Naval Academy Graphic Novel to Aid Recruiting

ANNAPOLIS, Md.

The Naval Academy released a graphic novel Thursday to attract minority students and applicants from areas that don’t send many students to the college, using sharp drawings, tales of saving the world and sound-effect words such as “FZZZZZZZ” and “FZAAAAAAT.”

Vice Adm. Jeffrey Fowler, the academy’s superintendent, said the academy wanted to use a format that appeals to high school students. The Navy also released a graphic novel last year in Japan, where manga comic books are popular, to ease concerns about the move there by the aircraft carrier USS George Washington.

A graphic novel is a lot like a comic book, but Navy officials underscore that graphic novels contain more mature themes and complex story lines.

The 12-page publication is called “Bravo Zulu” after the naval signal meaning “Well done.”

Fowler has made diversity a priority at the academy, and minority characters play a prominent role in the story. The academy received nearly 4,500 minority applications for the class of 2013 — the most ever at the school established in 1845.

The publication, which had an initial run of about 100,000 at a cost of 40 cents a copy, will be distributed during outreach programs around the country.