vansant’s art is outstanding, demonstrating a great commitment to getting it right with uniforms, landscapes, and armaments, while also showing a knack for facial details that keeps every character in his large cast easily identifiable. Vansant captures the massive scale and significance of the war, but the strength of this book is that it is seen from a personal viewpoint. First, last, and always, this is Katusha’s story.
Reviewed by
Peter Dabbene
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
