Prelude to a Million Years #[nn]

Jan 1933 · Equinox Cooperative Press, Inc. · ?

“Prelude to a Million Years”

In "Prelude to a Million Years," Lynd Ward crafts a haunting, wordless narrative through stark woodcut illustrations, following an artist haunted by memory and disillusioned by the chaos of his world. As he searches for a lost love amid the city's unrest—its violence, oppression, and fleeting moments of connection—his vision of beauty clashes with a reality that feels increasingly unbearable. The story unfolds in silent, powerful imagery, with Ward’s distinctive woodcut style grounding every moment in raw, emotional truth.

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writer Lynd Ward (credited) · artist, inker Lynd Ward (woodcut) (credited)

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Full credits

writer Lynd Ward (credited)

artist, inker Lynd Ward (woodcut) (credited)

Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers

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Even among the detritus of the industrial age, the artist finds inspiration in the vision of a woman, and tries to sculpt his glorious vision. This moves him to long for a lost love, and he sets out to find her. On the way the city is convulsed. A neighbor beats his wife. The artist is mugged. Police attack striking workers. Patriotic marchers seize passersby and force them to kiss the flag. He finds his long-ago love lewd and drunken, then staggers back to the cold comfort of his sculpture.

Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).

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