Trenches

    (Top Shelf, 2003)
™ and © Top Shelf

Mills delivers interesting character interaction between two brothers and their commanding officer, all of whom are fighting for England and for their lives on the French battlefield during World War I.

There is a delicate dynamic in this troika. Younger brother Lloyd unconditionally loves his older, abusive sibling Davey; Davey, nonetheless, watches out for his little brother but constantly challenges Officer Hemingway; and Hemingway, in turn, becomes a sort of father figure to both men in the trenches — especially to Lloyd, who was unloved by his own father.

Mills throws in periodic flashbacks to the brothers’ younger days, and his timing is impeccable; just when some explanation is warranted, or a break from the battlefield is needed, a few pages are devoted to the history of these two men, and the story is stronger for it.

Amid the backdrop of a terrible war, Mills manages to tell a story of camaraderie and bonding, whether it’s found within the family or not. Mills’ loose art style makes things a bit hard to follow; everyone looks like some kind of minimalist caricature; but, with only three main characters, that’s not an unforgivable shortcoming.

— Jim Johnson
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