Time can make things weird.
Strangely, what was once a joke is now almost considered reality. The irony in absurd cautionary tales has practical policy applications. Just like when you think of other dystopian science fiction stories, some people seem to view them as guides rather than warnings. Like the idea of a forever president or a forced birth. It’s like a weird application of Poe’s law.
“There are always emergencies. Guess who’s going to fix it…”
give me freedom go through frank miller, Dave Gibbonsand Robin Smith Introducing us to Martha Washington. In many ways, the series is about what happens to her, rather than a character filled with agency, at least not some choices and a transformative character arc. Giving us someone’s eyes through which we can see the bizarre sociopolitical hellscape of the alternate future the series envisions.
I know Frank Miller may cause political and personal problems for a lot of people. It is undoubtedly a driving force behind great work in the industry, such as Daredevil and The Dark Knight Returns, Some of his ideas are not outdated. There are others, such as inherent Islamophobia holy terrorpoorly thought out from the start. I wouldn’t blame anyone for choosing to ignore his output. I still think it can be informative and entertaining, and something can be learned, while acknowledging the sensitive parts. Just like the slurs in “Racial Discrimination” and “Homosexual Discrimination” give me freedom. Or the weird gay Nazi terrorist Aryan thrust. The remnants of the early 80s BDSM scene still confuse me.
Anyway, there’s an interesting pattern and an almost yearning for the devil among the gonzo antagonists, you know a lot of the organizations and traps in overtly oppressive dictatorships that are driven by socially progressive ideologies turned fascist. Health care, environmentalism, reparations for Native people, and the Peace Task Force are all antithetical to this country. All this under a liberal president with a bleeding heart who is portrayed as someone who is not up to the job and has turned to alcohol. This is a strange development for two creators, whose most famous works can be considered as reactions to the policies of Reagan and Thatcher. Although it makes sense for fast food companies to elevate their paramilitary status.
“I hate when things don’t make sense, and they don’t make sense now.
Dave Gibbons’ artwork is certainly stunning. I really want to say than watchmanbut only in the sense of different layouts. The line art is tight and clean as always. Wonderful detail and realism. Mainly centered around war, which is reminiscent of some of his works Rogue Cavalry also. Fun designs for the Surgeon General and his Sanitary Police and a riff on the Big Boy Burger mascot from Fat Boy Robot War Machine. Enhanced with Robin Smith’s natural color scheme, green, blue and a bit of yellow often serve as the central color theme. The green color in the center also highlights the concept of war.
Maybe that’s the core idea here. war. left or right. Authoritarianism or liberalism. War will never change.
If you want, you can have an argument about liberty versus freedom. This freedom itself is the overall freedom to do what you want, and in give me freedom Miller, Gibbons and Smith all lack that freedom. Open dictators and nanny states are two sides of the same coin. But maybe that’s too simple. Weird.
Classic Comics Compendium: Give Me Freedom
give me freedom
writer: frank miller
Artists and Writers: Dave Gibbons
Colorist: Robin Smith
Publisher: dark horse
release date: June 1990 – April 1991 (original question)
available for collection The life and times of Martha Washington in the twenty-first century
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