Uncle Sam Reaction

Uncle Sam- WOW! Before going in, it should have been obvious to any reader just by looking at the title and the cover that it was going to be very political and deep, but man, was it completely different than anything I've read in the past.

Alex Ross really is one of the best artists working in American comics today, and has a real talent for capturing that 'classic' look for the modern age. I think in past interviews he's said that his favorite comic character to draw is Superman, not only because it's the easiest for him, but it's a character and icon he truly loves. I'm not surprised that he would want to do something like Uncle Sam, who like Superman represents the American spirit/dream/etc. but the book goes down a darker/more complex path that you would never have seen in the early 20th century and all those timeless jingoistic comics like Captain America punching Hitler in the jaw. I think it's also noteworthy to mention that if you haven't already heard, but Alex Ross has designed the new Captain America costume for the next Marvel character taking up the mantle, which will debut this January.

It was definately a 'trippy' experience, reading 'Uncle Sam', maybe not as much as 'City of Glass", but definately trippy. I'm not a big fan of the 'edutainment' genre that some programs force feed children to learn about history but make it history, but 'Sam' managed to shock/entertain and inform at the same time. Steve Darnell makes a mention of Howard Zinn and his famous book "A People's History of the United States" which I remember reading some of in a High School American History course, so there were moments in 'Sam' that I was able to recall reading about at some point in the past.

And looking at panel arrangements, font, placement, etc. it seems to change depending on where Sam is. Like when he's in Valley Forge in Washington and writing to Bea/his wife/or whoever the woman is at the time, the captions go to a handwritten cursive font like from an old journal. I was really like the scene at the campaign with the Senator's dialogue two contrasting dialogue balloons, one bold and highlighted saying what he really feels and the other light/faded away one that represents what the people are hearing him say. I thought that was really inventive.

As opposed to 'Persepolis' and 'City of Glass', which are on the other side of the art spectrum, the art in 'Uncle Sam' is in no way similar to that simplification style we saw in the last two works, but incredibly detailed. The scenes in the antique store, for instance, all the items seem to have some sort of signifigance and it takes more than a passing glance to take it all in. I did really enjoy that look back into America's history and noticed the Smiley Face button from 'Watchmen' in the scene. It may just be a coincidence, but Steve Darnell thanks Dave Gibbons at the end, so it may have been intended.