Get Your War On
by David Rees
Soft Skull Press

"Get Your War On," a print collection of David Rees' Internet comic, offers a hilarious, politically astute and, frankly, comforting overview of current events in what can only be described as trying times for the American left.

As fans of its online incarnation know, "Get Your War On" depicts conversations conducted largely in hip-hop inflected slang between clip-art office workers regarding the War on Terrorism, Enron and most other current events. Picture the cheesiest, 1980s-era clip art of a businessman, and then add the words "Oh yeah! Operation: Enduring Our Freedom is in the motherfucking house!" to a thought bubble above his head and you've got a pretty clear picture of the entire strip.

On an artistic level, "Get Your War On" uses its simplicity to make its point. Rees won't win any awards for artistry, but his no-frills approach communicates the universal shock and numbness that set in after the attacks. These office workers were just like everyone else, except that they actually vocalized what a number of us were thinking. In its plainness, "Get Your War On" makes its point — we're all in this together, and while we can't do a whole lot about the current state of affairs, at least we can commiserate.

It can seem like a one-joke premise, but Rees' consistent humor and political insight help it rise above that tag. Although Sept. 11, 2001 serves as the main inspiration for "Get Your War On," Rees' jaded view isn't limited to fallout from the Sept. 11 attacks. In the second panel of the book, the two main characters — a bespectacled man sitting next to what looks like an Apple IIe and his co-worker, a cartoon version of a J.C. Penney model — convey their enthusiasm for the war.

"Oh my God, this War On Terrorism is gonna rule! I can't wait until the war is over and there's no more terrorism," the first one exclaims.

"I know! Remember when the U.S. had a drug problem and then we declared a War On Drugs, and now you can't buy drugs anymore," reminisced the model. "It'll be just like that!"

Later, the first man switches the topic to George W. Bush and his declarations of power.

"Wouldn't it be awesome if he granted himself supernatural powers in order to fight evildoers?" the first man asks. "'My fellow Americans — fuck the Constitution! I can turn invisible now!'"

"Soon he'll be able to shoot lasers out of his eyes, no matter what the ACLU says!" agrees his friend.

Although the dichotomy between Rees' jaded, profane voice and the cheesy imagery elicits laughs, the reason "Get Your War On" is so funny is because it's true. When one character calls for "all my Americans who can now be detained indefinitely with no lawyer to wave (your hands) like you just don't care," it's devastating — that situation has happened and no one seems to give a damn.

Rees expresses what a number of left-leaning Americans feel: outrage over the way the current administration reacted to the attacks, fear over what will happen next and absolute, flat-out disbelief that everything that's happening is for real.

As the U.S. creeps closer to war with two-thirds of the Axis of Evil and the purported leader of the American Left busies himself requesting newspaper coverage of playgrounds, "Get Your War On" provides a place to escape to and laugh your fears away.

Note: While almost all of the content from "Get Your War On" is available on the Internet, David Rees is putting his money where his mouth is. Rees plans to donate all royalties to the Mine Detection & Dog Center Team #5 in the western region of Afghanistan for the removal of mines in that area. Soft Skull Press is also contributing an additional percentage of sales to the campaign.

— Stephanie Kuenn (smkuenn at gmail dot com)