While billionaires travel in space, Urban comics offers American Flagg, a vitriolic portrait of the America of the future and a major work very current that dates from the 1980s. Embark with us on a journey like no other.
When science fiction criticizes the present
American Flagg begins with a conquest of space but where the elite flee Earth. In 2031, after several major disasters, the United States government preferred to flee to Mars. The inhabitants who remained on Earth live in large metropolises where consumption (especially of bodies) is king. Life revolves around huge supermarkets and the media broadcast raucous programs that only serve to spread subliminal ultra-violent messages. Fortunately, a TV star has just joined the Plexus Rangers police and Reuben Flagg will restore order… or fuck a hell of a mess. American Flagg is a unique anticipation title at the crossroads of the noir novel and the western. Each episode is gripping and hilarious. We have fun with many twists and turns that will transform Reuben, an actor into a faithful policeman and then a revolutionary. Sexuality is clearly suggested. Beyond the action, American Flagg is also a political satire that takes us back to the most current tensions and crises. The inequality between rich in space and poor on Earth could give ideas to Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.
A major milestone in the history of comics
Two authors of American comics of the 1970s and 80s have marked the spirits in France: Alan Moore and Frank Miller. However, they are not the only ones to have marked this period of the first boom of indie comics with titles like Nexus by Baron and Rude (whose French edition is coming to Delirium) and Grendel by Wagner (coming soon at Urban)… and Howard Chaykin's American Flagg. Alas, this last artist is still too little known although this series is just as revolutionary as The Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen. The title was a great success and inspired the wave of postmodern comics. The edition is largely up to the work. American flags adorn the back, as do the first and last pages. A preface by the editor and afterwords by Warren Ellis, Michael Chabon and Jim Lee place the work in the context of the time. Indeed, American Flagg marks a break. Quite rare at the time, twelve of the fourteen episodes were entirely directed by Howard Chaykin. Throughout the pages, the reader sees a liberated author who has fun going beyond the limits. Indeed, he accepted the offer of the independent publisher First because he was sure to have full control. His drawings are of a rare precision for the time and the layout comes out of the classic waffle iron. He does not hesitate to show and say what he wants, which makes American Flagg a work as personal as it is political. Chaykin rejects the conventions of superhero storytelling. The first episode is a very dense presentation of the universe because each episode is thirty pages long. Rather than a continuous thread, Chaykin opts for different adventures more and more engaging around a crossover of characters. We will follow Reuben Flagg's first steps in the police force as he discovers the other side of Chicago society. We will go to South America to follow a basketball team and then a snowstorm will be an opportunity to organize a revolution. With this title, Urban comics begins the discovery of a major author and the choice is welcome. American Flag is a visual splendor and offers great reader pleasure. This work remains as strong as ever even if the representation of women is a little dated. You can find more reading suggestions in our November release guide and our column on The Last of the Gods from the same publisher.
