Major Spoilers
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Twitch Discord RSS
    Major Spoilers
    • Home
    • Reviews
      • Random Access Memory
      • Retro Review
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Podcasts
      • Critical Hit
        • Critical Hit House Rules
        • Critical Hit World Building
      • Dueling Review
      • Finally Friday
      • Geek History Lesson
      • The Legion Clubhouse
      • Major Spoilers Podcast
        • MSP TPB for 2019
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2013
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2012
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2011
      • Munchkin Land
      • Top Five
      • Wayne’s Comics
      • Zach on Film
    • Features
      • Casual 60
      • Comic Casting Couch
      • Comics Portal
      • Did You Hear?
      • Editorials
      • Features
      • Gamer’s Corner
      • Hero Histories
      • Let’s Get Nerdy
      • Major Spoilers Adventures
      • Random Access Memory
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Movies
      • Did You Hear
      • Movies
      • Television
    • Comic Previews
    • Patreon
      • Patreon
      • Store
    Major Spoilers
    So You Want to Read Comics Political Edition
    So You Want to Read Comics

    So You Want To Read Comics: Politics Edition

    Jonathan CadotteBy Jonathan CadotteSeptember 14, 20203 Mins Read

    Grab a seat and put on your best pundit suit, it’s time for this week’s edition of “So You Want To Read Comics”, our weekly feature where we take a topic and use it to introduce people to the world of comic books. This week we’re taking a look at the topic everyone claims to hate but can’t seem to stop talking about anyways, politics.

    To be clear, we’re not looking at comics that are simply “political” but instead, comics that deal in some way with the political process.

    There’s really no escaping politics, especially in this era of social media and an abundance of news sources.  And, while most of the political coverage is designed to sway and influence, there is something legitimately fascinating about what goes into democratically electing government officials and comics have a unique ability to capture and comment on this process.  Comics are excellent at taking the political process and making large and small changes to things or placing the whole thing in a fantastical setting that allows us to look at what we consider mundane in new light and understand how it could be altered in our real world.

    But, enough with that. Bring on the recommendations!

    Ex Machina

    Writer: Brian K. Vaughn
    Artist: Tony Harris
    Publisher: DC Comics

    Comixology

    Ex Machina is a series that centers around the life and political aspirations of Mitchell “The Great Machine” Hundred, the first person to have superpowers in the world, hero of 9/11, and mayor of New York City.  What makes Ex Machina a good series about politics is that it can be read as a long running commentary on the effects of power in politics.  Rather than the typical sort of power we see though, like money, influence, and connection, we have a much more visceral example with superpowers. It’s not hard to make the jump from seeing how The Great Machine leverages his abilities and deeds to secure authority to how a billionaire may use their money and connections to gain a position within the government. While there is plenty of philosophizing about the morality of having power, a good portion of this story is simply showing how someone could use their power to rise up in society without clearly saying if it’s right or wrong.

    On The Stump

    Writer: Chuck Brown
    Artist: Francesco Prenzy Chiappara
    Publisher: Image Comics

    Comixology

    On The Stump is a series about an alternate United States where after a particularly brutal election, political positions are obtained through physical combat. And while the elections are more decisive, injustice is still present and this series focuses on a duo who seeks to navigate this barbaric system to root out that injustice. While a lot of criticisms and commentaries try to be subtle and clever, On The Stump wears its on its sleeve.  This is a pure satire of just how ugly and at times, ridiculous U.S. politics can be. What’s fun about this comic is that you’ll start off reading it as a bit of a silly fantasy “what-if” sort of story but it soon becomes apparent that there are far more similarities with this made up world and our real world than you’d care to admit. But even if you’re not interested in engaging with a satirical take, the fights and action in this series is pretty fun.

    So, did we earn your vote with these recommendations?  Do you have some of your own? Let us know in the comments below.


    Dear Spoilerite,

    At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.

    brian k vaughn Chuck Brown dc comics Ex Machina Francesco Prenzy Chappara Image Comics On the Stump politics So You Want To Read Comics tony harris
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleDeath to The Army of Darkness #4 Review
    Next Article New Comic Releases for September 16, 2020
    Jonathan Cadotte

    At a young age, Jonathan was dragged to a small town in Wisconsin. A small town in Wisconsin that just so happened to have a comic book shop. Faced with a decision to either spend the humid summers and bitter winters traipsing through the pine trees or in climate controlled comfort with tales of adventure, horror, and romance, he chose the latter. Jonathan can often be found playing video games, board games, reading comics and wincing as his “to watch” list grows wildly out of control.

    Related Posts

    Wayne’s Comics Podcast #697: Interview with Tyler Chin-Tanner

    Read More

    The Death of the Silver Surfer #1 Review

    Read More

    Retro Review: Master Comics #11 (February 1941)

    Read More

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    AMAZON AFFILIATE

    Support this site by making a purchase through our Amazon affiliate links

    Reviews
    8.0
    June 15, 2025

    The Death of the Silver Surfer #1 Review

    4.7
    June 15, 2025

    Retro Review: Master Comics #11 (February 1941)

    9.0
    June 13, 2025

    Marvel United: A Pride Special Review

    6.3
    June 10, 2025

    X-Men #17 Review

    6.0
    June 9, 2025

    Power Rangers Prime #7 Review

    Patreon Support
    Major Spoilers Store
    Recent Comments
    • Nathan on Wayne’s Comics Podcast #696: Interview with Creators from Concrete Arcanum
    • Austin Cowboy on FIRST LOOK: Conan the Barbarian #21
    • Frank on COMICS PORTAL: Batman Meets… Deadpool!?
    • ZackaryTobias on COMICS PORTAL: Batman Meets… Deadpool!?
    • derrigable on COMICS PORTAL: I Want More than Good Memories!
    Subscribe to the Major Spoilers E-Mail List
    Sponsor

    ComiXology Home Page

    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Twitch
    Major Spoilers Patreon
    • About
      • Major Spoilers Terms of Use
      • Major Spoilers Frequently Asked Questions
      • Major Spoilers Privacy Policy Statement
      • Major Spoilers Podcast Gear
    • Contact
    • Cookie Policy (EU)
    Major Spoilers is copyright 2006-2025 by Major Spoilers Entertainment, LLC

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    SAVE & ACCEPT