The War Within: One More Step at a Time

By G. B. Trudeau and Richard B. Myers

The wounded Iraq War vet B.D. continues his healing journey in this sequel to the Doonesbury book The Long Road Home.

When his Humvee was blown apart in Fallujah, B.D. lost his leg—and his signature helmet—but it wasn’t his time to die. As his healing process continues, he discovers that the “war within” can be a long and lonely struggle. It’s hardly the life of a “glamorous amputee” imagined by his daughter's jealous classmate. With his coaching job at Walden re-secured and the marathon PT sessions paying off, B.D.'s return to normalcy seems to be progressing well. But those who love him see alarming signs of trouble.

As B.D. admits to his doctor, “I'd rather sleep with my weapon than my wife! How messed up is that?” Messed up enough that he starts circling the local Vet Center, where he is gently reeled in by a remarkable counselor and Vietnam Vet named Elias. Their sessions together form an extraordinary and moving chronicle of catharsis and coming-to-terms. The words “Welcome home, soldier,” are powerful and transformative, and B.D. is finally getting to a place where he can hear them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Jun 19, 2012
• ISBN: 9781449412647

Book preview

Reviews for The War Within

[clark7hallman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Doonesbury: The War Within: One More Step at a Time by G.B. Trudeau is the second graphic novel in Trudeau’s “Wounded Warrior” three-book series. This is an amazing graphic novel that enables the reader to empathize with B.D., Boobsie and their daughter while they struggle to try to recoup a normal life after B.D. loses one of his legs in an RPG attack in Iraq. The Long Road Home: One Step at a Time, the first book in this series, covered his physical traumas including numerous surgeries. This book reveals a family in chaos due to B.D.’s PTSD. He now lives in constant fear and drinks almost continually. He thinks parked cars are rigged with explosives to kill him and his family. He sleeps with a loaded rifle and shoots up his own garage. Boobsie and his daughter are afraid of him. Unfortunately, he refuses to accept help from his local VA Medical facility. Unlike the first book of the series, Trudeau does not include much humor in this one, although there are some light-hearted segments. He provides a poignant story that is effectively enhanced by his illustrations. It is astounding that a story this powerful was achieved in a graphic novel. I highly recommend this book to everyone.