VP Candidate Rep. Paul Ryan and “Smiler” Gary Callahan from “Transmetropolitan”
In light of Mitt Romney’s announcement of Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate for the 2012 Presidential Election, we’d like to point back to our article from April of 2011:
On the left is Gary Callahan, a.k.a. The Smiler, from Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson‘s Transmetropolitan
. On the right is U.S. Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI), Chairman of the House Budget Committee.
One of these individuals has good looks and a certain amount of charisma, but has no empathy for the lower classes of society. He has designs on the presidency, and will cut odious political deals to make that happen, all while being fawned over by right wing pundits and a segment of the voters who are convinced that he will save us from “the Beast”.
The other, of course, is a character out of the comic books.
For further comparison, consider this page from Transmetropolitan #41 (reprinted in Transmetropolitan TPB #7: Spider’s Thrash) and remember that this first came out over ten years ago. It certainly sounds like something Ryan has in his campaign platform…
Here, let me transcribe it so the other spiders can get to it:
You have to understand that the care system of the country cannot be taken for granted. It is not American to swaddle you in cotton wool from cradle to grave. It is the mark of a mature country that you, too, take responsibility for your life and the lives of those around you.
We are not big government. We do not own you. These streets are your streets. Therefore it is you, in your greatness as Americans, who must care for your streets.
And the people on them.
Care for your community. Because we can’t do it for you.
To paraphrase Warren Ellis, the only future worth talking about in science fiction is the future we’re living in.
Related articles
- Romney chooses Ryan as VP pick (cbsnews.com)
- 5 things Mitt doesn’t want you to know about Paul Ryan (news.yahoo.com)
- Rep. Paul Ryan: Will also run in November for his Wisconsin House seat (blogs.suntimes.com)
Scary
This is not the first time we have seen prescience in the comics world. AMERICAN FLAGG!!!! (courtesy of Howard Chaykin) did a perfect job of picturing this country as a fascist corporate state–which is what the Repugnicants are all too close to making real.
Tony, I posted your terrific column on my Facebook page.