Les Dissidents
Derf Backderf's latest graphic novel explores the political repression of the pacifist magazine The Masses in 1916 America. Through the eyes of a fictional young cartoonist, the story examines historical trauma and the struggle for free speech.
The narrative follows a young artist who joins the staff of The Masses, a publication targeted by the government for its anti-war and anti-capitalist stance. Backderf utilizes meticulous historical research to depict the era's xenophobia and political violence. The work is praised for its sculptural art style and its relevance to contemporary democratic challenges. It serves as a significant, demanding, and deeply engaged historical documentary.
