It is regarded as the most extreme and complete form of authoritarianism. Totalitarianism is a form of government and a political system that prohibits all opposition parties, outlaws individual and group opposition to the state and its claims, and exercises an extremely high if not complete degree of control and regulation over public and private life. This graphic novel proves to be an excellent portal into a bygone era and makes the case that history is always sitting on a shelf awaiting to be rediscovered.Joseph Stalin (left), leader of the Soviet Union, and Adolf Hitler (right), leader of Nazi Germany-prototypical dictators of totalitarian regimes of the left and right political spectrums respectively Any student of history will find much to be engaged with. Timmons isn’t just reworking old comics but she’s channeling them and making them her own. Lastly, I must point out that the art is dazzling. And there are certainly moments within the comic that feel as lively and relevant as anything today. There are some artful flourishes to be found in dialogue, the flow of the narrative, and the overall clever use of the vintage comics format. The reader isn’t expected to look for too much in the way of subtext to distract from the prime account. All in all, this method proves to be an excellent educational device. The immersive quality of this graphic novel is, as I suggest, due to a compelling narrative (the fictionalized true story) putting to use many of the tricks of the trade employed by the war comics and romance comics of yesteryear. In no time, these lads will be fighting Franco in Spain. Followed by Abe falling in love with Caroline, a local activist. This leads to a scuffle with a brutal local police officer. They move her belongings back into her apartment after her landlord threw them out. This is followed by a few pages with Abe and a couple of his friends helping a neighbor lady who hasn’t paid her rent. Page One depicts Woody Guthrie singing an activist ballad. The first few pages steadily set the tone. I think that is a great way to go to get readers into the mindset of that era and especially the players in this drama. The look and feel of the book evokes wholesome family movies from the 1930s, spiked with a decidedly leftist view or vintage comic books imbued with an earnest propaganda. It features the true story of Abe Osheroff, a lifelong activist, along with two of his friends, who joined the fight. Outside of Hemingway, this graphic novel provides a stirring recount of events sure to stay with the reader. Freedom was on the line, a harbinger of what lay ahead in Europe. This is a war that pitted a new leftist government elected in 1936 against Fascist and extreme-right forces. The Spanish Civil War (1936 – 1939) may bring to mind Ernest Hemingway and his 1940 novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Free Spirits by Paul M. Buhle