Get Your War On
| Company type | Comic strip |
|---|---|
| Industry | Comics, webcomics |
| Founded | October 9, 2001 |
| Founder | David Rees |
| Products | Comic strips, books, animated series, stage play |
Get Your War On is a politically charged satirical comic strip created by David Rees. The series launched on October 9, 2001, initially concentrating on the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in New York City before expanding its focus to include issues such as the War on Terror. The artwork consists of minimalist red-on-white clip art depicting office employees, predominantly taken from Office and Business Illustrations by Tom Tierney, paired with incisive, profanity-filled dialogue.
Development and publishing
The majority of the clip art featured in Get Your War On is derived from Tom Tierney’s 1988 publication Office and Business Illustrations, released by Dover Publications. In 2009, Jamba Juice encountered backlash for an advertising campaign that closely mirrored the comic’s visual style, utilizing identical clip art images.
The comic strip has been compiled into book editions, with proceeds from author royalties and portions of publisher earnings contributed to Adopt-A-Minefield to support landmine clearance efforts in Afghanistan. Additionally, the series was a recurring feature in Rolling Stone magazine as well as various alternative press outlets.
In 2004, Rees was included in Attitude 2: The New Subversive Alternative Cartoonists, alongside notable cartoonists such as Alison Bechdel and Aaron McGruder. By 2007, Get Your War On was showcased alongside works by artists like Jenny Holzer and Goya in the Dissent! exhibition held at Harvard University's Fogg Art Museum, highlighting protest art.
True to his word, Rees ended the comic strip on January 20, 2009, aligning with the conclusion of George W. Bush’s presidential term. He continues to maintain a politically oriented blog to engage his audience.
Critical reaction
Tom Carson characterized Get Your War On as a "glorious excoriation of our post-9/11 loony bin," while Connie Ogle described the second book as "Profane, decidedly anti-war and screamingly funny ... guaranteed to make you laugh yourself sick." James Poniewozik likened it to Doonesbury and The Boondocks, calling it "a fresher (and more R-rated) critique" of the Bush administration.
Adaptations
In 2005, the Austin-based theater troupe Rude Mechanicals transformed Get Your War On into a stage play. This production was revived in winter 2006 and subsequently embarked on a national tour that autumn, including performances in Houston, Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, D.C.
During the 2008 U.S. presidential election cycle, an animated version of Get Your War On premiered on the comedy website Comedy 23/6. The series went on hiatus following Barack Obama’s inauguration but resumed during the 2012 presidential election period.
In book form
- Get Your War On. Brooklyn: Soft Skull, 2002.
- Get Your War On II. New York: Riverhead, 2004.
- Get Your War On: The Definitive Account of the War on Terror, 2001-2008. Brooklyn: Soft Skull, 2008.
See also
Notes
References
- Sources
- Begun, Bret (November 4, 2002). "Is It OK to Laugh Yet?". Newsweek, p. 54.
External links
- David Rees Interview, part one, February 3, 2007 episode of the radio program "Whad'ya know"
- Collection of Animated Episodes on 236.com
- American comic strips
- 2001 comics debuts
- 2001 webcomic debuts
- Political webcomics
- Anti-war comics
- American satirical websites
- Satirical webcomics
- Webcomics in print
- American political satire
- Political satire comics
- 2000s webcomics
- Works about the September 11 attacks
- Comics set during the Iraq War
- Cultural depictions of George W. Bush
- Cultural depictions of Osama bin Laden
- Cultural depictions of Saddam Hussein
- Comics adapted into animated series
- Comics adapted into plays
- Works by David Rees (cartoonist)