Comic Book Review: Liberator #3

by Rabb!t / Earth First! Newswire

You probably know by now how much we love Matt Miner’s Liberator comic series. If you don’t, check out our reviews of Liberator #1 and Liberator #2.

Liberator #3, which hits shelves tomorrow, is the most serious, reflective book in the series so far, and consequently the most important. Although it starts off slow with a slightly disappointing resolution of last issue’s cliff hanger, it quickly redeems itself by tying together themes and addressing elements introduced in the first two books.

The most refreshing aspect of the newest issue is its focus on security culture. Saboteurs and revolutionaries depicted in popular culture rarely follow wise security protocol, likely because it’s harder to write and just too much trouble—I mean, who cares, right? They’re just fictional characters.

Well, Matt Miner and crew seem to care. It’s clear throughout the series, but especially in this issue, that Liberator isn’t just playing off a growing popularity of underground activism, but is making a real effort to inform, educate, and lead by example. In this series, actions have consequences, whether they’re the actions of fur farmers torturing animals to make a quick buck, or the animal liberators not taking the care to act in ways that keep themselves, their comrades and their campaigns safe.

It’s also refreshing to see protagonist Damon targeting rich assholes this time around, and hitting them where it hurts—their wallets. Following in the tune of the last issue, Liberator #3 continues illustrating the intersections between issues like animal exploitation, capitalism, corporatocracy and ecocide.

I cannot wait for the conclusion of this excellent mini-series, and can only hope its legacy gets carried on in some form.

And hey, check it out: the trade paperback, which collects all the issues and extra articles into one paperback graphic novel, is now available for pre-order! So if you’re able, get yourself a copy now. This collection is not only an awesome piece of comic book history, but it’s also a great tool for introducing people to animal rights and animal liberation issues in an accessible way. What better way to prove to your brainwashed friends that activists aren’t terrorist, but heroes?

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  Thursday, December 12th, 2013

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  Wednesday, December 4th, 2013

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