Indeed, two comic book veterans, writer Sid Jacobson and artist Ernie Colon,
have brought 9/11 to the comic book world. Jacobson and Colon have based their
new graphic novel on the 9/11 Commission's final report on the terrorist attacks
on Sept. 11, 2001. I've read the report already, which is stunning in its detail
and surprisingly well written, and I'm extremely intrigued to see what kind of
treatment it will get as a graphic novel. Whether you agree with all the
findings of the commission or not, the U.S. government's version of the tragic
events that day should be required reading.

Aside from my interest in comic book artistry, there are more important matters
here. Even though 9/11 is still burning in most people's minds here in America,
far too many people forget that the bi-partisan 9/11 Commission essentially
flunk the federal government and the Bush Administration's efforts to secure
America and protect it from terrorist attacks. Most people don't realize that
President Bush and Congress have blown off the recommendations of the 9/11
Commission to improve the country's security. So while the 9/11 Commission
Report was released as a 500-page non-fiction book in 2004 and quickly became a
bestseller, there was hardly any call to action.

Perhaps that will change with "The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation." The new
graphic novel will be previewed this week at Comic-Con 2006 in San Diego, which
I will be attending. Jacobson and Colon will discuss their work with a few other
panel members and ask if a comic book can make a political statement and
motivate people to act. I, for one, can't wait to hear and see more.