Tet is the third entry in IDW Publishing’s new creator owned and imprint Comics Experience, and I’ve been reading this one since the first issue. It originally was not in my pull list when I saw the title on the rack, but I immediately recognized it for it was—a book set during the Vietnam War—and picked it up.

Every generation has its set of war movies; and for an eighties kid like myself, it was the Vietnam War. I enjoyed watching films like Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, Born on the Fourth of July, and Aliens—yes Aliens was a sci-fi metaphor for the Vietnam War, watch it again if you don’t believe me.

Tet is like that Vietnam War movie from the eighties that never got green lit (but should have). Despite the rule breaking happening in eighties film work, one thing always remained the same—there were never any LGBT characters serving openly in military films, the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ (now repealed) rule applied then in military films too. There were allusions and metaphors, and some bromances tinged with homoeroticism, but I cannot recall any open LGBT character from any of the mainstream 1980s Vietnam War films—a butchy Lt Vasquez in Aliens was as close as we got, and even she we had to infer. Tet, as a comic book, fixes that.

When I was given a chance to review issue #4, I jumped on it. Issue #3 resolves one mystery, but leaves another for the next issue: what happened to Lt. Eugene Smith’s fiancée, Ha, during the Tet invasion? You will have to pick it up your self to find out.

However, I will tell you this, issue #4 concludes this well drawn tragic love tale. Lt. Smith’s and Bao’s friendship is put to a final test, and the Lieutenant may finally come to terms with his pain. If you are a fan of smart crime noir, and gritty war comics, this one is for you. The story is heartbreaking, but overall, extremely satisfying. Tet is a sleeper that hasn’t got too much attention; but it should.

Story: Paul Allor Art: Paul Tucker
Story: 10 Art: 9 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review