The New Frontier [Paperback]

Michael Cherkas (Author), John Sabljic (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1994

An alternate-world satire filled with suspense, humor, unexpected twists and a generous assortment of fatally obsessed and morally deficient characters.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Welcome to a world somewhat like our own but significantly different. In Cherkas and Sabilj's recreation of recent history Fidel Castro pitches in a World Series; the U.S. H-bombs North Korea and the present moment is a hardboiled, cartoonish noir 1950s complete with flying cars--equal parts George Jetson and Mickey Spillane. In this parallel fictional reality America's love of movie star Rubi Fields--a surrogate Marilyn Monroe--is hysterically obsessive. After her mysterious death, she becomes even more of a popular fixation with annual nationwide look-alike contests (a very funny subplot) , alien abductions and a morbid, apocalyptic cult church devoted to her memory. Reporter Ace Bailey of the Beacon City Globe , retells the sordid story surrounding both her death and the shady politics of Beacon City in a comically jaded tale of political corruption, murder and pop culture hysteria. Sabljic's story, his first comics work, is a pulp sendup of the JFK era mythology, an unholy alliance of politicians, mobsters and exploited movie stars that ends on a note of amusing and inevitable cynicism. Cherkas ( The Silent Invasion) uses a boldly cartoonish line to produce an imaginary period flair and once again shows himself to be a brilliant stylist of 50's and '60s tough-guy ambience in this beautifully illustrated political/cultural satire.

Copyright 1994 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 116 pages
• Publisher: NBM Publishing (July 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561631019
• ISBN-13: 978-1561631018
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,851,827 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Forgotten Gem, March 24, 2009

By 

Daniel J. Mooney "Going Blind from Reading." (Columbia, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The New Frontier (Paperback)

The New Frontier is a very fun and cynical look at the culture of celebrity and at popular culture in society at the beginning of the 1960s. Though the action does not take place there, at least not in our world. It is an alternate world with science fiction aspects, like flying cars, and old school "rat pack" feel. A time when the men all wore suits as they went out to night clubs to relax, it was obscene for a woman to wear pants, and "atomic" became the ultimate adjective for newer and better.

The story revolves around Ace Bailey, a reporter who's reviewing the events of Ruby Field's (A Marylyn Monroe equivalent) death, and how it connects to the rise of shady politician Ivor Jansen. Meanwhile Ace's girlfriend obsesses over becoming the new Ruby Fields. The story is filled with many interesting twists and turns, and has perhaps one of the most cynical endings ever (though it certainly fits in with the characters).

Cherkas's art is stylish and bold, and very distinctive. It's cartoony, yet able to lend itself easily to serious situations if it's warranted. It also easily lends itself to capturing the feel of the time he's depicting, as he's done with The Silent Invasion and Suburban Nightmares.

This work is highly recommended for everyone. It is a forgotten gem, that needs to be rediscovered.