The Book I Read: Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf

I'm not sure when I first became aware of John "Derf" Backderf's work. The City, which appeared in L.E.O., started in 1990, and I remember looking at that strip pretty much every week, so it's possible that we go back that far together. Although to be honest, it wasn't my cup of tea. It seemed a bit mean-spirited, and the art was really ugly. But then many years later there was the Trashed book...and the My Friend Dahmer book (see HERE) ...and my love for Derf began to grow. I also started following his Facebook posts, and have found him to be an interesting fellow indeed. 

So I was aware of Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio some time before it was published. But when it came out a couple of weeks ago, the list price was $25, so I didn't think I would be seeing it for awhile, as money is too tight to mention. Then I happened to take a look at the new eBooks on the LFPL website and much to my surprise, (1) they had Kent State and (2) it was Available Now. I downloaded it immediately, put my reading of Tarzan on the Precipice and The Flatey Enigma on hold, and got down to biddness. 

And? Well, I have been trying to find my socks for some time now...because this book knocked them off. Derf's art has moved away from the Ugly mode and has become very streamlined and efficient in terms of conveying story details. And his writing is often superb...especially when he immerses you in the story. (Sometimes his narrational intrusions are a bit heavy handed, so don't be put off by that. Besides, they give awesome View From a Height information that enlarges the scope of the narrative.)

And as for the story...I had "known" about the Kent State shootings for a long time...probably ever since it happened, though I was not the most politically aware teenager at the time. But I never got deep into the details of it until I read Derf Backderf's book. And it is an amazing story. The surface of it...that National Guardsmen opened fire on unarmed student protesters...is bad enough, but underneath that surface is even greater evil. This aspect of the story does show its ugly face in the graphic novel portion of the book, but the notes in the back of the book...which are very extensive...really bring the point home: government agents actively worked to co-opt the Kent State student body, and in ways which are (1) reminiscent of the approach fascist states take and (2) very disturbing in light of the way that current street protests seem to have been co-opted in this way. And there is no doubt that the actions of those agents were directly responsible for the murders and maimings which happened at Kent State.

Take this bit, for instance: Derf comments on "...the FBI's successful scheme to destroy SDS by supporting the Weatherman...."

Well, that's the way you do it, right? Agitate and impersonate and then exaggerate the most extreme aspects of a movement until the movement itself is destroyed. Remember when the majority of Americans (67% of all adults) supported Black Lives Matter? Well...that's no longer true. Why not? Because agitators...and maybe government agents as well? It's hard to tell where the line between Observant and Paranoid is drawn these days...have managed to convince people that Black Lives Matter is a violent movement whose aim is to lay waste to your city. (And then occupy your suburbs.) It doesn't matter if it's bullshit if people are willing to eat it and call it Boston Creme Pie, does it?

Anyway....

There were two things mentioned in the notes that I am going to follow up on: War at Home: Covert Action Against U.S. Activists and What We Can Do About It by Brian Glick, which is available HERE, and "The FBI and the Shattering of Students for a Democratic Society," which you can read HERE. There's also a video entitled "Kent State shooting enhanced audio home movie May 4 1970" which you can see HERE. It will hurt my heart and sadden my soul to go deeper into this story, but I feel that it has to be done.

Short version: if you have the bucks, throw them down for Kent State by Derf Backderf. It's worth a lot more than $25. If you don't have the bucks, I hope your library is as good as mine. And then start saving your pennies, because you're going to want to own this one asap.