The American Way: Those Above and Those Below #1 is an issue of the series The American Way: Those Above and Those Below (Volume 1) with a cover date of September, 2017. It was published on July 12, 2017.
Synopsis for "Book 1: Living in the Age of Me"
It is the 1970's. Ten years has passed after the Civil Defense Corps had disbanded and America is in political turmoil in the wake of anti-Vietnam War sentiments, racial strife, and the fallout of the Chatham Files that publicly exposed the CDC as frauds.
Jason Fisher, aka the New American, is the only former member of the CDC who is still trying to be a hero. However, he is seen as a sell-out by the black community for siding with white police officers and The Establishment; especially for his attempts to bust Willie Betts, a violent black nationalist and vigilante, who is favorably looked by Black Americans for violently cleaning up the Baltimore community from drug dealers.
Missy Deveraux, also the former superhero known as Ole Miss, is retired and married to a Mississippi governor. She refuse to be recruit by a political boss to run for the governor's office to ride off her reputation.
Amber Eaton, formerly Amber Waves, is a anti-government militant sometime after Muscle Shoals passed away. She is currently dealing with drug addiction and is looked after by her boyfriend and Vietnam War veteran named Daniel. Amber's underground recruits Nikki Lau, the vengeful daughter of Johnny Lau who played the costumed villain Red Terror and committed suicide after fearing that the American government was going to kill him for being indirectly involve in Old Glory's death. Nikki blames the government for her father's death and she wants them to pay for it.
Jason find a lead in Betts' whereabouts and learns that he is moving on from killing dope dealers to inciting a race war. He stops Betts and his men at a armory. But when a on-duty guard interrupts, Betts sets off a crate of Claymore mines which force Jason to save the guard while Betts and his men are killed in the explosion.
Appearing in "Book 1: Living in the Age of Me"
Featured Characters:
- New American (Jason Fisher)
- Ole Miss (Missy Deveraux)
- Amber Waves (Amber Eaton)
Supporting Characters:
- Daniel
- Nikki Lau
Antagonists:
- Willie Betts (Dies)
Other Characters:
- Johnny Lau (In a photograph only)
Locations:
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Jackson, Mississippi
- Oakland, California
Items:
Vehicles:
Trivia
- The Weather Underground, Black Liberation Army, the Pentagon Papers and the Attica Prison riot are referenced in this issue.
See Also