MAIN STREET, USA-Against incredible odds, jobless crusader UNEMPLOYED MAN and his sidekick PLAN B embark on a heroic search for wo...
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reviews
Jan 24, 2011
Bird Brian
rated it: 
I enjoyed this! This is a comic with some action and a lot of funny/sad commentary on our struggling economy. The hero starts off as a Fox News-type right-wing superhero: "Bootstrap" who goes around telling the poor that their poverty is their own fault. Then he loses his own job, and learns first-hand the challenges today's unemployed face. His skill set hasn't been updated in decades, and being an entry-level superhero has changed quite a bit from when he started. Prospective employe
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Aug 10, 2011
Joe
rated it:
Follow the amazing adventures of Unemployed Man, formerly known as The Ultimatum until good intentions and a stand against The Man got him The Boot. Shrewd, witty commentary on the state of the economy and the roots of our nation’s fiscal woes inform the action in this cleverly written, beautifully illustrated graphic novel. The parody is ripped straight from today’s headlines—supervillains like Cobra (he’ll cover your insurance after being laid off, only $200 a month!) and Kollectus (he comes a
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Feb 01, 2011
Lucy
rated it:
FANTASTIC FACTS
Grab your bootstraps! Thirty years ago, corporate CEOs like The Man were paid only around 78 times more than minimum wage earners, but thanks to the hard work of the Just Us League, today's CEOs earn over 4000 times more! In fact, they can make more in one year than average earners (not the lowest) make in 90 years! They're that good.
Reach for the sky! If the USA maintained the same income distribution we had in the 1970s, heroes in the work force would earn at least More...
Grab your bootstraps! Thirty years ago, corporate CEOs like The Man were paid only around 78 times more than minimum wage earners, but thanks to the hard work of the Just Us League, today's CEOs earn over 4000 times more! In fact, they can make more in one year than average earners (not the lowest) make in 90 years! They're that good.
Reach for the sky! If the USA maintained the same income distribution we had in the 1970s, heroes in the work force would earn at least More...
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Nov 26, 2010
Giovanni
rated it:
I enjoy reading graphic novels for many reasons and The Adventures of Unemployed Man is a prime example. It takes the basic premise that the economy is bad right now, but incrementally worse if you are the one laid off and without a job. The graphic novel does its job through incredibly sarcastic humor and a poignant narrative that is bound to hit home with those that are struggling and those that are rich and cruising along. No one goes away unscathed from this story; it is really a great plotl
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Nov 01, 2010
Anastasia
rated it: 
Caveat: one of the authors is my neighbor.
I really enjoyed this graphic novel. While I usually prefer the more serious type of GN (like Persepolis), this very comic-book-style work was great. It was a visual treat to look through it and note all the tiny little details subtly embedded in the pictures. The creativity and humor were exactly what one needs when looking true evil right in its ugly mug. Best of all, for me, was that Origen and Golan have their finger right on the pulse of w More...
I really enjoyed this graphic novel. While I usually prefer the more serious type of GN (like Persepolis), this very comic-book-style work was great. It was a visual treat to look through it and note all the tiny little details subtly embedded in the pictures. The creativity and humor were exactly what one needs when looking true evil right in its ugly mug. Best of all, for me, was that Origen and Golan have their finger right on the pulse of w More...
Jun 07, 2011
Jess
rated it:
A modern superhero satire on our current economic crisis with characters such as Wonder Mother, Everyman, Plan B, and Lemur Brothers. It hits on a lot of the issues of the Great Recession and offers actual facts that helped our current situation to happen. A very fun read unless you're one of the few who weren't hit that hard by this.
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Jan 19, 2011
Sandro1981
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jun 02, 2011
Keith
rated it: 
Nice comic-strip, graphic-novel treatment of the problem of inequality and debt. It doesn't really deal with peak oil, limits to growth, or resource shortages, but does deal with the huge and growing problem of inequality in a humorous comic-book satire. A take-off on "action comics," the heroes battle the toxic debt blob, the invisible hand, and other enemies in the "Just Us" League. Unemployed man finds other heroes such as Fellowman, Wonder Mother, Plan B, etc. and trie
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Jul 28, 2011
Calling this a quirky and unusual taste is a massive understatement, but I highly enjoyed this thinly veiled satire of the flaws in capitalism (namely greed without regulation) and our current economic collapse told in a humorous retro superhero story. Its peppered with facts to show how the 'american dream' is largely a crock of shit as corporate wealth runs unchecked but it is also full of good humor. My favorite is White Rage, a normal man turned into a giant hulk-esque man whenever words l
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Dec 07, 2011
Derfman
rated it:
If you have been laid off and wondering how things got this way in America, look no further than this excellent graphic novel. Can you blame anyone for being downsized other than your former employer? Turns out, yes you can. Interspersed within the fictional story of ex-superhero Ultimatum Man the author puts in fact sheets that explains the American economy. One warning if you plan on reading this: this book will enrage you. The author was able to have the good guys squeak out a win at the end,
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Jun 16, 2011
Eli
rated it:
This is not a work of great literature. But it is a great book. It knows what it wants to do and does exactly that: entertain and enlighten. I know more about what went wrong in the recent financial collapse after reading this than I did after the dozens of hours I spent listening to the policy wonks on NPR try to explain it to me. Plus high-quality artwork and more cheesy '50s-comics-style puns than you can shake the Hero in Chief's Clintonite staff at! Success all 'round.
Sep 13, 2011
Meadow
rated it:
This was hilarious! Sad, because it is all so true, but hilarious. This graphic novel is full of everyday heros, out of work due to the recent economic troubles. The author gives background stories for the main heros, all relevant to the lives of so many people today. The names and appearances of all the characters are brilliant.
Nov 05, 2011
Ryan
rated it:
This was aces! Need an explanation about why all those folks are "occupying" places, here it is in a comic book.
I was in from the start as Origen takes a shot at Positive Psychology with Ultimatum Man urging people to be positive, after all, if you're poor it's your own fault for not thinking good thoughts and working hard! This dastardly super-being pushes the party-line until he's fired, suddenly becoming Unemployed Man. On a quest to find work he uncovers the reasons for More...
I was in from the start as Origen takes a shot at Positive Psychology with Ultimatum Man urging people to be positive, after all, if you're poor it's your own fault for not thinking good thoughts and working hard! This dastardly super-being pushes the party-line until he's fired, suddenly becoming Unemployed Man. On a quest to find work he uncovers the reasons for More...
Feb 15, 2011
Andrew
rated it:
Very funny based on the 1950's style superhero comic, I loved the list of arch villians of Just Us League like The Outsourcer, Pink Slip, especially The Invisible Hand. I love the hall of fame of free market icons like Ray Gun (Ronald Reagan), Fried Man (Milton Friedman) and Ayn Brand (Ayn Rand).
Feb 20, 2011
Sonic
rated it:
Spot on take on America's recession, and how "in denial" most Americans prefer to be about it.
A refreshingly cynically harsh take on our current descent into new medieval times.
Hilarious!
A refreshingly cynically harsh take on our current descent into new medieval times.
Hilarious!
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Nov 23, 2010
Thom
rated it:
While not exactly an even-handed treatment, this book is still a good, thought provoking read. Should be on everybody's shelf right next to Howard Zinn.
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Mar 05, 2011
Laura
rated it:
Having been laid off from two middle school librarian positions in the past few years this is a fun but difficult read for me.
I finished and really appreciated the scathing social commentary, accessible explanations of the economic crisis, and the outrageously snarky humor and art.
I finished and really appreciated the scathing social commentary, accessible explanations of the economic crisis, and the outrageously snarky humor and art.
Jan 11, 2011
Katelyn
rated it:
FANTASTIC! Great political satire but also stinging truth. And I love the review that said it should be on your shelf next to Howard Zinn.
Oct 30, 2011
Robin
rated it:
Superheroes explaining and taking on the current economic crisis. A more interesting read in light of Occupy Wall Street.
Oct 04, 2011
Kflaroue
rated it:
With satire galore a great break down of the economic mess we are in. Extra bonus is how we can fix it. Love it!
Mar 24, 2011
Jodi
rated it:
Honest portrayal of the causes and effects of recent economic depression; written and illustrated by a number of well known comic artists. Would be a great high school economics text book. Well researched, thorough, thought-provoking and worrisome.
Jun 26, 2011
Brian
rated it:
Pretty darn funny. It's good for a laugh. A nice critique of the current economic situation. Sad but true.
Jan 02, 2011
Trey
rated it:
This pretty transparent allegory was made more palatable by hilarious villain names like the Outsourcerer.
Jun 11, 2011
Mark
rated it:
Leftist take on economic society in superhero comic form. Entertaining and depressing.
May 06, 2011
Lisaana
rated it:
Creative and droll, the artwork harkens back to classical commics that I grew up with.
Feb 03, 2011
Will
rated it:
Imagine Michael Moore making a superhero comic about our current economic situation.
Feb 19, 2011
Kate
rated it:
Funny, if a little over the top in its punny superheroes fighting The Man.
Feb 19, 2012
Dianne
rated it: 
A bit cheesy at times and they do really hone in their message. But I liked the idea.
