Comics Alternative

It’s the week of July 4th, and so on this episode of The Comics Alternative the Two Guys with PhDs pay homage to the stars and stripes…in comics! Yes, that’s right dear patriotic listener: this week Andy and Derek are focusing only on American-themed comics, new as well as not-so-new. They begin by looking at new recent books where the American project stands front and center. First, they discuss Manifest Destiny, Vol. 1: Flora and Fauna, by Chris Dingess, Matthew Roberts, and Owen Gieni (Image Comics). Both of the guys are bowled over by this first collection and see the series as a great example of American gothic. Next, they turn their attention to the new work by Ilan Stavans and Lalo Alcaraz, A Most Imperfect Union: A Contrarian History of the United States (Basic Books). While the guys applaud the creators’ intentions of creating an alternative or oppositional history, they’re not convinced that the book lives up to its title. In short, they’re hard pressed to find much that is contrary in this contrari