American history

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 95

IC 95 Website CoverFive episodes and a wake-up left!

It’s back to our regular comics coverage with The ‘Nam #82.  In “Hue”, we see more of the Tet Offensive and the story of Dai Uy, the ARVN soldier who has been telling Ed Marks about his experience in 1968.  It comes courtesy of Don Lomax and Wayne Vansant.  I also spend time looking at the rest of 1973, which includes events surrounding Watergate and the New York Mets.

You can download the episode via Apple Podcasts or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 95 direct link

Also, in case you want to watch it for yourself, here is the Brach’s Rocks commercial featuring Rocky D, Dinosaur Extraordinare:

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In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 94

IC 94 Website CoverSix episodes and a wake-up!

It’s time to do another tour with Frank Castle as I look at two separate Punisher storylines from the 1990s.  First up is the trade paperback The Punisher in The ‘Nam: Final Invasion, a post-cancellation publication of what was supposed to be issues #84, 85, and 86 of the series.  In it, Frank re-ups for another assignment and takes on a mission to rescue a group of POWs from a NVA camp called “The Death Hole.”

The second storyline is a five-parter from Punisher: War Zone #26-30 where Ice has to rescue Frank when he is captured by a powerful gangster who runs a cartel on an island nation in Latin America.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 94 direct link

 

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 93

IC 93 Website CoverSeven episodes and a wake-up!

This time around, I take a break from my regular coverage of the comic to bring you one of the landmark films about the Vietnam War, 1978’s The Deer Hunter, which stars Robert DeNiro, Christopher Walken, and Meryl Streep.  For my look at the film, I’m joined by fellow TTF podcaster, Luke Jaconetti.  We talk about Michael Cimino’s Best Picture winner by looking at the plot and characters but also its symbolic/metaphorical meanings; and its reputation and resonance as a film about Vietnam, war, and America.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 93 direct link

Some extras for you …

A trailer for the film:

The theme to The Deer Hunter, which was composed by John Williams:

Deer Hunter

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 92

IC 92 Website CoverEight episodes and a wake-up!

This time around, I take a look at issue #81 of the series, which is part three of the three-part Tet Offensive storyline “The Beginning of the End”, plus historical context from the summer of 1973. Then, I look at five documentaries about the Vietnam War.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 92 direct link

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Here are links and clips regarding the documentaries I talked about:

The Fog of War trailer

 

On Two Fronts: Latinos & Vietnam.  Watch the full episode here.

 

Last Days in Vietnam:  PBS’ website, information and clips can be found here.

 

Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam:  Purchase DVD from Amazon here.

 

Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s The Vienam War: PBS’ website, information, and clips as well as how you can watch it can be found here.

 

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 91

ic91itunescover

Nine episodes and a wake-up!

This time around, I take a look at part two of the three-part Tet Offensive storyline “The Beginning of the End”, plus historical context from the middle of 1973. Then, I look at the career of Vietnam Veteran Principal Seymour Skinner.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 91 direct link

Here’s a playlist of the Principal Skinner clips that I used in this episode:

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 90

10 episodes and a wake-up are left!

It’s a return to the regular coverage of The ‘Nam with the first of a three-part storyline that takes us back to the Tet Offensive of 1968, “The Beginning of the End.”  I’ll take a look at issue #79 of the series and will also finish up the two-part Punisher/Iceman storyline from Punisher War Journal by looking at issue #53 of that comic.  Plus, I round things out by looking at the history behind the war in January-March of 1973.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 90 direct link

As mentioned in the episode, here is the Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph “Burst of Joy,” which depicts a POW returning home to see his family:

burst_of_joy

You can read more about this on the photo’s Wikipedia page.

And here are the covers for our issues.

punisher_war_journal_vol_1_53

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In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 89

IC 89 Website Cover11 episodes and a wake-up are left!

This time around, I take a break from comic book coverage to look at another book and film about the Vietnam War, Born on the Fourth of July.  I start by looking at Ron Kovic’s autobiography about his time in Vietnam as well as his recovery from the injuries that paralyzed him and journey toward being an antiwar activist.  Then, I take a quick look at the first movie that was inspired by Kovic’s story, 1978’s Coming Home, which stars Jane Fonda, Jon Voight, and Bruce Dern.  Finally, I look at Oliver Stone’s 1989 adaptation of Born on the Fourth of July, which stars Tom Cruise.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 89 direct link

Here are some extras for you …

The trailer for Coming Home:

The trailer for Born on the Fourth of July:

John Williams’ theme to Born on the Fourth of July:

The Bruce Springsteen song, “Shut Out the Light”:

Born on the Fourth of July Poster

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 88

IC 88 Website Cover12 episodes and a wake-up are left!

My coverage of Don Lomax’s run on The ‘Nam continues with issue #78, a story about combat in Quang Tri through the eyes of Ed Marks.  Plus, we get the next chapter in the “Stateside” backup as Rob Little and Sarge try to track down Top, who may have been involved in the death of Rob’s brother Eugene.  Then, I look at an article about the comic in Marvel Age #122 followed by a Punisher/Ice team-up in Punisher War Journal #52.  It’s all this and the historical context for the fall and winter of 1972.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 88 direct link

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 87

ic 87 website coverEd Marks finds himself on an aircraft carrrier and we hear the story of a fellow soldier’s bombing run, plus we go “Stateside” to see Rob Little reunite with Sarge.  It’s all in issue #77 of The ‘Nam, which is written by Don Lomax with art by Wayne Vansant, Mike Harris, and Frank Percy.

Plus, I take a look at the events of the war in the summer of 1972.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 87 direct link

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” — Episode 86

IC 86 Website CoverI’m back to the classic format of the show and back to some classic characters as I take a look at issue #76 of The ‘Nam, a story titled “Brothers” that stars Rob Little.  It’s June 1972 and while standing at the grave of his brother Eugene, Rob flashes back to a story from 1967 where he and Ed Marks help a paymaster complete his job of getting back pay to GIs in the field.

Plus, I take a look at the history of the war in June 1972.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 86 direct link

Some extras:

During this episode, I talk about Nick Ut’s famous photograph of  Phan Thi Kim Phuc running naked down a street burned from a napalm attack.  Here are some resources if you would like to learn more:

“The Long Road to Forgiveness”, which is her contribution to NPR’s long-running “This I Believe” series.

The Kim Foundation, her foundation dedicated to helping children who have been injured as a result of war.

Wikipedia’s page on Phan Thi Kim Phuc, which is extensive and was an excellent resource.

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