So You Want To Read Comics: Helldivers 2 Edition

We’re spreading managed democracy in this week’s “So You Want to Read Comics.”  This is our weekly feature where we take a look at a single topic or genre then give you two comic book recommendations, perfect for new readers, based on that topic or genre.  This week we’re looking at the newest gaming phenomenon, Helldivers 2.

Helldivers 2 by Arrowhead Game Studios was released on February 8th, 2024, and quickly became the obsession of the gaming world.  The game features co-op-focused PVE gameplay that sees up to four players teaming up to take on waves of enemy insectoid aliens and bloodthirsty automatons.  Each mission contributes to a larger war effort that accounts for all players’ contributions. On the surface, this seems simple, but once you add in a ruthless friendly fire feature, every mission turns into a frenzy battle where death can come from every angle.  Beyond the gameplay, the internet has really latched onto the aesthetics and tone of the game which is basically the 1997 Starship Troopers film cranked up to absurd levels.  Unlike the film though, people appear to have actually picked up on the point and have taken on equally over-the-top personas and have plastered short-form video platforms TikTok and Reels with their “heroic deeds”.  It’s been a silly and fun thing to see, but it also provides an opportunity for those who’ve really gotten into it to check out some other media that has a similar feel.  In particular, comic books.

Once you’re done defending the Super Earth way of life, here are a couple of comic books you can take a look at.

JUDGE DREDD

Writers: Pat Mills and John Wagner

Artists: Mick McMahon and Brian Bolland

Publisher: 2000 AD Graphic Novels

One of the selling points of Helldivers 2 is a satirical, over-the-top jingoistic tone.  Every bit of lore and story is dripping with tongue-in-cheek takes on patriotic slogans and ideals.  While the Helldivers are soldiers for Super Earth, it’s clear that they’re ripping on The US, and if you’re interested in satirical takes on the good ol’ US of A, then you could do far worse than Judge Dredd.  Taking place in Mega-City One, the tales of Judge Dredd are one part ultra-violent, sci-fi action and one part critique of the increasing militarization of police in the US and the society that allows this to happen.  The titular character is a law-enforcement agent who can act as judge, jury, and executioner simultaneously and is willing to dole out justice to anyone and everyone who breaks the law.  Judge Dredd has been going since the 80s and has featured primarily in a comics anthology called 2000 A.D. of which it became the most popular title.  With a series that has the sort of staying power of Judge Dredd, you can probably guess that there’s a lot of content, and you’d be right.  There are a lot of different collections, but the most concise and easy to collect are the Complete Case Files, even so, there are 43 volumes of that.

STAR WARS: EMPIRE – VOL. 3 “THE IMPERIAL PERSPECTIVE”

Writer: Welles Hartley

Artist: Brian Ching

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

While there’s been some debate about this, I’m here to tell you that the humans in Helldivers and its inspiration, Starship Troopers, are the bad guys.  Now, while it might be questionable to outright “root” for the bad guys, there’s no harm in admitting that some good stories can come from seeing their side of things. This is exactly what you get in this volume of Star Wars: Empire, a series that ran in 2004.  This volume features a story called “To the Last Man”, which sees a company of stormtroopers on a hostile planet facing down overwhelming numbers, all hellbent to remove The Galactic Empire from their planet.  To be clear, this story never tries to paint the Empire as “the good guys”, but it does humanize the typically faceless Stormtroopers, by showing how bureaucratic failures, up and down the line, have led these soldiers to imminent doom.  Any fan of Helldivers 2 can appreciate what it’s like to see a hopeless situation and to simply keep firing in response.  I’ll admit, it’s a little strange to be suggesting a story that takes place halfway through the series, but honestly, all you really need is a passing knowledge of Star Wars to appreciate this one.

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