I grew up reading The Victor, a British comic filled with stories of soldiers, courage, comradeship and bravery. Those stories stayed with me, but as I grew older—and through my own years of military service—I came to understand that not every soldier’s greatest battle ends when the uniform comes off.

My Flag Is Now My Bed began as a poem. I wanted to take its message further and tell it through the pages of a comic: the story of a soldier who once stood proudly alongside his mates, served his country and belonged to something bigger than himself, only to discover that returning to civvy street could bring a very different kind of conflict.

This is not the story of every veteran, nor do I pretend that it is. It is a story about those who, somewhere along the road home, struggle to find their place again. Behind the worn coat, sleeping bag and cardboard bed may be someone with a lifetime of memories, friendships, service and pride.

I hope this comic encourages readers to look beyond what they see on the street and remember the person underneath.

Yesterday, a soldier standing tall.
Today, a shadow beside a wall.
But still a veteran. Still a human being. Still me.

Paul Baldry

#Veterans, #MilitaryLife, #LestWeForget, #CivvyStreet, #VeteranSupport, #MyFlagIsNowMyBed,