(Allen, Lonnie. USA War: An Instruction Manual; The ComicSpace, LLC Network 7)

http://www.webcomicsnation.com/LonnieAllen/usawar/series.php?view=archive&chapter=2307Recently, I was instructed to read a very controversial piece of literature entitled ‘War: an instruction manual‘. I found it very straightforward and to the point. The author is an American man by the name of Lonnie Allen. His comic/article seems to have been written within the past year and obviously written within the past eight. I feel that the layout Mr. Allen chose was meant to compare war with something menial; he shifts something so severely serious to a stage of total emotional detachment.

Mr. Allen had a message to deliver unto the American people but specifically those Americans who fail to see the importance in political activism. I got the impression that the purpose of his essay was to motivate today’s Americans into being an active part of the solution or any part of the solution at all; he seems to be attempting to motivate Americans into changing elements of their government that they disagree with, instead of merely complaining about it or simply ignore it altogether. I have also realized that his intent is lost to many that I’ve chosen to share it with but those with open minds see that the author isn’t advocating or belittling war, he is simply attempting to focus his audiences attention to something utterly unnoticed or at least 'swept under the rug'. In my opinion, he models the simplicity of his manual after the simplicity felt in the average American’s discussions of war.

The text is extremely emotional in its appeal, strewn with pictures of severed cartoon body parts and illusions to the horrors of Vietnam. I feel that this blunt, "throw it in your face" layout may be what dictates the angry reaction I seem to be continually recieving upon sharing this piece of literature. Logos is implemented with the use of several balancing acts within the text such as ’vote…or don’t one gets elected anyway.’ He also ties in many aspects of common America and it’s patriotism, such as the support our troops ribbon and the taxpayer sitting on his easy chair watching television.

I think this comic is a remarkably sad but accurate account of American government today and recomend it to anyone who is not easily offended by the truth.