Scan barcode
geekwayne's review
3.0
'Operation Copperhead' with words and art by Jean Harambat is a graphic novel based on a true story about what two actors did during World War II.
Using the filming of 'Death On The Nile' in 1977 as a framing story, we find David Niven and Peter Ustinov reminiscing about the strange role they played in World War II. Ustinov as a sniper and Niven was doing recruiting tours using his fame as an actor. They get recruited to make a different kind of movie about army life, but the real reason only starts to come to light at the end of the book. They are to recruit someone who looks like an officer in an intelligence campaign to throw the Germans off.
I liked this story with its mix of comics and quotes from real life. The characters seem true to what I remember. The art style is kind of cartoony, but fits the story really well. Now I have to find the other parts so I know what happened!
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Using the filming of 'Death On The Nile' in 1977 as a framing story, we find David Niven and Peter Ustinov reminiscing about the strange role they played in World War II. Ustinov as a sniper and Niven was doing recruiting tours using his fame as an actor. They get recruited to make a different kind of movie about army life, but the real reason only starts to come to light at the end of the book. They are to recruit someone who looks like an officer in an intelligence campaign to throw the Germans off.
I liked this story with its mix of comics and quotes from real life. The characters seem true to what I remember. The art style is kind of cartoony, but fits the story really well. Now I have to find the other parts so I know what happened!
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
ljrinaldi's review
3.0
This is an interesting beginning of a longer graphic novel about David Niven and Peter Ustinov and a war time plan to trick the Nazis into thinking that Gen. Montgomery is planning to evade Europe from the South.
This whole first volume is a set up, however, and we dont' even begin to get to what, I presume, is the heart of the story.
This graphic novel is based on facts, but then apparently deviates from there.
Hard to say if once we get into volume 2, if things will pick up and we will get to the meat of the story.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
This whole first volume is a set up, however, and we dont' even begin to get to what, I presume, is the heart of the story.
This graphic novel is based on facts, but then apparently deviates from there.
Hard to say if once we get into volume 2, if things will pick up and we will get to the meat of the story.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
whataudreads's review
3.0
This is a very, very short little book, even considering it is just the first issue in a graphic series. I really wish that there had been time for more of a background on the characters, and as soon as it ended I was just beginning to want more (which is maybe a good thing?)
I definitely would recommend picking this story up in volumes as opposed to issues, because there isn't much to work with here. I was provided the first issue via the publishers and NetGalley. However, I do love the art style and the decision to incorporate excerpts from real newspapers and the autobiographies of the characters, as this is based on a true story.
And finally, the story itself is very unique and interesting. There are so many stories from the WWII era (and they are all important and deserve to be told) but this was one I had never heard about before. If the subject matter is interesting to you, I would recommend picking up the first volume.
I definitely would recommend picking this story up in volumes as opposed to issues, because there isn't much to work with here. I was provided the first issue via the publishers and NetGalley. However, I do love the art style and the decision to incorporate excerpts from real newspapers and the autobiographies of the characters, as this is based on a true story.
And finally, the story itself is very unique and interesting. There are so many stories from the WWII era (and they are all important and deserve to be told) but this was one I had never heard about before. If the subject matter is interesting to you, I would recommend picking up the first volume.
remembered_reads's review
3.0
A charmingly illustrated introduction to a four volume WWII story inspired by David Niven and Peter Ustinov's actual roles in the British military of the time. Jean Harambat's art is slightly less realistic that one would normally expect of a war story, but it works to create a sense of something somewhat reality-adjacent rather than a pure piece of history - which is perfect for a story about an operation that has deception as a goal.
The dialogue is less strong, and it's difficult to be certain if that's due to Harambat's original dialogue or the translation. The lettering also seemed lighter than it should have been, but as I read an eARC via NetGalley, it's possible that will have been changed for the final release.
The dialogue is less strong, and it's difficult to be certain if that's due to Harambat's original dialogue or the translation. The lettering also seemed lighter than it should have been, but as I read an eARC via NetGalley, it's possible that will have been changed for the final release.
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review
4.0
Disclaimer: I received a digital copy free via Netgalley.
David Niven and Peter Ustinov are know for the their film roles, including their work on Christie adaptions. But they also worked for the UK in the Second World War. This graphic novel chronicles those exploits in part, though as the introduction notes, it might not all be true.
The artwork is especially good, both actors are well drawn and there is humor in particular when it comes to filming Death on the Nile. There is a really panel with a camel that is quite funny.
However, what really sells the comic is the use of both Niven’s and Ustinov’s actual memoirs and auto biographies. It makes the graphic novel more historical and informative than the cover would suggest.
The speech patterns of both Niven and Ustinov are caught well by the writer. Considering the amount of moves that are dedicated to young Americans fighting the Germans and the Japanese during the Second World War, it is refreshing to read a story about older men who contribute in ways that are not as flashy but are perhaps just as, if not more, important.
More...