Right State

“Right State”

by Mat Johnson and Andrea Mutti

Lean, mean and ingenious, this near-future political thriller should appeal to devotees of “Homeland.” It’s 2020, and the (unnamed) president is still black. The primary terrorist threat, however, comes in a different color. Right-wing militias, the festering die-hards of Tea Party-style conservatism, thrive in remote, impoverished rural areas. The comic’s story — illustrated with accomplished, if not dazzling skill by Mutti — begins with Asif, a Muslim secret service agent, hot on the trail of a renegade fed who has defected to lead the insurgency. To get inside the compound run by the group, Asif enlists a veterans’ advocate and conservative talk show pundit named Akers, who then emerges as the protagonist. Much of the piquancy and intelligence of “Right State” arises from the fact that Akers is not entirely unsympathetic to the complaints and demands of militias, and this lends depth to the expected, if enjoyable, exploits that follow: shootouts, drug trips, betrayals and red herrings. Good, smart fun.

 

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