"The Adventures of Unemployed Man" by Erich Origen and Gan Golan

In a blog about fast-paced books, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that I would include graphic novels. Never mind the fact that this particular graphic novel has the thickness of my pinky finger. It may be over before you know it, but it’s worth every second you spend reading it. It’s called “The Adventures of Unemployed Man”. It was published in 2010 and still has relevance in today’s world with the crappy economy. Think of all the factors that contribute to the destruction of the American economy and make a superhero parody out of those same factors. You’ve got the main character who starts out promoting “positivity” among poor people and encouraging them to “stop being lazy” and “get a job”. You’ve heard these lines before, I’m sure. And then, wouldn’t you know it, the same superhero who promotes these ideas gets fired himself and is forced to rub shoulders with economic outcasts such as the “Angry White Man” and the “Single Mother Woman”. I’m not sure what the exact names of these superheroes are, but they do serve as prototypes for those most affected by the economy. And guess what? The main villain of the story is a gigantic thumb that crushes everybody underneath it. The symbolism in these characters is so obvious that it forces you to giggle every couple of pages. But as you’re giggling, make sure you soak in the message of the graphic novel as much as possible. It’s okay to feel down about how the economy is hurting you, but if you’re going to be positive, be positive about your ability to affect change, not about being forced to smile as you’re being raped by the top 1%. The message couldn’t be clearer if it was written in a bright red neon noodle hovering over Las Vegas. The authors who wrote this graphic novel may have been working in such a short space, but that’s all they needed in order to make a complete story. Who cares if they make flash fiction look like the thickness of a Stephen King novel? It’s a damn good story. I give it five stars.

　

***POLITICAL DIALOGUE OF THE DAY***

BILL MAHER: Did Barack Obama double the national debt?
MICHELLE CARUSO-CABRERA: What’re you all looking at me for?
BILL MAHER: Because you’re the only one crazy enough to say yes!

-Real Time With Bill Maher-