Ben Heywood :: US comic art

The Last American #1 pp 16 (Epic 1990)

Artists: Mick McMahon (All) , Mike McMahon (All) , John Wagner (Writer)

6 Comments - 229 Views - 6 Likes

The Last American #1 pp 16 (Epic 1990) Comic Art

Click Image to View Full Size

Additional Images:

verso

As published

Cover

Next Item:
Hellraiser #10: Commitment, p36 (Epic, January 1991)

Artwork Details

Title:	The Last American #1 pp 16 (Epic 1990)
Artist:	Mick McMahon (All)
Artist:	Mike McMahon (All)
Artist:	John Wagner (Writer)
Media Type:	Marker
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	229
Likes on CAF:	6 7
Comments:	6
Added to Site:	11/14/2024
Comic Art Archive:

Description

"Firestorms will rage unchecked through afforested areas"

By 1990, I think we were all a bit wary of balls-to-the-wall nuclear war satires. With the collapse of East Germany, the Cold War was seemingly over, and we were ready to enter what, in retrospect, was to be just a single decade of Western peace and prosperity. We'd had our 'Day After', 'Threads', 'When The Wind Blows', and even John Wagner & Alan Grant had given us what was (is) the definitive comics statement on nuclear war, the 2000AD Judge Dredd epic 'The Apocalypse War'. 'The Last American' had been solicited in 1995, but Mick McMahon's illness and nervous exhaustion had put the art on hold until the end of the decade: a story past its time.

And by that time, John Wagner & Alan Grant had also reached the end of the line. The 4 issue comic, published by Marvel's Epic line, marked the end of the pair's writing partnership, with Wagner taking the first two issues, Grant the final two. They did not part on good terms, and, IMHO, like Lennon & McCartney, neither were able to reach the heights of storytelling separately as they had did as partners, the mighty engine of Brit Comics sci-fi. So, formally and conceptually, 'The Last American' marked the end of an era (though no one knew it at the time): a clear failure.

So why is it still important? The answer is only that of Mick McMahon. The art for this series was extraordinary, and marks another clear break by the artist from anything he (or anyone else) had produced before. Deep blacks, luminous marker colours, angular, blocky inks on distorted figures and landscapes that loomed out of the page with a disturbing and immediate presence. But a presence that never at any point hindered the urgency and sheer propulsion of the story-telling. What McMahon drew was a triumph for English-language comics, and has seldom been equalled since.

For me there is also the hit of nostalgia: the clacking racks of comics art in the basement of London's Comics Showcase, where I once bumped into Alan Moore, and where pages from 2000AD and 'The Last American' went for just a few pounds...a few pounds that I didn't have...

Ink and marker on cartridge paper
27.7 x 40 cms

Thanks to Tony for the sale and trade!

Social/Sharing

About the Owner

	Ben Heywood Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	November 2009
Last Login:	September 2025
Ebay Id:	eggwood
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Premium Member Q&A Ben's Classifieds Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

Contact the Owner

Use can use a contact form to send an email to this gallery owner,
but, you must be logged in to use this feature.

Comments on this Artwork

You must be logged in to make comments.

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 11/14/2024

Makes a great statement about yearning for a past that will never come back and moving forward.

Daniel Ashton
Member Since 2013

1 - Posted on 11/14/2024

What a masterpiece! Congrats!

artless artmore
Member Since 2013

2 - Posted on 11/14/2024

Phenomenal! Great write-up, too

Ben Heywood
Member Since 2009

Posted on 11/15/2024

artless artmore wrote:

Phenomenal!� Great write-up, too

Thank you!

FBS Stroun
Member Since 2021

Posted on 11/15/2024

artless artmore wrote:

Phenomenal!� Great write-up, too

Hear Hear !

I second that motion.

Spikes Harvey Rotten
Member Since 2010

Posted on 11/23/2024

Superb art by Mick. Just so much detail to see and enjoy time and again in the work he produced for this. (And the tale isn't shabby either imho) Comics heaven!

All
	--J S-- 9/6/2025 1:16:00 AM
	Richard Donnelly 9/6/2025 12:57:00 AM
	Sam Casciato 9/6/2025 12:38:00 AM
	Alan E 9/6/2025 12:05:00 AM
	Aidan (Re-Legion ) Lacy 9/5/2025 10:56:00 PM
View All


	Tom McDonald 9/5/2025 10:46:00 PM
	Abraham Martinez 9/5/2025 9:33:00 PM
	Chris Johnson 9/5/2025 9:08:00 PM
	Dave Kopecki 9/5/2025 9:07:00 PM
	Paul P Spiderversity 9/5/2025 8:26:00 PM