From Mark Russell And Artist PJ Holden Comes Dog Tag, A Harrowing World War II Story About Survival, Truth, and the Human Cost of War
- Byron O'Neal
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
When gunfire stops, survival doesn’t.This spring, Mad Cave Studios brings DOG TAG, a six-issue war series from writer Mark Russell (Vanishing Point) and artist PJ Holden (Judge Dredd), with colors by JP Jordan and lettering by Buddy Beaudoin.
Inspired by real events from the final year of World War II, the series follows a soldier-journalist as the line between witnessing war and surviving it disappears. Issue #1 features variant covers by Sebastián Piriz (Black Beacon) and Erica Henderson (Harley Quinn).
Dog Tag is a fictional story about a very real war. It follows the life and thoughts of Corporal Tom Fuller through the final year of World War II as his service takes him from the invasion of Normandy to the surrender of Japan. Borrowed from real-world stories and little-known events of the war, Dog Tag asks big questions about the war while focusing on the heroism of the ordinary people who lived and died during the conflict.
“Dog Tag is the kind of World War II story I'd always hoped to write,” said Mark Russell. “An homage to a grandfather I never knew but who served in the war, a reminder of the consequences of giving a nation over to belligerence and cruelty, and also the re-telling of true but little-known chapters of the war through the eyes of a writer who is worried that no one will believe him when he tells them what the war is really like.”
“Growing up in the 70s/80s, I was exposed to WWII through a steady stream of War movies, great rollicking adventures, heroic missions, and manly sacrifice. Of course, real war is often nothing like that. Real war is often sacrifices made by scared, tired boys who are barely old enough to be classified as men. I hope from reading this book we can get a sense of the sacrifice required for even a “good” war.” - artist PJ Holden
For readers of Slaughterhouse-Five, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Other Side, and Catch-22, and for fans of Band of Brothers, The Pacific, Masters of the Air, and Saving Private Ryan, DOG TAG offers a grounded, emotionally resonant take on World War II—one that prioritizes humanity over the hero.
COVER GALLERY
Dog Tag #1 hits comic shops on May 6, 2026, with Final Order Cut-off falling on April 13. Preorder from your favorite LCS or directly from Mad Cave.
Stay up to date with Mad Cave Studios—and its imprints Papercutz, Maverick, and Nakama Press on social media, or visit www.madcavestudios.com to explore new releases, licensed series, and creator-owned titles.
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