Review of “Johnny Vet: America’s Original Superhero” by Maj. General Alan B. Salisbury

Score: 95+/100 (9.5+ out of 10)

Johnny Vet is what happens when a Veterans Day assembly, a history textbook, and a superhero comic all decide to team up. It is part graphic novel, part civics lesson, part heartfelt thank you letter to everyone who ever put on a U.S. uniform. Created by a real life Major General and illustrated by Carla Millar, this book wears its mission proudly on its sleeve: explain who veterans are, what they do, and why their service still matters long after the last salute.

The big structural choice is simple and brilliant. Johnny Vet and Jane Vet are not just characters, they are stand ins for every veteran from 1775 to today. They walk us from the Revolutionary War through Iraq and Afghanistan, narrating how each generation answered the call. Kids get clear, chronological snapshots of the War of 1812, the Civil War, the World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, and the Global War on Terror. The tone is patriotic, energetic, and accessible. You can tell this was built to be read in classrooms, at kitchen tables, and maybe on the bus ride to a Veterans Day event.

One thing we really appreciated about this book is how it explains the existence and necessity of the military as a fighting force and a defense force. To many kids (and adults), war can seem really scary, violent, and unnecessary. This book is a reminder that there are things worth fighting for: our freedoms, our sovereignty, our beliefs, our values, the safety of our friends and loved ones, and our country.

It's like Sun Tzu said, "The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected."

There's a reason why even neutral countries having standing militaries. Most people want peace, but the path to peace is strength. People tend not to invade and attack those who are strong. A bully doesn't bully a strong person, it prefers to pick on the weak and defenseless. Nuclear-armed countries tend not to want to fight each other directly for a reason (in fear of escalation). You need to be willing and able to fight when push comes to shove.

And that makes sense to the average person.

That's actually why the history lessons work. They showcase how there were times in our history when the military was heroic, valiant, and necessary such as when we achieved our freedom from Great Britain, when we freed the slaves, or when we defeated Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. Again, some things—truly—are worth fighting for, and you need people who are willing to fight: soldiers, and soldiers who become veterans.

The book also does a good job at explaining the process of becoming a soldier and the structure of the military. It covers things like basic training, ranks, and the different branches.

Later on in the book, the focus shifts toward the stories of actual real-life veterans who did extraordinary things in service to our country.

For example:

Jan Scruggs the Vietnam infantryman who turned nightmares into the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Darlene Iskra the Navy diver and first woman to command a U.S. Navy ship at sea. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger the Air Force trained pilot whose steady hands gave us the “Miracle on the Hudson.” Carlos Torres the Marine who lost both legs to an IED and then climbed mountains and volcanoes on prosthetics. Reby Cary the World War II Coast Guardsman who became a pioneering Black educator and Texas legislator. Susan Helms the Air Force officer and astronaut who lived on the ISS and later commanded space operations.

Taken together, they make the book’s core argument feel real: veterans are not just people who “used to” serve, they are community builders, trailblazers, and problem solvers in civilian life. We loved how the book pairs each bio with a visual arc. You literally see each person move from uniform to suit, classroom, cockpit, or mountain trail. For young readers, that quietly answers the question, “What happens after the war” in a hopeful, concrete way.

Artistically, this is a busy, informative book. Millar’s illustrations are classic, clean, and slightly old school in the best way. Panels are packed with ships, planes, tanks, satellites, and crowds. Splash pages like “Veterans on Parade” and “More Heroes” are pure eye candy, rewarding slow, careful looking. The uniforms, insignia, and hardware are rendered with obvious research and respect. The creeds, charts, and infographics on the branch pages (Soldier’s Creed, Sailor’s Creed, ranks and insignia, combatant commands, Space Force capabilities) turn the book into something close to a visual reference guide. Teachers are going to love those pages.

There is also a strong PSA spine. Profits support the Code of Support Foundation, and the last third of the book leans into action. We see caregiver “Hidden Heroes,” military families, National Guard and Reserve members, then a clear call to “support our veterans” with specific examples. The “Kids Can Help, Too” spread is especially smart. It roots youth volunteerism in a historical tradition of junior service corps and then shows modern kids writing letters, helping at home, and starting projects that matter. This is character education in full color.

From a craft perspective, the strengths and weaknesses are tied together. The book is packed with information. That is great for adults, older kids, and classrooms, but younger elementary readers may find some spreads overwhelming. Several pages have more text blocks than a typical comic, and the font is fairly small. This reads more like a graphic history booklet than a fast moving superhero story, despite the title and cover. Some kids will be captivated, others might need an adult to walk them through.

So, what we're saying is: the density of this book is both a strength and weakness.

Yes, you're getting a lot of content, but you're also getting a lot of things thrown at you at once. It can be a lot to digest and process. It can honestly be overwhelming.

The tone is also very reverent and idealistic. Wars are framed primarily in terms of defending freedom, answering the call, and protecting democracy. There are nods to hardship, loss, and post traumatic stress, but very little space for controversy, policy debates, or moral gray areas. That is a deliberate choice in a book aimed at kids and at honoring service, yet older readers may notice the absence of nuance around Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the costs of war. This feels, at times, closer to a recruitment friendly civics primer than to a complex graphic novel in the Maus or March tradition. That might bug some people.

But we're patriotic and love our military, so we're ok with it.

Still, within its chosen lane, Johnny Vet succeeds powerfully. It gives kids and adults a shared language for talking about veterans. It introduces real role models from every branch, including women and people of color whose stories are often left out of the standard narrative. It anchors patriotism not just in flag waving, but in specific values that the book names clearly as “superpowers” of character: commitment, courage, integrity, and selfless service. That page alone is a ready made lesson plan.

In the end, Johnny Vet: America’s Original Superhero is less about capes and more about character. It invites readers to see veterans not as distant figures in uniform but as neighbors, teachers, pilots, engineers, athletes, caregivers, and community leaders. It is a richly detailed, unapologetically patriotic tribute that will shine brightest in classrooms, youth groups, and families who want to connect history, gratitude, and service.

This is a densely packed, big hearted graphic primer on American veterans that turns real people into the kind of superheroes kids can actually grow up to be!

Check it out on Amazon!