The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation

I didn't have time to read the 9-11 Commission's report, and its breadth overwhelmed me. This book explained all the main points in the report with easy language, graphics and impartiality. All lengthy, complicated reports should be done in comic-book style like this was-- then people will read them and understand what is really going on in the world. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to know what led up to 9-11.

This is a great review of the events of 9/11. Lots of background on both the preparation by the terrorists and the lack of preparation that made the US vulnerable. A very enjoyable read for all ages, well, maybe not the little ones!

"The Commission Recommends:

WE SHOULD OFFER AN EXAMPLE OF MORAL LEADERSHIP COMMITTED TO TREAT PEOPLE HUMANELY, ABIDE BY THE RULE OF LAW, AND BE GENEROUS AND CARING TO OUR NEIGHBORS. THE VISION OF THE FUTURE SHOULD STRESS LIFE OVER DEATH: INDIVIDUAL EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY."

I have never read the 9/11 Commission's report. And while I've questioned my own ability to be a fully-informed American citizen while lacking a familiarity with the contents of such an important historic document, the original report's 568 pages have always felt like an insurmountable read despite my obvious abilities as a reader. Any notion that the typical adolescent student might ever tackle those 568 pages is rather inconceivable.

In 117 pages that are presented in an inviting graphic format, comic book icons Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon -- contemporaries of my parents -- summarize and superbly illustrate the findings of the 9/11 Commission. They present the essential information from the Commission's report in a manner that makes it fully accessible to adolescents whose lives are forever going to be impacted by what happened that day, and who will participate in future decisions concerning how we might move forward in a way that we can both sustain human civilization on Earth and better fulfill the promise of America's highest ideals.

"SCHEDULED TO LEAVE NEWARK AIRPORT AT 8 O'CLOCK -- FITTING INTO THE TERRORISTS' PLAN OF FOUR FLIGHTS LEAVING AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME -- UNITED FLIGHT 93 HAD TO SIT ON THE GROUND FOR 42 MINUTES BECAUSE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC"

The book is quick to engage readers through the use of long, folding-out pages that present a graphic timeline of the events taking place simultaneously on the four highjacked aircraft and following them to their tragic conclusion. This first section concludes with a haunting illustration in which black and gray ribbons of smoke drift across the Manhattan skyline in the background and across the profile of Lady Liberty in the foreground.

The book proceeds to reveal details of the government's inability to promptly and efficiently react to the attacks, the history of the "New Terrorism," a history of previous threats and terrorist attacks against U.S. interests, and the evolution of America's counterterrorism efforts. (It is fascinating to see Bill Clinton's pre-9/11 agonizing over what collateral loss of life might be acceptable if Bin Laden had been targeted.) We also learn the details of the selection and training of the hijackers, the heroism at Ground Zero, and the eventual U.S. military response to the attacks.

It seems inevitable that a failure to assume the moral leadership recommended by the Commission will result in a continued growth of the ranks of those around the world who are opposed to U.S. interests and are willing to act violently. An example of that process, as cited by the Commission is:

"PAKISTAN'S ENDEMIC POVERTY, WIDESPREAD CORRUPTION, AND OFTEN INEFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ISLAMIST RECRUITMENT. MILLIONS OF FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY THE POOR, SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS OR MADRASSAS. MANY OF THESE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN USED AS INCUBATORS FOR VIOLENT EXTREMEISM. IN KARACHI ALONE, THERE ARE 859 MADRASSAS TEACHING MORE THAN 200,000 YOUNGSTERS."

I certainly appreciate the hard work and vision of the distinguished Americans who served on the 9/11 Commission. But I also think that Jacobson and Colon each deserve a medal for transforming the important yet impenetrable report produced by the Commission into a readily digestible record of the history surrounding the unfathomable events of September 11, 2001. I feel extremely well informed for having read their book and so thankful that this notable work provides effective access and thereby contributes significantly to the national dialogue.

It is a book that certainly belongs in every middle and high school in America.

The audience for this book can be divided into two kinds of people: those who are familiar enough with the details and findings around 9/11, and; those who are only superficially aware with the happenings of 9/11, having explored little beyond what was reported in and speculated upon in the general media. I'd count myself in the former category, and hence this review is more relevant to a group of people who do already have a fair amount of insight into this event.

For such a group then, my overall stance is that this book is not worth the time, and I wouldn't give it more than a 2-star rating. If you picked up the book like me, you'd either do it because you a) wanted to or expected to learn a reasonable amount that was new, and/or; b) for the sheer aesthetics and the style of the book, which you'd hope would make irrelevant the fact that the substance would be old. On the first front, the book definitely did not live up to my expectations, with the sole exception of driving home very strongly the point on the lack of coordination between the multifarious US intelligence agencies. On the second front though, I enjoyed the book much more, as the book uses some very effective stylistic approaches, such as the parallel timelines for the four aircrafts, and overall has superb graphics.

Before concluding, I'd like to add that even though I am not equipped to comment on the book from the perspective of readers relatively fresh to 9/11's details, my sense is that this book is going to be a very worthwhile experience (I'd probably give it a 4-star in this case) for them. It does contain a lot of insight, and presents the insight in a very accessible form. Balancing my own and what I think were the author's intended audiences' perspectives, I've given this book a 3-star rating, but really, each of the two groups should take a call individually and take a go/no-go decision to read this book accordingly.

If you want a unique historical depiction of history, read Joe Sacco. No one wants to read what we all saw in the news over, and over, and over again. As a Graphic Narrative, this 9/11 Report merely attempts to mimic the form. Most of the illustrations are just digital tracings of photos. It's poorly stylized, and has little to no direction on the page. It's no different than the "Left Behind" series, which God uses as toilet paper.