Written by Steve Darnall
Artby Alex Ross
Published by DC Black Label /
Abrams ComicArts
I read this book when it first was published well over twenty five years ago.
I remember wondering why the amazing Alex Ross (who had just done the excellent Marvels and the great Kingdom Come) was doing a book about a totally obscure character from the DC Universe with a writer that I had never heard of?
It made no sense for my younger self, but I was willing to give it a shot anyway. I remember liking what I read very much, and I hadn’t read it since.
This new edition gave me an opportunity to revisit this story, and see it again from new eyes and a newer and more informed perspective.
The first thing that struck me is how different the world is from the time of its original release. 9/11 hadn’t happened yet.
It was released in 1997, and reading it now, I am struck by how relevant the book is to our modern times. It could be that the book upon original release was ahead of its time.
Or maybe the book just has a timeless feel to it, where so many books these days just feel disposable and forgettable.
Whatever it is, the book works better, probably more so than its original release.
The hero of this book is Uncle Sam, who is basically the superhero version of the old Uncle Sam character.
When we first meet him in this book, he is walking around and suffering, much like many people in America are. He is having these incredible visions that are causing him to struggle greatly as well. He sees that a lot of Americans have lost their hope and their faith. He sees that America’s people aren’t doing well financially and that they are feeling disenfranchised and disenchanted with everything.
Suffice to say, Uncle Sam doesn’t know what to do about any of it.
He also sees plenty of moments throughout American history. These various snippets make him feel angry and a bit frustrated with it all. He sees people who have abused and taken advantage of the American Dream and it causes Uncle Sam agony. He doesn’t know how things could have gotten this bad. He doesn’t comprehend how things could have gotten this way.
He only knows ones thing and one thing only: that Uncle Sam has to find a way to turn it all around. If he doesn’t, things might actually get worse for everyone.
And that would be a truly terrible thing indeed.
We get to see the various struggles that he goes through in the book. Uncle Sam has encounters with an assortment of people who have lost faith. He gets to see their disappointment and disillusionment with the American dream.
The first chapter of this book shows the breaking down of that dream. It shows the various history and the various historical events that beat Uncle Sam down. It really breaks it down in an entertaining way, one that isn’t a history lesson. But the reader can empathize with Uncle Sam and can easily see how he got to this point in his life.
Uncle Sam’s clothes are in tatters, alongside his life.
The second chapter in this book starts in a dark place. We see what Uncle Sam has been through.
Yet, this chapter is more of a reconstruction of the American dream. It shows Uncle Sam building up what once was and showing what is great about it. In this chapter, we see what being an American is all about, and it is kind of inspiring in a way. We see what is valuable to Uncle Sam and we see that it isn’t just a silly and outdated thing.
The creative team make their case for a better world being possible, and they really bring that message home.
Steve Darnall writes a script that is very well researched, but is also incredibly accessible. It also has a lyrical quality to it that makes it sing. It’s a very smart script and uses the character extremely well.
Alex Ross shows that he can handle any character and subject matter you throw at him well. He can make any situation and story element work and that’s exactly what he does here. His colors at especially good here and stand out. It is a beautiful artistic job.
When I first read this when it first came out at the Vertigo line, I liked it, but this prestige hardcover is the way the story should be read. An excellent work by all.
RATING: A
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