Marine Tells Iraq Story in 'White Donkey' Graphic Novel

Maximilian Uriarte, Iraq War veteran and creator of the "Terminal Lance" web comic, has successfully funded a 150-page graphic novel that will explore challenges of depression, guilt, and suicide that some veterans face in returning home from war. People can pledge money to the project until Sun., Aug. 11.

Titled "The White Donkey," the serious drama is told through the experiences of Abe and Garcia—two characters originally created for the former Marine's more humorous "Terminal Lance" three-panel comic strip.

Uriarte has been writing "The White Donkey" for approximately three years. "I think it's an important story to tell," he says in a fund-raising video. "I don't think too many people have told that story [of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, guilt and suicide] before, and it's something that I really want to do."

Just because it deals with tough issues, however, doesn't mean the project will be without Uriarte's usual sand-in-the-crotch humor. In one sample page, for example, one Marine asks the other, "How do we know who the good guys are?"

Answer: The glow-belts.

A 2013 graduate of the California College of the Arts in Oakland, Calif., Uriarte originally sought $20,000 to publish "the White Donkey" via the Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign. To date, he has received pledged in excess of $118,000.

Depending on the levels of their respective contributions, participants at levels $25 or more will receive either digital or hardcopy copies of Uriarte's "The White Donkey," as well as other rewards.  Supporters at levels $10 or more will have their names listed in the "The White Donkey." Click here for more information about available incentives.

After a print-run limited only to the Kickstarter project's participants, the author plans to shop the book to traditional publishers.

In addition to his "Terminal Lance" comic strip, which appears regularly in the Marine Corps Times, Uriarte works as a freelance artist and animator in the San Francisco Bay area. His senior animation thesis, titled "A Dog and His Boy," tells a story of one Marine's sacrifice from the point of view of his dog.

He has also previously published "Terminal Lance: Head Call" and "Terminal Lance: Knife Hand Compilation (Strips #1-100)."

Other examples of Uriarte's video and print work appear on his Kickstarter campaign page.