Shooting War
| Company type | Webcomic, Graphic novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing, Comics |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder | Anthony Lappé, Dan Goldman |
| Products | Webcomic, Graphic novel |
Shooting War is a future history webcomic and graphic novel created by author Anthony Lappé and illustrator Dan Goldman. First released in 2006, the narrative unfolds in 2011 during the presidency of John McCain. It centers on Jimmy Burns, a video blogger who captures footage of a terrorist attack at a Starbucks in Brooklyn, rapidly gaining widespread media attention. Shortly thereafter, he is assigned to report on the ongoing war in Iraq for the fictional Global News Network.
Publication history
Shooting War was initially published on SMITH Magazine, an online platform dedicated to storytelling. Lappé’s background includes producing the Showtime documentary Battleground: 21 Days on the Empire's Edge, which informed the comic’s development.
The webcomic was later acquired by Warner Books (currently known as Grand Central Publishing) for print distribution. The hardcover edition, consisting of 192 pages in full color, was launched in the United States in November 2007 and simultaneously released in the United Kingdom by Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
Storyline
The digital version comprises 11 chapters, while the printed book incorporates an additional 110 pages of new content.
Set against the backdrop of 2011, with President John McCain intensifying efforts in the War on Terror, the most popular video game is the terrorist-themed Infidel Massacre: Los Angeles. Jimmy Burns, a Brooklyn-based vlogger, tests his new Samsung MMXI camera outside a Starbucks when an explosion occurs inside. Surviving the blast and assisting those injured, Burns’ footage is broadcast by Global News, a channel known for its graphic coverage, catapulting him into immediate fame. Soon after, he boards a Black Hawk helicopter bound for Baghdad to report for mainstream media outlets he previously criticized. While in Iraq, Burns encounters executives focused on ratings, Special Operations forces, and technologically adept jihadists—all attempting to manipulate him to serve their interests.
Reception
The webcomic attracted attention from prominent media such as Rolling Stone, Village Voice, Entertainment Weekly, Wired Magazine, and Publishers Weekly as well as The Beat blog. It earned a nomination for the 2007 Eisner Award in the category of "Best Digital Comic".
USA Today recognized Shooting War as their "big fall graphic novel," referring to it as "a subversively buzz-worthy online comic."