MWD stands for Military Working Dog. This is the story of Liz, a dog handler who served in Iraq and has just come home after being severely injured in the conflict. Liz is suffering from PTSD with flashbacks, nightmares, mood swings and the consequent substance abuse taking a toll on her life. She also comes home to a world where everyone else has stayed the same and she has changed - where, on the one hand there is a welcome home banner and ceremony, but on the other, her grandmother has rented out her room and all her stuff in storage has been sold off due to unpaid bills. One day, her on again, off again boyfriend Ben nearly runs over an escaped dog in the forest. This leads Liz to the local pound run by an ex- Vietnam war vet and his steadfast second wife . Can Brutus, a vicious dog destined for euthanizing, help Liz gain back some control over her shattered life?
Unfortunately this book is littered with the F-word and worse so it will be hard to justify keeping it in my school library. This is a real pity because the story is very engaging and you can tell by reading it that it was once a screenplay. It touches many issues including the fact that gays were not allowed in the military until 2010 and you could get thrown out of the army if you were even hinted at gay. Through the side story of Ben throwing a championship game to honour a severely disabled veteran that goes quite wrong, we also see the guilt played out by those who did not serve and have no concept of what it was like to serve. A gripping graphic novel in the true sense of the word. ( )

I thought having dogs and a female veteran would help this graphic novel rise above generic troubled-soldier-returns-home works of fiction, but the execution makes lands it in the below average range of the genre.

(Funny thing: After reading the book, I had no idea what the MWD in the title meant until I came here to write my review. Is it really not in the text of the story or did I just miss it? I now see that military working dog is referenced on the dust jacket, but I rarely read cover copy to avoid spoilers.) ( )

Literary Merit: Very Good
Characterization: Great
Reading Level: Upper High School/Adult
Recommended: Highly recommended for mature readers and collections

Johnson & Egleson present the tale of a traumatized veteran trying to heal an aggressive stray dog – and herself – in a simple but powerful tale. With well-researched, nuanced storytelling, the writers and artists respectfully touch on PTSD, sexual assault, and the small cruelties that can be inflicted on veterans by even the most well-meaning people. This graphic novel is definitely for mature readers, with adult language, suggestions of sexual assault, graphic violence, brief nudity, and alcohol abuse. However, readers ready for the content will be rewarded with a thoughtful story sure to linger with them for a long time. The art style can make telling characters apart a little difficult at times. ( )