Book Review: We Stand On Guard

So I happened on this book just by chance, in what seems to me an unlikely place. It was at my local library, in a suburban New Jersey town.

Why would that be surprising?

Well, because this graphic novel, or hardcover comic series (or whatever it might be labeled as) it seems like a distinctly Canadian book. It is set over a century from now, in a fictional, nightmarish world where Canada has been invaded by the United States. In other words, not only are the Americans decidedly not the good guys in this one, but outright the bad guys, the villains.

So yeah, it was a bit of a surprise to see such a book, even at the library.

Before I go any farther, however, let me give the usual warnings to stop reading if you intend to read this book, because there will be spoilers ahead.

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT

Okay, so by now if you are still reading this, I have to imagine that you either are familiar with this story already, or perhaps you do not mind the spoilers. Please just don't say that you were not given advanced warning. 

Yes, this is a graphic novel set in a rather nightmarish world in which the United States is the aggressor in a war to obtain Canadian fresh water. Yet, we cannot be 100% certain that the Canadians - or rather, a Canadian - did not actually start the war. The first major event we see is the White House being destroyed by a drone strike. The Americans insist that their intelligence is accurate, and that it was a Canadian strike. The Canadians, by contrast, seem equally sure that this is a false flag, that this was a setup by the Americans in order to justify an invasion and takeover of Canadian water resources.

This feels like a cross between Star Wars and G.I. Joe, with perhaps a little bit of the Matrix thrown in. Modern technology in this book is rather astonishing. And yes, it is reminiscent of Star Wars in how futuristic it feels. It is reminiscent of The Empire Strike Back, in the sense that a small band of rebels are fighting an Empire (that would be the United States) which greatly overwhelms them in terms of advanced weaponry and sheer numbers. There are huge robots, some of which resemble the AT-AT Walkers, and the battle is being fought in a frozen tundra world. There are holograms, and even a base that seems unbelievable large, with a landing pad not dissimilar to the landing pad at the Death Star.

So yeah, there are definitely similarities with Star Wars.

To be sure, the Americans are the sinister force, the Empire, in this book. There is no doubt that they are regarded as the enemies, as the bad guys. Just look at the cover art.

Still, the characters have more of a look and even a feel of being from the GI Joe universe, if you will. With one major exception: the good guys are Canadian, and the bad guys would be the American military. Not the Russkies, not Cobra or some other secret terrorist organization. But the United States of America, particularly with an occupying military force. Yet, they do not view themselves as the bad guys. In fact, they clearly seem to view themselves as the good guys. One anonymous American character even describes the American side as such.

All in all, a fun read. I am actually glad that I chanced on this book, and that it piqued my curiosity enough to pull it from the shelf and take it out. A quick read, to be sure. You could probably read it in an hour or two, if you are so inclined. But I took my time with it, enjoying the artwork and the implied technological advances, as well as the story.

Recommended, although not for Americans who retain a hero complex about their country.