Before superhero comics went dark and gritty, there was a four-issue fever dream that got there first. In this episode of We Love Comics, we crack open The Last American — the Marvel Epic imprint miniseries from John Wagner, Alan Grant, and Mike McMahon — a bleak, unflinching vision of a lone soldier waking up in a post-nuclear America, with brief moments of dark humor that never undercut its weight. Is it satire? Prophecy? Both?

Joining us is guest Doug Wagner, a comic book writer himself, who brings his own perspective on the industry to the conversation. Beyond breaking down The Last American, Doug talks candidly about the ups and downs of writing comics for a living — the creative highs and the grind — and shares his experience working with publishers along the way.

Thirty years before prestige TV got obsessed with the apocalypse, this book already knew there was nothing prestige about it.

WARNING

This episode contains discussion of sensitive material, including extreme violence, sexual violence against women, cannibalism, death, mental illness, in addition to other difficult subjects. Listener discretion is advised.

Want to go deeper? Kyle has compiled the articles, interviews, and essays he used to prepare for this conversation. Check the links below and keep reading.

The John Wagner and Alan Grant Interview - The Comics Journal

The John Wagner Interview: Part One (Listen to all three parts!)

The Last American (novel) — Grokipedia

George M. Cohan Biography: The Man Who Owned Broadway

I'd Rather Be in Philadelphia - Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia

Einstein's Last Message Was a Dire Warning | RealClearScience