A graphic novel featuring the story of Sgt. Alvin C. York’s heroic deeds in World War I, for which he received the Medal of Honor for valor, is being released by the Association of the U.S. Army on the 100th anniversary of York’s efforts in France as part of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

Available at www.ausa.org/york, this is the first illustrated book published by AUSA, said Joseph Craig, AUSA Book Program director.

Producing a graphic novel is an effort to expand the reach of AUSA’s educational mission to a younger audience, Craig said. Focus groups convened by Craig to discuss possible AUSA publications endorsed the idea of graphic novels and to have Medal of Honor recipients as the topic.

York, a Tennessee native who went to France as part of the 328th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Division, was part of a small group in an Oct. 8, 1918, attack where he is said to have killed 25 German soldiers, captured 132 and single-handedly knocked out machine-gun positions after most of his detachment was gunned down. Gen. John J. Pershing, the American Expeditionary Forces commander in Europe, called York “the greatest civilian soldier” of the war.

If the York publication has a recognizable look, that is because many comic book veterans were part of the production. 

The script was done by Chuck Dixon, best known for his work on Marvel Comics’ Punisher. Dixon also worked for DC Comics on Batman and Nightwing, and adapted J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit into a graphic novel.

Drawings and the cover were done by Rick Magyar, an artist, penciller and inker who has also worked for Marvel and DC on Iron Man, ROM Spaceknight, Defenders and Omega Men. Colors for the York novel were done by Peter Pantazis, who has worked on Justice League, Superman and Wolverine. Lettering was done by Troy Peteri, who has worked on Spider-Man, Iron Man and X-Men.