Review- DIVIDED STATES OF HYSTERIA VOL. 1

DIVIDED STATES OF HYSTERIA VOL. 1 (Image, First Printing, 2018; Softcover)

Collects The Divided States of Hysteria #1-6 (cover dates June- November, 2017)

Writer and Artist: Howard Chaykin

Colorists: Jesus Aburtov and Wil Quintana

What happens when a member of the Left's old guard makes a comic about the divisive nature of politics in the 24/7 news cycle, echo chamber feedback loop social media world? The modern Left lose their collective minds, apparently. To be honest, I had no interest in reading this comic book until Joe Glass at Bleeding Cool threw a temper tantrum calling Chaykin a bag of meat that should be fired and condemning Image for not censoring their artists. It was hilarious and it has since been deleted, a shame since it was a textbook example of the complete lack of tolerance that the so-called tolerant modern Left have.

Like Chaykin, I am what is called a 'classical Liberal'. I guess that I would be considered a Centrist by modern political standards. Chaykin uses this series as a way to point out the glaring hypocrisy of the Left and the Right, and has stated that he expected that this series might get him arrested in the United States. Ironically, it was the Leftists calling for this to be banned and Chaykin to be fired. The virtual torch and pitchfork Internet mob was in full swing. The Left used to be the bastion of Free Speech and the arts but have since been brainwashed and now actively call for banning things that they disagree with. We are a notch away from book burning, folks, only this time it won't be the Right calling for it. Whoever is pulling the strings here is a genius.

The gist- In the not too distant future the United States is hit with another terrorist attack. Frank Villa is fired from the CIA for failing to prevent it from happening but is hired by a company known for operating private prisons. He is tasked with assembling a team to take out the terrorists. This “A-Team” of criminals consists of Henry John Noone, a black racist who killed nine white people, Christopher Michael Silver, a drag queen/ transsexual who murdered Iraqi diplomats, Paul Evan Burg, a money-hungry Jewish person who happens to poison people, and Cesare John Nacamulli, a mob hitman. All of these characters are stereotypical caricatures and are intended to offend you.

The story meanders along and ticks off every box of what is considered offensive while peppering the proceedings with a glimmer of insight. There isn't a single character in this book that anyone can identify with, relate to, or even root for. The majority of comic fans, none of which actually bought or read this book, called for it to be banned, saying that it went too far and shouldn't even be published. I say that the series didn't go far enough. There should have been more thought put into the protagonists and their motivations. The series should have been longer than six issues to make its point. The Internet would have exploded had this series continued beyond six issues, though.

Art is supposed to have an emotional impact on you. Art is supposed to inspire thought and conversation. It is not the job of art to make you feel comfortable or to reinforce your personal belief system. Chaykin uses every hot button topic of the day in a provocative manner, ironically ending up with the outrage that can best be described as life imitating art. The Divided States Of Hysteria is a cautionary tale told in the form of satire that nobody seemed to get the punchline of. Weep for this country, especially the youth who seem to have lost all objectivity.

That said, this series simply isn't very good. The writing isn't good, the artwork isn't good, and the coloring isn't good. The page layout is the most hideously over-rendered pile of gobbledygook imaginable. This series did not live up to the potential of its initial promise. It was boring and a chore to read. Like all faux outrage and virtue-signaling, this burned white hot for a minute and then was all but forgotten. Rinse. Repeat. And the beat goes on.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 2.25 out of 5.

The OCD zone- This is the part where I go into tactile sensations and materials used in physical media. Those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or women who are pregnant should exit my blog at their earliest convenience, as their safety cannot be guaranteed beyond this point.

Paper stock: Thick coated stock with a slight sheen.

Binding: Perfect bound trade paperback.

Cardstock cover notes: Matte finish.