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The Last Patrol
Army veteran Travis Miller pens graphic novel about conflict
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski W hen Travis Miller returned from Operation Iraqi Freedom, he felt he had a story that needed to be told.
The result is the graphic novel “The Last Patrol,” which is slated to hit shelves in the fall. “The Last Patrol” tells the story of 18 American infantrymen who must survive an ambush while on a routine patrol near Ba’qubah, Iraq.
“In a nutshell, it’s a story of an actual event I was part of in Iraq in 2006,” says Miller, a North Phoenix resident.
“There were 18 soldiers who faced an ambush and had to survive on their own for quite a bit while reinforcements came. I lost track of time, but I think it was about 18 hours. It was one of the least pleasant experiences of my life.”
He and his fellow soldiers weren’t special forces or “cool guy rangers. You know, the guys they make movies about,” he says.
“We were just typical guys. A lot of us were really young. I was 24 at the time, but our platoon leader was 23 or 24. We were just regular guys trying to earn money for college or for our families. It wasn’t something we ever planned for. The way everyone worked together and persevered was a story that needed to be told.”
Travis Miller of North Phoenix is an award-winning writer and illustrator. This graphic novel, “The Last Patrol,” is due to hit shelves in the fall. (Photo courtesy Travis Miller)
There’s one bit that’s missing from the story, though—Miller.
“It’s not about me,” he says. “It’s about the team, the guys I was with. I wrote myself out of it. I wanted to tell their story, rather than my personal story.”
Miller raised money for his book through IndieGoGo. His goal was $500. Backers—282 of them—raised $10,515. Miller, an ADDY and TELLY award, is joined in the project by artists Scott McDaniel (“Batman,” “Nightwing,” “Daredevil”), Derek Fisher (“Green Goblin”) and Rick Parker (“Beavis and Butt-Head,” “Spider-Man”).
Miller has long been passionate about graphic novels and comic books. Growing up the son of a nuclear engineer, Miller moved frequently. Graphic novels and comic books eased his mind.
“Things would change all the time, but comic books wouldn’t,” he says. “I love G.I. Joe. That really inspired me as a kid. I think that’s what made me join the Army.”
Miller spent 15 years in the Army, from ages 18 to 33. He originally signed on for three years in the Army, just after 9/11.
“It was the best job I ever had,” Miller says. “I medically retired after brain surgery. There were certain things I couldn’t do that the Army requires, like wear a helmet because part of my skull is missing. I learned to write and draw comic books.”
“The Last Patrol” isn’t Miller’s first graphic novel. He worked on a Department of Defense graphic novel honoring the 68th anniversary of the Korean War.
“That was a really neat thing,” Miller says. “They faced budget cuts, so the guy who put it all together published it himself. I also spent time developing short comic books for movie production studios to pitch ideas in a visual format, as opposed to just having a script. I would put together an eight- to 10-page comic book so producers could pass it around and show off their ideas in a visual format. It worked out well.”
