Provocation and awareness through art
The Antifa Comic Book: Revised and Expanded
by Gord Hill
Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press, 2025
$24.95 / 9781834050041
Reviewed by Jeffrey Stychin
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I’m not well versed in the history of fascism, nor am I plagued by happenings of riots, revolutions, or revolts. I’m not stating this to sound privileged, because although I would say my life has been, despite its problems, free from the terrors of fighting for human rights and equality, I take gratitude in being able to live so freely. I believe some of the major problems a lot of my generation have are as a result of not coming to realize these freedoms we don’t contemplate and how this ignorance has permeated throughout our daily lives. My eyes were closed, before reading this book. This is one of the most important collections of discourse I’ve been graciously given the opportunity to review, as I hope my words find you well, and perhaps can ruffle some feathers and open some hearts.
Gord Hill, is an author and illustrator whose previous books include: The 500 years of Indigenous Resistance Comic Book and The Anti-Capitalist Resistance Comic Book (both Arsenal Pulp Press). He is a member of the Kwakwaka’wakw Nation, whose territory is located on northern Vancouver Island and adjacent mainland in the province of “British Columbia”. He has been involved in Indigenous peoples’ and anti-globalization movements since 1990.
(leaflet included with review copy)
Hill is masterful at taking political ideology and showcasing it in an accessible way that isn’t intimidating, but engaging. Using a political cartoon style, with a striking colour palette and panel arrangement, each section of this book fits the unique part of history being discussed, and really pulls you in. It feels important, it reads as entertainment, so you pay attention and feel the emotion. Bearing a raw style of underground graphic novels, the resulting panels are striking whilst being aligned with the radical ideas they represent. Hill uses bold lines, stark contrasting colours filled with tension, and layouts that mirror intensity. All of these elements come together with a tone of defiance against oppression.
With an accessible artistic style, Hill effortlessly conveys the importance of Antifa history and its place of relevance in today’s society.
With an accessible artistic style, Hill effortlessly conveys the importance of Antifa history and its place of relevance in today’s society. “While the alt-right has imploded, the threat of fascist & far-right groups remains. They existed before the alt-right emerged and will continue to do so, as will their violent assaults & murders.”
This comic isn’t just a political and ideological history. It’s also a conveyance of events, that highlight complex ideas among real world history and activism. Covering key moments, including the anti-fascist rise during Nazi Germany, continuing into the Partisans and Spanish Civil War, even touching on the Second World War’s British Blackshirts and Anarchy in the U.K. all the way up to Trumps presidency and Elon Musk taking over Twitter. It really focuses on the global scale and impact of anti-fascist movements against nationalist right-wing groups that use political rhetoric and propaganda to fuel their ideas, at the sacrifice of the people. “The first significant anti-fascist resistance occurred in September 1933, when several hundred B.U.F.* members attempted to march in Stockton in northeast England.”
*British Union of Fascists
When you first start reading, you realize that what you may have believed about Antifa, is most likely misconstrued, used as a catch-all label of violence, chaos, and extremism, for political propaganda by each opposing side. Hill is able to present a more historically accurate and grounded portrayal. I found solace in reading about so many groups working to fight for people’s rights and freedoms against totalitarian leadership and oppressive laws of governance. Hill doesn’t shy away from complexities either, acknowledging the multitude of the Antifa movement and its many separate groups, showcasing their history, their triumphs, and their failures. You need these histories to see the full side of what the movement stood for, stands for, and ultimately is for, especially as we inch further along in the tyranny of today’s global politics.
Since the time Donald Trump was elected a rise in white nationalist movements are growing, and the visibility of far-right extremism globally is increasing. The Antifa Comic Book now feels more relevant than ever. “The alt-right saw in trump’s racist & sexist rhetoric a man that represented their interests in maintaining a system of white supremacy,” writes Hill.
It’s concerning when people in power can say and act in ways unimaginable. Hill is showing how leaders who speak freely, unjudged and unmanaged, unhinged even, can cause an attachment of hate and misunderstanding to fuel a movement, whether or not you like the outcome. In many ways this book functions as not just political commentary on past and current events, but as a historical document of reflection.
We are facing a major shift in online rhetoric and fascist type groups, a lot of hate and divisiveness, I don’t feel like we’ve ever been more disconnected. I think Hill is trying to tell us that Antifa is not just about reacting to fascism, but a response to the larger concerns facing humanity today; authoritarian governance, climate change agendas, global inequality, racial injustices, or indigenous peoples’ land rights to name a few.
In Trump they see the potential for massive growth through deregulation as well as lower taxes, just as oil & gas, mining & other industries do. But these technocrats are also playing leading roles in the restructuring of the U.S government & economy and are the driving force behind the far-right libertarianism of Trump’s new regime. They seek to establish a completely free market economy run by high-tech corporations through A.I & cryptocurrency, with masses of people rendered useless.
The main focus generally falls on the eyes of the United States and their government, at least on a generalized global scale, they’re at the forefront. If the above is what the ones in power feel they will accomplish in our current trajectory, I suggest some resistance, before it’s too late.
Gord Hill’s The Antifa Comic Book, is a striking work of art, tackling some of the most pressing issues in our modern world, while reminding you of a dynamic, coloured history of change born from resistance. Hill presents a compelling case for Antifa relevance in its fight against racism, fascism, and authoritarianism, providing a detailed history of events in our past, so we can better understand our probable future.
I’m so thankful to have a copy of this work and I urge you to pick one up, clench your fists, and get inspired. Hill’s work is wonderful, thoughtful, and explosive. A much-needed volume of information for anyone in the know or in the I-don’t-know-but-want-to-know category. It’s not easy to review such an important work. I’m new to this sort of political history, and I’m glad I get to share it with you. So in the words off this Neil Young t-shirt: keep freedom free.
[Editor’s Note: Gord Hill’s interview appeared in time.com on the subject of Antifa.]
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Jeffrey Stychin studied verse and poetry through music and art. He began writing as a means of catharsis and as a way to communicate with himself and others. A Vancouver barber by day, a poet by night, he currently resides with his thoughts and dreams in a quiet place full of trees. [Editor’s note: Jeffrey Stychin has recently reviewed books by John Hughes (ed.), Katarina Thorsen, Marc Edge, Jon Bartlett & Brian Robertson, Nellwyn Lampert, Pamela Oakley, Christian Smith, Gillian Turnbull (eds.), and Jill Payne for The British Columbia Review.]
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The British Columbia Review
Interim Editors, 2023-26: Trevor Marc Hughes (non-fiction), Brett Josef Grubisic (fiction)
Publisher: Richard Mackie
Formerly The Ormsby Review, The British Columbia Review is an on-line book review and journal service for BC writers and readers. The Advisory Board now consists of Jean Barman, Wade Davis, Robin Fisher, Barry Gough, Hugh Johnston, Kathy Mezei, Patricia Roy, and Graeme Wynn. Provincial Government Patron (since September 2018): Creative BC. Honorary Patron: Yosef Wosk. Scholarly Patron: SFU Graduate Liberal Studies. The British Columbia Review was founded in 2016 by Richard Mackie and Alan Twigg.
“Only connect.” – E.M. Forster