'U.S.S. Stevens: The Collected Stories'by Sam Glanzman is a treasure trove of mostly four page stories that were in war comics in the early 1970s. They all feature

Sam Glanzman writes and draws about what he knows, and that is life aboard the U.S.S. Stevens, a Fletcher-class destroyer stationed in the Pacific during World War II. The stories are fictional, for the most part, but they have the detail and feel of real events. I suspect Sam changed the name of the ship and those serving in some instances in order to serve the stories. There are humorous stories, as well as terrifying ones. Mostly terrifying ones as bombs and planes and guns try to sink the U.S.S. Stevens as the ship protects its crew and convoys. Many of the stories are personal, and there are even included some comics called SG's War Diary, which are factual account from the author himself.

The stories are amazing, but so it the art. So much so, that Joe Kubert became friends with this artist, and while other artists had work sent back, Sam's was generally cleared for publication.

There is a foreword by DC Comics writer Ivan Brandon, and an introduction by comics historian Jon B. Cooke as well as his annotations at the end of the book to put the stories into historical perspective.

Lest you think this is a collection that would glorify war, the terror felt by those serving and crewmen deaths are not treated lightly. Also, each story ends with the phrase, Make War No More.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.