REVIEW: American Way #1

American Way #1
Publisher: WildStorm
Writer: John Ridley
Artist: Georges Jeanty

[*spoiler warning*] Before you read my review, I need to make something clear: I may ruin this issue for you if you have not read it already. That said, if you are not sure whether to get this or not, let me just say that I think you should. In fact, it is one of the better books in recent memory. So, if you are okay with massive spoilers read on.

WOW! This issue was fabulous. I picked this up to try something new and it really paid off.

The year is 1961, and America is as you might expect with a few very common comic book exceptions. First, there are superheroes; and second, there are aliens. The story follows a PR man for a car company that is fired after the failure of the model he promotes. He is called to Washington DC by an old friend from school: Bobby Kennedy. Kennedy offers him a job and gives him access to some very scandalous information. What follows is that information and it is a huge spoiler.

Kennedy explains that the supposed "superheroes" are nothing more than people with decent and sometimes amazing abilities that are acting out heroism on the grandest stage: real life. Every encounter reported in the paper, every super-villain, the aliens, they are all fake. Special effects and actors all staged for the public's benefit. Essentially they are all part of the government PR machine, and nobody knows it.

At the end of the issue, the most popular heroes dies from a fall. The book ends and we are left wondering how the government will handle this PR disaster. If that doesn't sound like the makings of a great title, I don't know what does.

The artwork is great this issue. Great detail with very nice coloring that actually makes the book feel more "60's." It is not a quick read, which is a good thing and also very rare these days. I cannot recommend this book more highly. Everyone should be reading this.

My Verdict: 10/10