The Face of Struggle

by Seth Tobocman, Peter Kuper (Introduction)

The story of today’s social struggles, told through images.

Usingthe time-honored technique of the wordless graphic novel as developed by Franz Masereel and Lynd Ward, this book is an allegorical take on our current age strongman politics, a worldwide nightmare in which thugs like Trump herald the possible rise of a new, modern form of fascism. In a series of thirty-seven striking two-color images, Tobocman traces the dynamics of political discontent and struggle, including how right-wing politicians like Donald Trump co-opt and redirect mass frustration and anger in ways that strengthen the very forces that cause discontent in the first place.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Politics, Comics, Nonfiction

48 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2020

About the author

Radical comic book artist who has been living in Manhattan's Lower East Side since 1978. Tobocman is best known for his creation of the political comic book World War 3 Illustrated, which he started in 1979 with fellow artist Peter Kuper. He has also been an influential propagandist for the squatting, anti-globalist, and anti-war movements in the United States.

Reviews

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 4 out of 5]

An allegory for our times, told in wordless panels based on Frans Masereel's woodcut art.

The message is unsubtle - it's about the rise of the popularist right, leaning into flatout fascism, who tend to cherry pick ideas from the left and co-opt them. The biggest proponent of this movement of course being Trump. The book sees the people turning against the authoritarian, a reckoning as it were, and I'm not sure at all that is where we're heading.

The art is beautiful, striking in its tones of black and red. The design of the authoritarian is darkly funny and we'll thought out.

I still find myself missing something, maybe more subtleness, but I'm not even sure this format would allow that.

3.5 stars

(Received an ARC through Edelweiss)

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silent comics are always interesting. This highly political one has a Trumpian demagogue stealing and perverting the anger of a populist uprising, twisting it into his hellish vision of America. Despite this, the author doesn't lose faith in the people, validated in the real world by the election results of 2020.


FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: Introduction. Louder Than Words / Peter Kuper -- Prologue -- The Face of Struggle -- How This Book Came About -- [Illustration Gallery]

[Maxine · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is an old cliche: a picture is worth a thousand words.The Face of Struggle: An Allegory Without Words is a perfect example of this. It uses art without words to show how neoliberalism has led to political discontent which, in turn led to struggle; how right wing populists like Trump have stolen popular ideas from the left to co-opt the struggles and anger and used them to gain power and strengthen the forces who, in fact, are responsible for the anger and frustration; how this has a strong potential to result in a modern form of fascism; and how we need to take back the struggle if we are to stop it.

As other reviews have pointed out, the presentation of the message is not subtle but it is powerful. The art is beautiful and stark, using red, white, and black. The story is preceded by a history of the use of wordless graphic novels to convey important ideas. It is followed by a further explanation of the art. They were interesting enough butI'm not sure they added much to the novel except to explain why Tobocman chose this form. One thing I can say for sure, regardless of why he made the choice, I'm glad he did because, in this time of climate crisis, late capitalism, and now a pandemic, this is a very important message.

Thanks to Edelweiss+ and AK Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

[Erikka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This book is impressive and incredibly ballsy. In a series of stark red, black, and white images (that could just as easily be in a museum), the artist tells the story of the current state of our nation and how ignoring some issues leads to a rise in other issues. I'm being intentionally vague bc if he can tell the story without words, you don't need my ramblings cluttering it up. Just. Give it a read, or rather a look, if you get the chance. I just wish it had been a bit longer (it was over very quickly). I also feel like the words before and after detracted from the art form, but I can see why they were added: they discuss others who came before and inspired him to tell his story this way.

[Carol Tilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spare. Powerful. Essential.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is everything!
In homage to the power of graphics Peter Kuper introduces this little book as the result of the history of artistic activism and specifically inspired by Frans Masereel with an allegory based on the political climate of now. Powerful, beautiful, and punch to the gut impactive as I’ve come to know, expect, learn from, and be inspired by — from Seth Tobocman and the WW3 artists from NYC over the past several decades.
Highly recommended!

[Gabriel Infierno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss

[Scout · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool project! The most striking aspect, and I would say most valuable, has to be the depiction of a politician as being simply a businessman wearing the cut off face of a person engaged in genuine social struggle. This image is a sharp portrayal of both the relationship between nation-states and corporations, and the nation-states' practice of co-opting the language of radical social movements in order to give themselves the veneer of being focused on justice.

The decision to portray the politician figure specifically as Trump raises questions for me. In a context in which Trump's outrageous and harmful actions are met too often with a resistance that sees him as the key problem rather than the interlocking systems of which he is an expression and aggravator, I worry that this artistic decision risks coming off to some readers as saying something about Trump as an individual instead of the U.S. presidency as an institution--which I think is far less interesting.

While the sort of origin story of the Trump/politican figure is very striking, the resolution we're given toward the end hits kind of oddly for me. We see people coming together with... are those the police? to confront Trump. (The police were accurately portrayed at the beginning of the book as the foot soldiers of the capitalists, so this choice is strange.) Courtroom imagery is used as a metaphor of Trump being brought to justice, which is a confusing choice because Trump is a law-and-order politician who presides over the largest and most harmful criminal legal system known to human history. I do, however, like the ending that suggests that the only way to properly mourn the slain rebels who animate us today comes from the destruction of the systems that killed them in the first place. But then, is that what murdering Trump as an individual represents? I feel like that's a key tension in the book for me, of how much work a representation of Trump is able to do to make a deeper systemic critique when people are so encouraged to oppose Trump in ways that are individualizing and decontextualizing.

A quick and good thing to read with some striking images and strong positions. Makes me wonder what else is possible in this art form, and curious about its historical predecessors, which are discussed in the introduction.

[cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woodcut-like drawings that tell the whole story. Perfect for anyone who thinks in pictures - difficult for me as a non-visual thinker, but beautiful and clearly filled with homages to female art to embody important ideas.

From the introduction, which are the only words, "Our struggle in the twenty-first century, however, has reached a new critical mass. Autocrats are on the rise worldwide. From Trump to Bolsonaro, they preach national socialism even as they demonize true socialists. The masks worn by these leaders to entice us down the garden path are being lifted for anyone with a pair of eyes, lungs, and Eric Drooker, from Flood! 8 functioning brain. Their greed knows no bounds and their lust for power blinds them to reality—the reality that our home is on fire and they will burn too."

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Face of Struggle is an excellent example of how art alone can tell a story. There are no words—only pictures explaining the tale. The pictures are drawn like woodcuts. They use only black, red and negative white space to show the plot. And what a timely storyline!

Trump supporters will hate this book. The villain has red hair with a Trumpism sweep. He has an extremely long red tie. He is also depicted as pouring gasoline on a fire and inciting his followers to commit violence on his enemies.

I am impressed that such a complex story can be told without words. 5 stars and a favorite for sure!

Thanks to AK Press and Edelweiss+ for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Aquilah Bachan · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[13encolère]

Oui l'état et le capital nous dépossèdent de nos vies et nous font croire qu'ils veulent nous libérer mais non non la police et la justice participeront pas à l'insurrection derrière les barricades mais plutôt devant avec les centaures et le RAID. Elles en auront pas marre d'être des milices. Un bon flic ça démissionne (y'a d'autres options mais on est sur internet) et la justice doit s'abolir si elle veut prétendre être "juste". Brefouille c'est que du slogan toussa mais jsuis pas auteurice c'est pas pour rien

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's called an allegory without words, but this book does actually have some words. A beautiful prologue that situates this work in its artistic and political lineage, and a sort of "afterword" by the artist. The allegory itself is, to my eye, pretty perfect. And chilling. And it is good to understand it as one of many allegories that have effortlessly transcended language barriers to bring together people and movements for generations.

[Doug Brunell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tale of how fascism takes hold told without words. It's a tale that is easy to understand, though those who support the likes of Trump will see it differently. Trump is the obvious figurehead here, but he's not the only threat lurking about. He's just the loudest and most ignorant. His fate here will fill his detractors with joy and leave the red ball cap group clamoring for Tobocman's head. Job well done.

[Peyton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a very clear narrative. You don’t need to understand US politics to get what the message is. A very common and shared narrative, but the ending is too idealistic and unrealistic. I think the author is trying to show hope for what could be.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published earlier this year, 100% relevant to this very moment.

[yankl krakovsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the ending is optimistic in a way that feels almost inaccessible in the climate of 2020, Tobacman’s art is as exquisite as ever.

[Steen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visual art relentlessly blows my mind. I also can’t imagine how long this book took to create—certainly longer than the five minutes it took me to read.

Fantastic work.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art is beautiful and the simple storyline is easy to follow. In 2025, it seems hopelessly naive. But I appreciate it.

[Jen Tidman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a stunning graphic novel comprised of simple two colour woodcut images, that although wordless has a lot to say about capitalism, climate change, and the rise of fascism.

The allegory is thinly veiled, showing how right-wing politicians like Trump manipulate the masses, and create the problems they then promise to solve.

A powerful book, which is a worthy addition to any graphic library.