Uncle Sam - Softcover

Darnall, Steve

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1563894823 ISBN 13: 9781563894824

Publisher: DC Comics, 2000

Synopsis

Once, he was the Spirit of America. Who is he now? Clad in star-spangled rags, a mystery man named Sam wanders the streets of an anonymous American city, struggling to remember his true identity and purpose. But he's plagued by inner voices and a parade of icons come to life to carry him on a time-travelling journey into the dark heart of America...and hint at his own violent past. Is he Uncle Sam - or one of U.S.? Nominated for an Eisner Award, this moving tale of a down-and-out icon is filled with the passionate and striking imagery readers have come to expect from Alex Ross, the award-winning artist of "Kingdom Come" and "Marvels".

About this title

Review:

Having gloriously portrayed DC's apocalyptic future ( Kingdom Come) and Marvel's glorious past ( Marvels), Alex Ross turned his gaze to an even older American icon and, armed with Steve Darnell's eloquent prose, proceeded to look into its dark heart. The result is one of the more radical and beautifully presented pieces of political fiction of recent times. In an unnamed city, a vagrant named Sam wanders aimlessly, dressed in patriotic garb, struggling to remember his true identity. Plagued by inner voices, Sam careers into a time-travelling journey where he confronts America's darkest moments and his own violent past. Ross's art is, as ever, stunning, yet furthering his considerable talent of allowing fantastical figures to mingle with "the real world" (continued with Superman: Peace on Earth). Once again, Ross's coupling with a strong writer provides another cohesive and stunning collaboration, with Darnell complementing the frank visuals with some uncompromisingly direct criticism of America. Between them, they fabricate a journey in which Sam is thrust into a delusional kaleidoscope of America's worst crimes against itself. Sam witnesses historical events rife with betrayal, lies, bigotry and unstinting violence, bringing him to the hardest question of all: "Ask not what your country's done for you. Ask what your country's done to you". By the end of this often uncomfortably inquisitive, but unquestionably valid read, it is hard to escape the truth of Sam's savage accusation that America is naught but a glossy, vapid advertisement for a product that does not exist. Uncle Sam is a remarkable feat, never preaching, but candid in its portrayal of a culture that has morally eroded due to corruption and human fallibility. -- Danny Graydon

Review:

'Uncle Sam is genuinely inspiring and deserves to be read more than once. Highly recommended.' --Alan Moore, author of Watchmen and Batman: The Killing Joke.

'A fantastic tale which will make you think long after you've turned the final page' --- Sci-Fi Online

'Beautifully drawn and alluringly educational' --- Shortlist

About this edition

• Publisher: DC Comics
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 1563894823
• ISBN 13: 9781563894824
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 112