Daily Comic Book Mission #015: Sara: A Graphic Novel (TKO Studios)

Today’s Daily Comic Book Mission is special because today I’m at Phantom of the Attic Comics in Oakland, browsing the store and picking up my weekly subscriptions, and I’m going to ask Jeff, the owner, to assign a Daily Comic Book Mission. So we’ll see what he comes up with. It’s probably going to be different than whatever I would come up with, which would most likely either be Conan or Shogun Warriors, but we’ll see what Jeff thinks.

So, let’s get ready. Alright, so I’ll set the scene here. It’s Thursday afternoon. It’s a beautiful day. And I walked up the stairs to Phantom of the Attic, Oakland. And I’m surrounded by some of my favorite things in the world, comic books. And here is the owner… Jeff.

Hey Jeff.
Hi Mark.
Hello, how are you doing today?
I’m doing okay.

Mark - So I’ve been doing, or giving, daily comic book missions to listeners and readers on the website, and a good half of my suggestions are pretty ridiculous, but really it’s whatever’s on my mind, something I think that people should go out and read. And I ask you, what would be your daily comic book mission to assign to listeners?

Jeff - Well, there’s so many, but I’m gonna stick out and recommend from TKO Studios the Sara graphic novel. This is done by Garth Ennis and Steve Epting… and Elizabeth Breitweiser. The Sara graphic novel is about Sara, who is a woman sniper in World War II on the Eastern Front. So the story is about her and her team of women snipers who are actively killing many Germans.

And the Germans are aware that women are killing them, and they’re not very happy that it’s women that are the snipers. So it’s a story about, it’s a very intense story. It’s all one volume. It’s totally historically accurate. This is one of our best selling graphic novels ever, and I highly recommend it.

Mark - And it’s spelled S-A-R-A.

Jeff - That is correct, Sara. And she’s on what’s like a white cover and she’s looking incredibly defiant, in red, carrying her sniper rifle. Alright. Yeah, highly recommended.

Mark - Mine are usually just like giant robots, lasers, crushing things, explosions.

Jeff - Well, it’s a little different. You know, war comics were a bigger thing in the past, but they still exist. And Garth Ennis really knows how to write a great war comic.

Mark - Jeff and I will be doing a full-length podcast soon. I’m going to be talking to him about what’s involved in running a comic book store and just changes in the industry over the past many decades. But before I wrap this up, these are short. I’m curious, how well is the Jar Jar comic selling over there?

Jeff - It’s been a surprising hit for us.

Mark - What?

Jeff - You heard me. It’s been a surprising hit for us. We sold out the first day. We had to get more in. I mean, it’s slowed down, but it was a surprise first day sell-out.

Mark - That’s really not the answer I was expecting, Jeff.

Jeff - Well, neither were we. But nonetheless, he is maybe a comic book hit.

Mark - Wait, does that mean there’s going to be more of them?

Jeff - Well, stay tuned. Stay tuned.

Mark - Oh, no. What have I done? I ask a question, I got the answer I didn’t expect.

Jeff - Comics are always surprising.

Mark - Thank you.

Jeff - All right. Thank you, Mark. Have a great day, everyone.

Mark - And we’re at Phantom of the Attic Oakland, so people can find you online.

Jeff - Yes, they can. We’re on Instagram and Facebook and I think currently that’s about it. But nonetheless, come visit us.

Mark - Alright, thank you!