There have been political comics for as long as there have been comics. (Anyone who tells you otherwise is delusional.) More often than not, political elements have been integrated into narratives, where readers can experience a point-of-view of an issue through characters, real and fictional. At the same time, comics can be used more informatively, using the medium to teach readers about topics they should know about. A great example is the recently published Stop Project 2025, a comic that explains the dangerous agenda of the ultra-conservative Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise, also known as Project 2025.
If you’re unaware, or only vaguely so, of Project 2025, then you’re not alone. It’s hard to understand the entire thing, being a 920-page document. Essentially, it’s a manifesto that maps out all the proposed changes that conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation want to make to government policy and structure if Donald Trump wins the 2024 election. (The former president and The Heritage Foundation have denied collaboration, but there’s plenty of evidence to suggest otherwise.) The document includes plans to dismantle vital government agencies, ban or outlaw anything considered “woke”, strip rights from ordinary people, and steer America towards a Christian authoritarian state.
Stop Project 2025 breaks down the contents of the wide-spanning document by giving readers all the important information into digestible comics. Each comic features a different aspect of the manifesto, covering topics like anti-trans discrimination, climate change, education, policies involving children, health care, freedom of speech, cronyism, and more. The project aims to inform readers and hopefully encourage them to vote in the upcoming US election.
How these details are communicated depends on the topic and the creative choices by the creators. Some are more conversational in style, similar to something you may read on The Nib. Others inject humour, ranging from sarcastic satire to something a bit more Mad Magazine in nature. It makes the information more accessible, getting a concise message in minutes instead of reading a 920-page document.
Stop Project 2025 goes further by backing up all their claims with sources. These come from legitimate news sites such as USA Today, PBS, The Washington Post, Forbes, Reuters, etc. Project 2025 is also sourced heavily, pointing out page numbers to specific claims. As a result, Stop Project 2025 is a gateway to be further informed on what the conservative manifesto says and inspire you to go out and vote.
Many notable comic book creators have contributed to Stop Project 2025. These include:
- Karim Ahmad
- Ho Che Anderson
- Alejandro Arbona
- Andrew Aydin & Josh Rogin
- Brandt&Stein
- Zander Cannon
- Comicraft
- Denys Cowan
- Valentine De Landro
- Scott Dunbier
- Kieron Dwyer
- Jerel Dye
- Cheryl Lynn Eaton
- Ben Fisher
- Matt Fraction
- Gene Ha
- Cully Hamner
- Mike Henderson
- Jay Hosler
- Shawn Lee
- Steve Lieber
- Laurenn Mccubbin
- Ibrahim Moustafa
- Evan Narcisse
- Jim Ottaviani
- Greg Pak
- Jeff Parker
- Joe Phillips
- Tobias Queck
- Greg Rucka
- Mark Russell
- Chris Ryall
- Sara Ryan
- Jennifer Smith
- Lilah Sturges
- Zoe Tunnell
- Jen Van Meter
- Rick Veitch
- Shannon Wheeler
Other contributors wished to stay anonymous.
You might ask, “But Trevor, aren’t you Australian? Why are you discussing US politics?”. The thing is, US politics is inescapable, especially during election season. And even if you live in Australia, you need to pay some attention to it because what happens in America ripples globally. Any actualisation of Project 2025 can set a precedent elsewhere and weaken democracy in other governments. Stop Project 2025 is also a great example of how comics can be used to inform readers by breaking down complex and dense ideas into something concise, visual, and easy to read.
Read all of the stories on the Stop Project 2025 website or download them all as a PDF.
