Semper Fi

Military backgrounds can be seen everywhere in Maledicus. Not only did two of the main characters, Roosevelt and Sam, fight together in Vietnam, but so did Roosevelt’s nephews, Patrick and Michael, in Iraq during the turn of the century. The military presence does not stop there, as two minor characters, George Bruno, who fought with Roosevelt and Sam, and Harold, who fought in Korea, are also present in the story. All of these men served as Marines. With having a brother currently serving in the Marines, it was very interesting for me to see so many different generations of Marines and be able to read about battles from different wars where Marines fought, and see the differences and similarities in warfare. Coming from a military family means a lot of hardship, but it also makes all involved stronger. A feeling that, no matter how insurmountable the odds, you have a duty to fulfill, as objectified in the Marines’ motto, Semper Fidelis, always faithful. It is this motto and their experiences in war that motivates Roosevelt, Sam, and Patrick to stand up against evil and galvanizes the rest of the crew to do the same in their bout with Maledicus. There is another saying, “once a Marine, always a Marine”, which means that, even though someone may be retired from service, it does not mean that they have lost the values of the Corps. While Roosevelt, Sam, and Patrick are all out of the service, they all answer the call when a new threat arises, leaving Maledicus on his heels in a battle against Marines.