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mezzosherri's review against another edition
4.0
Jacobson and Colon offer a strong distillation of the 500+ page 9/11 Commission Report in "graphic novel" format, in hopes of making the commission's finding more widely disseminated among the American public. (An effort I was glad to see sanctioned in a forward by the Commission's Chair and Vice Chair, Thomas Kean and Lee Hamilton, in their forward to this "graphic adaptation."
There is much that is praise-worthy about this book. The opening depiction of four simultaneous timelines showing the fates of the four hijacked flights is a chilling reminder of both how quickly the events unfolded while also pointing to those moments where quicker analysis/action might have been possible. The book then moves back in time to show the background context of 9/11: both the rise and actions of Al Quaeda, as well as the bureaucracies and priorities in U.S. Government and Intelligence that left us unprepared. I admire the authors for doing such an ethical job in taking direct quotes from the actual Commission Report, but must also observe that the resulting narrative is dense and does not always lend itself to presentation within such a visual medium. This problem is made worse by several pages where the flow of frame to frame, text box to text box, is FAR from clear, leaving the reader unsure as to how information is meant to be organized. Still, even with those flaws, an important contribution towards civic and historical knowledge.
There is much that is praise-worthy about this book. The opening depiction of four simultaneous timelines showing the fates of the four hijacked flights is a chilling reminder of both how quickly the events unfolded while also pointing to those moments where quicker analysis/action might have been possible. The book then moves back in time to show the background context of 9/11: both the rise and actions of Al Quaeda, as well as the bureaucracies and priorities in U.S. Government and Intelligence that left us unprepared. I admire the authors for doing such an ethical job in taking direct quotes from the actual Commission Report, but must also observe that the resulting narrative is dense and does not always lend itself to presentation within such a visual medium. This problem is made worse by several pages where the flow of frame to frame, text box to text box, is FAR from clear, leaving the reader unsure as to how information is meant to be organized. Still, even with those flaws, an important contribution towards civic and historical knowledge.
0live_tr33's review against another edition
3.0
Something slightly different from my usual reading list. I was interested when I saw this book at the library because I am not from America I have only heard things about 9/11, not the full story. This graphic adaptation was an interesting way to engage with the terrible historic event. I learned many pieces of information like how there were four planes, not two and there was 19 terrorist in the planes. I did struggle with reading the story and following along with what year each event happened and the characters names. This was mainly because the book kept jumping year to year to give backstory and context but this left me confused.
ferdy_goat's review against another edition
3.0
I truthfully don’t know how to review this book.
I think the most succinct way to describe it is that it’s an interesting presentation of a really boring (not to mention propagandistic) historical document.
The views expressed by the report are what you’d expect. The drawings are well done. The rest is history. I don’t know if I’d recommend this book unless you find yourself forced to consume the official 9/11 report, in which case this is a fun way to do so.
I think the most succinct way to describe it is that it’s an interesting presentation of a really boring (not to mention propagandistic) historical document.
The views expressed by the report are what you’d expect. The drawings are well done. The rest is history. I don’t know if I’d recommend this book unless you find yourself forced to consume the official 9/11 report, in which case this is a fun way to do so.
bibliothecarivs's review against another edition
4.0
You've never read history like this: the 9/11 Commission's final report on the 2001 terrorist attacks, abridged and illustrated in comic book format- though there's nothing funny here. The serious, nonfiction storytelling combined with vivid graphics make for a gripping and unforgettable experience.
geeahna's review against another edition
5.0
Great way to share information on this topic in a way that people - and especially young people - will want to read.
nwhyte's review against another edition
http://nhw.livejournal.com/723209.html[return][return]A few things jumped out at me differently on reading this version. I didn't remember the original making such a strong point of the non-involvement of Iraq and Hezbollah in the events of 9/11. The key passage about the FBI agent who speculated that someone might fly a plane into the World Trade Centre has been toned down. But the utter confusion among the US top leadership on the morning of the attacks is even better portrayed in graphical form than by the written word alone.[return][return]Two years on, the Commission itself has added to the original text a pretty damning report card of the US response to making sure that it cannot happen again, with a bit more stress on the necessity of getting to grips with the Arab world than the original had, and a general condemnation of the apathy of the Executive and still more the legislative branches of government.[return][return]Anyway, this is an excellent adaptation - true to the spirit of the original, very well presented. Strongly recommended.
robertrivasplata's review against another edition
4.0
Brief Illustrated summary of the 9/11 Commission Report of 2004. Definitely worth a read for historical/cultural purposes. Gives a detailed timeline of the 9/11 attacks, including how the al-Qaeda plot unfolded. While the report (or at least this summary of it) assigned blame for failures that led to the 9/11 attacks themselves, and makes recommendations for improving preparedness for and prevention of terrorist attacks, it refrains from directly addressing the failures in the response that were already glaringly apparent in 2004 (such as the Iraq War, the establishment of lawless torture zones at Guantanamo and elsewhere, etc.). I was also a little disappointed it did not have more about the establishment and performance of the Department of Homeland Security; I would have liked some sort of evaluation of how well it performs its supposed task. I was also a little surprised that the report did not mention that threats and worries of suicide airplane attacks had been floating around for at least the months leading up to 9/11 (newspapers at the time reported the G20 summit in Genoa being protected with Anti-Aircraft missiles).
revslick's review
4.0
The only way to read the report from the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the US.
avoraciousreader68's review
4.0
*Book source ~ Library
The 9/11 Commission’s report in graphic novel form.
For those who want an easier way to read about 9/11 this graphic novel does the trick. I can’t say I’m enthusiastic about the artwork, but it’s acceptable and the story is very detailed for a graphic novel. I recommend anyone who hasn’t read some books about 9/11, but would like to, start with this one. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
The 9/11 Commission’s report in graphic novel form.
For those who want an easier way to read about 9/11 this graphic novel does the trick. I can’t say I’m enthusiastic about the artwork, but it’s acceptable and the story is very detailed for a graphic novel. I recommend anyone who hasn’t read some books about 9/11, but would like to, start with this one. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
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