Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors (Graphic Novel Version)

[Dr PR]

"Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" (James Hornfischer, D. Murray, S. Sanders, M. Soffe, R. Steen, Dead Reckoning, Annapolis, MD, 2021, 200 pages) hardcover $29.95.

 

This is a cartoon book, done in the style of cheesy Sunday comic soap operas!! Speculative dialog, speculative actions - the absolute worst type of fictional history!

 

It is supposed to be a "history" of Taffy 3 at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The comic book story is based upon that event, but it isn't non-fiction history.

 

In my opinion it would be OK for a children's library, but it is pretty much useless for naval history.

 

There was an earlier book by Hornfischer published in 2005 that apparently was a historical action novel. From the reviews there is some question about how much was fact and how much was fiction. However, many people enjoyed it as an entertaining story.

 

Here is an example of the "historical" content in the cartoon version:

 

[Oldsalt1950]

That is really bad. 

 

Jim (Stg1sw, USN ret)

 

[thibaultron]

Well, thanks! I can now remove that one from my wish list on Amazon! Glad It didn't waste my money on it!

[myxyzptlyk2003]

While I can't vouch for the "comic" version, do not judge the original 2005 book by this version even though it is by the same author.     The original 2005 book is an excellent and riveting account of the Battle of Samar and the US destroyers involved in it.    The original book does an excellent job of telling the story of the bravery and heroism of the original "tin can sailors".  

As to reviews, almost all reviews I have read about the original book are 4 or 5 star reviews.

 

If you haven't read the original book I would highly recommend it.

[ccoyle]

The original is in no way a 'novel' -- it is a well documented historical treatise. It doesn't sound like you have read it, in which case your comments seem unduly harsh.