Historical Fiction Author Alan Gratz Takes On CAPTAIN AMERICA With New Ghostly Tale

Well known for his historical fiction writing, Alan Gratz is making his graphic novel debut with none other than the first Avenger, Captain America. In Captain America: The Ghost Army, Gratz blends true history with the fantastical superhero story to craft a new legend for the Ghost Army.

The Ghost Army was a real unit that fought in World War II beginning in January 1944 and was made up of artists, actors, sound engineers, and advertising professionals who used inflatable tanks, giant loudspeakers, fake radio transmissions, and other props and tricks to deceive the Axis powers. Here’s the official synopsis for the story:

It’s World War II and Captain America and Bucky Barnes have come face to face with a threat unlike any they’ve ever seen. The dead of this war and wars past are coming back to life, impervious to the Allies’ bullets, flames, and even Cap’s shield. The armies rise from the ground in the night and seem to disappear without a trace. With the help of The Ghost Army, an American tactical deception unit armed with weapons of multimedia, Captain America and Bucky must figure out how to fight something that’s already dead. And just what is the connection to the mysterious Baron Mordo, watching over the battle from his castle atop Wundagore Mountain?

This sounds like a cool story for old and new fans of Captain America alike. I think it’s cool that Gratz is using WWII for more than a setting but taking actual aspects of it for his story. It will be interesting to see what the actual solution ends up being for not only fighting ghosts, but keeping them in their graves. You can grab your copy when it releases on January 3, 2023 for $14.99.