The American Way: Those Above and Those Below

Academy Award–winning screenwriter Ridley has created a thrilling sequel to his 2007 graphic novel, The American Way, a superhero saga based on the racial conflicts of 1960s America. That work, while not requisite reading to dive into this volume, is helpful background, as it sets up the scenario: that a secret program in the U.S. government created an all-white group of superbeings who fight staged battles designed to deceive the public about the administration’s ability to respond to supervillain threats. This “wag the dog” spectacle helps keep the government in power. When the President decides to add a black superbeing, Jason Fisher, to placate civil rights leaders, the scheme collapses into a horrific superbeing race war. The sequel picks up in the 1970s, as Fisher remains a supervigilante, though now perceived as a governmental Uncle Tom by other black Americans. Some of the superbeings, such as Amber Waves, a Green Lantern–like heroine, are now disillusioned and refuse to continue acting as government dupes. She turns to violent protest, leading a guerilla war for racial justice. Other recurring characters—like the Secret Agent, a sharpshooter, are still with team government, and Ole Miss, who can manipulate time, is now a Mississippi politician reluctantly campaigning on a racist platform—are joined by new faces like Nikki Lau (daughter of slain Asian-American villain Red Terror), a young revolutionary seeking answers about her father’s death. Jeanty’s drawings are skillful and dramatic. Ridley has pulled off an action-packed, yet thoughtful, continuation of this powerful series, centered around a cast of superheroes trapped and demoralized by the deadly consequences of their acts. (Apr.)