The Art of War: A Graphic Novel

The military philosophies of the ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu are admired and studied to this day—and now Kelly Roman has used these timeless lessons on warfare to create The Art of War. This stunning two-color graphic novel has turned Sun Tzu’s iconic military strategy text into an action-packed thriller set twenty years in the future, when Wall Street is militarized and China is the world’s dominant economy. With more than three hundred illustrations by artist Michael DeWeese—who storyboarded the music video for the Lady Gaga hit "Alejandro"—this powerfully rendered Art of War integrates Sun Tzu’s timeless battlefield and war room strategies with a compelling futuristic tale of action and vengeance, creating a sweeping adventure for graphic novel and comic book aficionados, science fiction readers, and anyone who has ever enjoyed a classic action movie or Kung Fu martial arts epic.
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A stunning and gritty graphic novel integrating the iconic strategy text by Sun Tzu into a sweeping thriller set in the near future when Wall Street is militarized and China is the world's dominant economy.

Kelly Roman served time for a horrific friendly fire incident. Once free, he discovers that his brother died while working for Sun Tzu, the ruthless strategist who runs China's global financial empire.

From the apocalyptic third world of suburban Ohio, Kelly heads into the futuristic Gomorrah that is Manhattan to infiltrate Sun Tzu's organization and find out who murdered his brother—and why. Using the skills and genetic enhancements his Special Forces career provided him, he'll confront both Sun Tzu and his nemesis, a monster of biotechnology known only as The Prince.

Throughout his harrowing adventure, Kelly documents Sun Tzu's ancient wisdom, which guides him through each bloody battle and hairbreadth escape in his quest for vengeance and redempti on.

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“In Roman and DeWeese’s graphic novel, Sun Tzu is alive and well” - Detroit News

“Phenomenal artwork, a brilliant story-one of the best graphic novels I’ve ever read.” - Tarquin Pack, Producer, Kick Ass, Executive Producer, X-Men: First Class

“THE ART OF WAR rebrands the millennium. It melts down debased ideology, re-values cultural currency, mints strange new coin and buys tomorrow—pawns everything you know. “Money doesn’t just talk now, it fights—and it fights dirty. The story is relentless—its violence harsh, its sex brutal, its art graphic and unflinching. Ideas pop like cluster-bomblets: some provoke thought, some sick hilarity—others are just weird and twisted. And yet, against the odds, stretched taut through the cynical mayhem, a thread of humanity persists, tenuous but unbreakable. What else could a reader ask for?” - Jamie Delano, author of Hellblazer

“An epic dystopian story. . . . that revels in all of the trespasses and heroism of which only human beings are truly capable.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Ingenious....Roman and DeWeese have made a visual explosion out of Sun Tzu’s iconic understatement.” - San Francisco Chronicle

“An astounding adaptation of Sun Tzu’s ancient text that made me think about its application in an entirely new way.” - General (Ret.) Stephen N. Xenakis, U.S. Army

“Imaginative, provocative, powerful, and disturbing, Kelly Roman’s Art of War should be required reading for those concerned with the future of America and its place in the world.” - Minxin Pei, Professor of Government, Claremont McKenna College

“THE ART OF WAR rebrands the millennium. It melts down debased ideology, re-values cultural currency, mints strange new coin and buys tomorrow-pawns everything you know. - Jamie Delano, author of Hellblazer

“A dark and disturbing debut by Roman and DeWeese uses the words of strategy from Sun Tzu’s classic text to set the stage for a revenge story set 20 years in the future…The dystopian story is not for the faint of heart, but those looking for a gory thriller will find plenty to keep them busy.” - Publishers Weekly

“The dystopian story is not for the faint of heart, but those looking for a gory thriller will find plenty to keep them busy.” - Publishers Weekly

“Debut creators Roman and DeWeese use the teachings of the ancient Chinese general, Sun Tzu, as the foundation for an epic dystopian story of brotherly love and corporate greed set in a nightmarish American wasteland circa 2032. . . . A bold, messy conflagration that revels in all of the trespasses and heroism of which only human beings are truly capable.” - Kirkus Reviews