Roll Hard (True Stories from "licensed to kill, Hired guns in the war on terror") Paperback – January 1, 2013

The illustrations really add to Mr. Pelton’s experience with PMCs in Iraq. I didn’t know exactly how dangerous that road from Baghdad to the airport was, and how these PMC employees really risked their lives on a daily basis patrolling that area. Intense, action-packed and informative, this graphic novel has it all.

Mr. Pelton was Special Forces accepted as Special Operator, i heard him on coast can tell from his conversation he was lagit, made it back and wrote some books, Operators do some real danderous stuff. This was kind of an illistrated comic book, thought it was one of his regular books of his adventures but its ok, would'nt criticise him, i was Marine Spec Ops.

Wish they had made a whole series.

Great story,

War correspondent and world-renowned adventurer Robert Young Pelton's graphic novel "Roll Hard" can be read cover to cover in a matter of an hour—pretty standard fare for a graphic novel. That said, the artwork and writing are first-rate, and though you may read it in an hour, you'll be back to read it again later. "Roll Hard" portrays an intimate snapshot of the lives of Blackwater contractors who regularly ran Route Irish—one of the most deadly passageways in Iraq in 2004, affectionately referred to as "RPG Alley." Pelton, himself portrayed as a character in the graphic novel, rides along with the crew, sharing the constant danger and narrowly surviving more than a few close calls.What elevates this work from merely an action-packed comic to a poignant work of art are Pelton's efforts to understand the motivations of the contractors he's embedded with beyond their obvious monetary gain. What he and the reader eventually unearth is the revelation that these men are not bloodthirsty mercenaries as the public tends to think, but are instead driven by a sense of patriotism, honor, and loyalty to family and their comrades. Tucci's artistic talent only magnifies the sense of unrelenting danger and clearly portrays the unforgiving environment Pelton and the men from "Mamba Team" must overcome to survive.

"Roll HardBilly Tucci and Robert Young PeltonBased on journalist Pelton’s Licensed to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror, about the role of security contractors in the “war on terror,” this graphic novel comes as something of a surprise. Instead of the expected action-figure heroics and G.I. Joe pyrotechnics in a Middle Eastern setting, the story focuses on a disparate group of hardened military contractors who make the daily eight-minute security run down an extremely dangerous stretch of road that runs between the Baghdad International Airport and the Green Zone in the heart of the city. While their heavily armored vehicle provides some protection against the sniping and rocket-propelled grenades of local insurgents, the men remain tense and wary, as every passing second could be their last. While that’s a prime setup for endless scenes of action-movie carnage, the narrative instead focuses on the men as professionals and what makes them put their lives on the line for a daily payout of around $600. It’s that spotlight on the humanity of the contractors that makes this an engaging read, and artist Tucci (Sgt. Rock: The Lost Battalion) turns in understated, realistic artwork that is among the finest of his career. While the role of contractors in the Iraq conflict is controversial, this gives it a human face. (Jan.)

My favorite part was when they indiscriminately gunned down innocent civilians

I like finely drawn artwork in my graphic novels and this is some of the best! Fans of military hardware will love it's realism (and there is a section at the end about the weapons and equipment they use [with photos]). But most of all, the story is based on the work of Robert Young Pelton--a journalist who accompanied these private security contractors (like Blackwater) on dangerous convoys to and from the Green Zone in armored vehicles. I learned about what motivates these private military contractors and why they do it. If you like military graphic novels and excellent artwork, you'll like this one. I did.