You gotta love the Armed Forces!
921433
Great story, kind of a different angle on the zombies, on a higher plane you could say. Fantastical towards the end, but still entertaining. Very  colorful and memorable characters.
3429558
The author does such a good job cutting through all of the myths perpetrated by our military that everyone considering a stint in the armed forces should read this first so they understand what they're really signing up for.

Edited to fix typo in headline.
4420417
ComicWorm Speaks!

Defenders of Ultramar by Graham McNeill

****

The Story: Discover one of the fiercest fighting Chapter in the Universe: The Ultramarines 4th Company. Sergeant Learchus must take twenty-five new recruited Battle Brothers on their first engagement, as they embark on an investigation of the lost patrol ship Guillimans Honor. What was a routine mission becomes much more when 4th Company, encounters one of the Imperiums deadliest enemies!

The Good: Its the freakin Ultramarines! We get to see the Adeptus Astartes in full-color action. What more could one ask for? To actually see visual representations of Marneus Calgar, Sergeant Learchus, Judd Clausel, and an Ork Gargant is a real treat for any fan of Warhammer 40K.

The artwork is superbly crafted, with a keen but not overwhelming attention to detail. When reading, one can feel the action and the gunfire and the zeal of the Ultramarines when battling the fearsome Orks! The Orks are a very fun villain in the Warhammer 40k Universe, with their fairly cartoonish appearance and their ramshackle technology. There is no clash of ideals, no chaos, just a no-holds barred, shoot-em up adventure, with all the bullets and explosions anyone could want.

While there are definitely some serious moments, the whole story is a ton of fun and pretty straightforward, and thats okay. Not every story needs subtlety. Its okay to just have fun.

Blood and Guts are practically a hallmark of Warhammer 40k, but this time around it does not go all out, save for one scene with corpses chained to the front of an Ork war machine. This is a wise choice by the creative forces behind this work as going all out could turn off newcomers to the franchise.

The story also provides the reader with small amounts of background information, such as Space Marine terminology, which really helps put what is happening during action sequences, such as the differences between devastator and terminator squadrons.

What makes this story so good in the end is not just the action but the characters. Learchus demonstrates great wisdom as a leader and demonstrates the concern for the common man that is always so touching to see from the Astartes. This is Learchus story and to see him grow into a Captain from beginning to the ending is a great story.

The Flaws: The first major flaw about this graphic novel is when and where it takes place. The story directly references events that take place in the Ultramarines novel series also by Graham McNeill, those events being Captain Uriel Ventris and Pasanius Lysanes violation of the Codex Astartes and subsequent exile to the Eye of Terror. ComicWorm knows about these events but the common reader might not, so it makes the setup of the story a little confusing.

Another problem with the formatting is a common problem that comic series have: the use of different artists for different chapters, no pun intended. While they thankfully keep the character appearances and overall aesthetic consistent, it is a little jarring to see the art take a different direction with every new phase of the story.

Another problem with consistency is the portrayal of 4th Company Chaplain Judd Clausel. While physically, he looks pretty much the same in every chapter, the artists at times, overlook a key detail. In Warhammer 40K, it is a known fact that Chaplains of the Adeptus Astartes wear black armor and in some chapters Clausel is portrayed as wearing blue armor with little to separate him from other Ultramarines. It is not that big a deal but it is one of those things that can irk a member of the fan base and irks can add up. Its important to get details right.

Sometimes the characters can come off a little flat at times but that kind of exploration is not really needed in an action story such as this.

Final Verdict: Defenders of Ultramar is a terrific comic and definitely a worthy addition to anyones personal Black Library. ComicWorm hopes Learchus gets a novel of his own someday.

Four out Five Stars

thecultureworm.blogspot.com
3732822
Loved that it felt like a real military experience and not glorified or romanticized as much as most. Great read!
3241631
I LOVED this second story in the trilogy! Major Mallory and her soldiers are awesome...I hope, if something like this really happens, our military would be like this.  Thank you David!
305790
This book is perfect for anyone that enjoys the military, served in the military, or just enjoys the military point of view.  When I talk about the military, I'm not talking about the whiny draftee, or the officious officer looking for his next rank, I'm talking about the quiet professional that makes war his business, is good at it, and sees it for what it is.  Humor is plentiful (my girlfriend looked over at me laughing out loud several times) but this is not a funny book.  This is a serious look at how military professionals overcome and adapt.  The story is not bogged down with multiple technical descriptions of weapons, and it showcases all the elements (air, land, sea with emphasis on land) while always focusing on the prime element  - the people who make it work and the women who despite it all love them.  Special operations gets it's due here as well.  Again - great novel and looking for many more!
1692157
This book gives the American people an absolute stunning inside look at what type of person serves there country and the Pride and Honor they achieve in doing so. Being able to have some insight to what this country demands from Special Operators is just amazing and to know that there are service members out there risking it all to uphold our freedom and their code is unbelievable! Thank you for your service and dedication to all who are in this book. Especially to "Drago" who is mentioned for your unbound loyalty to this nation!
4044659
The stories in this anthology tell how brave men and women risked their lives to save fellow soldiers and equipment in their fight to keep America free. The stories give factual accounts of battles and show the grit of our fighting men and women in all branches of the service. If your heart doesn't swell with pride to be an American after reading this book, you better move! God bless America and praise the men who fought and died for freedom!
4645872
Here it is, the closest thing to real shenanigan's in the military. These 4 guys, brought back for me many memories of my time in the service, apart from the searching for gold. The dialogue between the character's is absolutely to die for. This game although kinda short, will not only draw you into it, but will not let go. I found myself playing until 1 or 2 am in the morning easy. If you don't like war gaming, then Bad Company will most certaintly change your mind. I have played many war games, but Bad Company gave me that your part of the team feeling. The same feeling I had when I was in the service. If you have war games on your shelf, this has got to be one of them.
2760681
Wow! I have never had the opportunity to be part of our great military, but while reading this book I was there!  If you ever want to intimately experience army life without the pain of actually experiencing army life, in all its "glory" and humor, you owe yourself the pleasure to read, and at the same time enjoy the illustrations in this book. Could not put it down, nor could our fourteen year old daughter.

Should be mandatory reading for all high school students!
2463690
This is one of my favorite series! It is a five show series showcasing the cutting edge military technology.
Each show is about 50 minutes long. The episodes include:

Disc 1
Ground Forces - focuses on the latest technology the Army has developed for its Future Combat Systems series of vehicles.
It showcases Blue Force Tracker which helps to identify and track friendly as well as enemy positions to cut through the fog
of war. Also showcases the Stryker armored vehicle and the technology it has.

Air Power - focuses on the advanced technology developed by the Air Force and NASA, in hypersonics, stealth (F-22 and F-35), precision
guided munitions, nano-technology, laser weapons(ABL), UAVs and satellites.

Sea power - focuses on the latest Navy and Marine technology. Featured are the Littoral Combat Ship, DDX, CGX, advanced gun system, discuses
network centric warfare (information superiority), F-35 and the Navy's design for a new class of aircraft carrier. The Marine technology
focuses on the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle and the advances in technology and capability it will give the Marines.

Disc 2
Counter-Terrorism - focuses on the technology and equipment being developed to protect us from terrorists. It includes scanners,
sensors you will probably find being used by TSA in the future. Details the use of drones (Predator UAV) to patrol and monitor
the border.

The Future of War - includes segments of footage from each of the above shows. It is more like a summary of the other four shows.
I tend to watch this episode when I do not have time to watch the more detailed shows above.

This collection of shows is an excellent showcase for the advanced technology being developed by the military. The only downside is that
it was produced in 2007 which makes the content dated to the time and the plans of the W. Bush administration. Some of the programs
discussed have since been cancelled. That said, this is still one of the best series of shows on advanced military technology available!
I would highly recommend this to the military enthusiast looking for a good documentary on military technology. The graphics/CGI is very
good and is mixed in with actual footage of hardware such as tanks, ships and aircraft. The technical experts and military officers
do a good job of explaining technical subjects in a way that is understandable for the average citizen. You can't beat the price/value
of this collection! What you get with the subject matter and content is better than a lot of other military documentaries. Even though
some of the weapons programs have been cancelled, I believe that future weapons programs will include a lot of the technology covered
in this series. I wish Popular Mechanics would make more shows for adults in the future, because this collection is terrific!
281019
My face hurt from the constant smile getting wider and wider with an occasional LOL, especially when the Dessert Storm uniform was referred to as a Chocolate Chip cookie!  Definitely an inside look and laugh at how our troops, so serious in the field, can LOL when there's time to relax.  A great gift for Active as well as Retired military. God bless our military men and women at home and in harm's way.
3938164
When I first saw the title of this book, I immediately tried to see how many things I could think of to love about military life.  Believe me, there is a LOT to love about military life.  It was comforting to know that it took four authors to come up with the just-released Center Press book, "1001 Things to Love About Military Life."  I don't feel so bad coming short on my list!

The book follows a logical sequence in identifying the great things about military life, beginning with reasons to join.  These range from the obvious, like "the opportunity to learn new skills and gain experience that will change your life" to some that you probably never thought about like "finding out what you're capable of."  This is something I never contemplated until I graduated from SERE school.  Believe me, I learned a lot about myself sitting in that little wooden box for what felt like days at a time (actual times may vary).  But, come on, what's not to love about blowing stuff up, jumping out of perfectly good planes, and shooting guns for free?!

"1001 Things to Love About Military Life" covers the entire gambit of military experience.  It includes the spouse, the family, military jargon, and even military traditions that I'm honestly going to miss when I leave the military myself.

The quotes are invaluable.  One quote from Adlai E. Stevenson had me pondering what a spot on statement she had made: "Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."

However, some of the "things" will probably make a few troops a little uncomfortable, such as #787, "Feeling grateful when you see someone in the military; knowing they are heroes worthy of admiration and respect."  Granted, this "thing" falls under the "Outside Looking In" chapter, but wearing the badge of "hero" is not exactly a comfortable title.

One of the best aspects of this book is the interactivity of it throughout.  It's not just something you pick up and then read through a list of things that are awesome about military service.  Throughout the book, the authors have placed boxes where the reader is requested to answer some important questions about themselves or others.

For example, the 306th "thing to love about military life" is "war-specific books and resources often cathartic in their shared experiences."  It then goes on to list several books, but asks the reader to also name his or her favorite helpful books.  For me, Keni Thomas's book, "Get It On!" instantly came to mind.  Another section geared towards military brats, asks for favorite memories as a military brat.

So, who was this book written for?  In my opinion: everyone!  For those wanting to get an inside look at what troops do, deal with, or experience this is a perfect book that is easy to read.  For those in the military already, it reminds us what a truly great life we live, though often frustrating and difficult.  And if you've never had a friend or family member in the military, this book does an excellent job of laying out in a well-crafted and outlined manner "1001 Things to Love About Military Life."
1467672
Leickie does a great job telling an awesome story!
A must for military readers and supporters of our men and women
in harms way
4773771
Having been in and around the military for over 30 years, my heart is with the knuckle draggers Thank you for a great, fast paced story!
2774812
Have utmost respect for our troops and their families and can never thank them enough. Now must thank this military spouse for this amazing love story! Highly recommend and can't wait for sequel!
4926700
I always enjoy hearing music from our military bands.  The music makes be very emotional to hear this type of music.  It's not played enough these days.