Garth Ennis' 303

Awesome artwork & awesome plot

Who is the Hero in this Story set in contemporary Afghanistan?The Russian Special Forces Soldier, a last vestige of the Red Army that Marched into Afghanistan in 1979 during the Cold War and Marched out again in 1989 to a collapsing Soviet Empire.Or the American Sherriff struggling with his own demons and in his self reflects an embodiment of what an American is.Or is it the Short Magazine Lee Enfield no.1 .303 Rifle and what it represented? First introduced in it's long incarnation in 1895 and as the L42A1 was still in service in the 1980's. Nearly a hundred years, this rifle was a silver thread stretching from Kipling's Raj to the bitter last bark of the Bulldog in the Falklands. Sergeant Major Leach Royal Marines, Engaged the Argentine Frigate "Guerrico" in Grytviken Harbour with his L42A1 Sniper Rifle.Don't get me wrong this is not some gung-ho celebration of an antiquated firearm, this tale has a moral to it. It's worth the read.

I always forget that Garth Ennis' work has a slow start. This book is divided into two parts and I almost didn't make it to the second. If you can wade through the comic book equivalent of EastEnders then there is gold at the end of this rainbow.You could dismiss this work as an anti-American, anti-capitalist, anti-western polemic and it does come on strong but it is told in such a way you certainly see his point of view. You sympathise for those at the bottom of the heap crushed under the boot of our greed driven society. You also share more basic emotions such as grief and loss. All in all it's not what I expected but Mr Ennis did not let me down so persevere.The art and more notably the colouring is fantastic. Amazing skies, breathtaking sunsets, sultry nights and daunting landscapes are all here. I don't think I have seen a more colourful book and it's not gratuitous. Thumbs Up and double thumbs up for the colourists!