U.S. Army Launches America's Army - The Graphic Novel


SILVER SPRING, MD, 5 JUN 2009 -- The U.S. Army announced today that it has launched America's Army - The Graphic Novel, a free online publication based on America's Army 3 (AA3), the only action game that delivers an authentic and entertaining Army experience by reflecting the training, technology, actions, and career advancement of a Soldier within an exciting, free game experience. The graphic novel is live now on the America's Army website (www.americasarmy.com/graphicnovel/). The AA3 PC game, in which Every Detail Counts™, will debut this summer.

This exclusive online novel allows readers to explore the storyline behind the AA3 game through stories that showcase Army operations, Military Occupational Specialties, and high tech equipment while following the lives of U.S. Army Soldiers at home station and while deployed. Readers will discover stories of bravery and teamwork by Soldiers whose jobs include Intelligence Analyst, Medic, UAV Operator, Infantryman, and Apache Helicopter Pilot.

Chapter 1, "Knowledge is Power" opens with the deployment of a U.S. Army Long Range Surveillance (LRS) team as a conflict arises between two fictitious countries, Czervenia and the Republic of the Ostregals. In this issue, U.S. Army Soldiers demonstrate combat readiness through superior military intelligence and elite training as they join coalition forces providing humanitarian aid to an allied country under genocidal attack. When an ominous plan is discovered and a dangerous conflict erupts, the U.S. Army answers the call.

"Many America's Army players are huge graphic novel fans so this is an excellent way to further explore today's Army and the lives of Soldiers," said Michael Barnett, Executive Producer for the graphic novel. "This is the most authentic graphic novel about the Army every produced. U.S. Army Special Forces Soldiers ensured the accuracy of every detail from the dialog to the uniforms to the placement of the glow sticks strapped onto the gear of an airborne LRS team as they skydive from the back of a C130. And by reading the graphic novel, players may find useful game tips that may give them an edge when playing AA3 this summer."

The online graphic novel features an original flash interface with advanced viewing controls to grab and flip pages as one would a printed comic and to zoom-in on a specific panel to more easily read it and enjoy the art. Many pages have context links so readers can click to learn more about Army life, jobs, or gear or reference the "field manual" which offers readers a glossary of terms and Army acronyms.

America's Army - The Graphic Novel was produced by Michael Barnett and written by M. Zachary Sherman (Shrapnel) with art by Michael Penick (The Corps!) and J. Brown (Thunderbolts). The web interface was developed by Bill Howard.

About America's Army

The Army creates and distributes America's Army so that young Americans can virtually explore Soldiering in the U.S. Army like Soldiers experience it – as individuals and as members of teams. Through the Game's virtual experiences, young Americans can explore the Army from basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and medic training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to operations in defense of freedom. Along the way, they can join elite Army units and experience the strength of Army teamwork, values, and technology within an engaging environment. The game has become an online phenomenon, consistently ranking among the most popular PC action games played online. The games are rated T for Teen and can be downloaded free via Steam (URL) and from various partners listed on the www.americasarmy.com website. They are also distributed at local Army Recruiting stations, ROTC Detachments, and Army events.

In the America's Army game, players are bound by Rules of Engagement (ROE) and grow in experience as they navigate challenges in team-based, multiplayer, force-on-force operations. In the game, as in the Army, accomplishing missions requires teamwork and adherence to the Army's Core Values. Through its emphasis on team play, the game demonstrates these values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage and makes them integral to success in America's Army.

The Army launched America's Army in July of 2002, and has released major updates to the game every few months. These releases feature new technologies, missions, Army units, and occupations. In keeping with the dynamic nature of Soldiering, the America's Army game will continue to expand and allow players to explore the Army of today, tomorrow, and the future.