1982, before Watchmen, before the Dark Knight, there was-
American Flagg.
If Watchmen is a symphony, if The Dark Knight Returns is an elegiac funeral march, then American Flagg is in your face, balls against the wall Rock 'n' Roll, loud, exciting, dirty, and sexy. Written and illustrated by Howard Chaykin at the very top of his form and with amazing lettering by Ken Bruzenak which here is utilised as an integrated part of the art, this is a graphic story of the like you have never experienced before.
It's 2031, the environment is in a mess, society has fragmented, the Plex (government) has relocated to the safety of Mars, and fired porn star of Sexus Rangers, Reuben Flagg has joined the Plexus Rangers and is the new guy in violent and corrupt Chicago where the gangs run rampant, the women look like a fetishist's wet dream, there are names like mananacillin, Bob Violence, Jerry Rigg, the guns sound like PAPAPAPAPA OOOOOOO MOW MOW! and there's a talking cat named Raul. Is Reuben the man to sort it all out, if he can keep his pants on long enough that is?
Packed with action and every panel packed, overflowing with sex and violence, delicious in its wit, satire and inventiveness, this is a science fiction comic of the like you have never seen before and it stands comparison with those two mentioned up above. 27 years old and it's still as fresh and funny as it always was. A magnificent achievement.
These two volumes contain the first 14 issues of the ongoing series which stands comparison with the best American comics. As with Swamp Thing, I have all the original issues but I wanted these collected editions which are printed on much better quality paper than the originals. If you can afford it and though these are nice, go for the one volume hardback -I wish I had.
POST SCRIPT
This review, minus a slightly rude three word phrase, has appeared on Amazon for vol.1, and also, to my surprise, for vol.2 and the one volume hardback edition.
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