Source: The New Frontier
6. A Graphic Novel in the Literal Sense
New Frontier is a novel in every way. In scope. In quality. But especially in terms of structure.
If the chapter headings weren’t enough to prove that point, the constant shifts in perspective and multi-layered stories should be. There are so many storylines in New Frontier that I could do a top ten list of just those.
The story of John Henry is incredibly powerful and is there to remind the reader that the time period of the story was hardly idealistic. Racial prejudice was at horrifying levels and the battle for civil rights was still being fought. It’s a necessary thing to address, but the John Henry story goes farther and becomes a moving piece on its own, with a suitably tragic ending.
The Adam Strange subplot consists of two moments in the entire book but it’s still fascinating, and I kinda want more of it. The Flash is pitch perfect and his arc of accepting his role as a hero is inspiring. Superman coming to terms with the fact his morals might not always line up with the government’s, Wonder Woman’s role as a protector of all, Wildcat’s last fight, it’s all here.
There’s an apocryphal story that New Frontier was the only DC Comic that Alan Moore liked reading at the time of its release, and that makes sense. New Frontier is the only comic I can think of besides Watchmen that has that true novelistic structure to it. And that’s good company to be in.
