The Antifa Comic Book: 100 Years of Fascism and Antifa Movements #[nn]

This story traces the rise of Mussolini’s fascist movement in Italy, from its violent birth to its brutal expansion through war and repression. It follows the resistance that emerged—spanning anarchists, socialists, anti-fascist fighters, and international allies—against a regime that allied with Hitler, invaded Ethiopia, and targeted Jews. As the war turns, the fight intensifies, with underground movements and armed groups like the C.L.N. and Garibaldi Brigade rising to challenge both fascism and occupation.

In the chaotic wake of World War I, Germany stands at a crossroads as Socialists and Communists push for a democratic future, only to face violent resistance from Freikorps fighters and rising extremist factions. As the Nazis, led by Hitler and bolstered by the Brownshirts, exploit political instability and fear, they claw their way into power through deception and brutality—eventually dismantling democracy and turning the country into a machine of repression.

In the tense years before 1933, as the Nazis and Brownshirts tighten their grip on Germany, Red Front fighters, Reichsbanner defenders, Socialists, and Communists stand defiant against the rising tide of fascism. Amid the violence and repression, ordinary people—Jews, activists, and resistance fighters—risk everything in a desperate bid to protect democracy, only to face brutal crackdowns and the swift consolidation of Nazi power.

A young Jewish woman walks through a medieval European town, her presence met with suspicion and whispers, as the Crusaders and priests spread fear of Jews as a hidden, subversive force. The story traces the deep roots of anti-Semitism in Europe, showing how centuries of propaganda and institutional power have shaped a culture of persecution.

In the crucible of the Spanish Civil War, a diverse coalition of Spanish republican fighters, Catalonian rebels, and international volunteers from the International Brigades stand against the rise of Francisco Franco and his fascist allies, including Spanish Falangists and foreign troops from Italy. Amid the struggle, women from Mujeres Libres and the Women's Battalion defy gender norms to fight for liberation, while a Soviet commissar coordinates aid in a desperate bid to defend the Republic.

A tense, pivotal chapter in Britain’s fight against fascism unfolds through real events and voices: from the National Front’s rise to the defiant organizing of the Anti-Nazi League, the Southall Youth Movement, and the United Black Youth League. As police clash with demonstrators and activists like Ray Hill and Blair Peach stand on the front lines, the story reveals how grassroots resistance—amid violence and infiltration—challenged white supremacy, even as new forms of racist expression, like White Power music, began to take root.

In the shadow of Italy’s turbulent past, a new generation of Antifa protestors and activists confront the resurgence of neo-fascist groups like Casapound and Forza Nuova, drawing strength from a legacy that stretches back through the Resistance, the Red Brigades, and the Revolutionary Armed Nuclei. With figures like Silvio Berlusconi and Gianlucca Casseri emblematic of political currents both old and new, the struggle persists—fueled by memory, defiance, and the enduring spirit of those who came before.

In a chilling look at modern extremism, "Antifa Russia" exposes how far-right groups like B.O.R.N. and White Rex, backed by state forces, target immigrants and activists across Russia. With real-life figures like Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova standing as symbols of resistance, the story traces the violent rise of fascist movements and the grassroots antifa efforts—Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice and Red and Anarchist Skinheads—fighting back.

A chilling look at Ukraine’s complex and painful history, this story examines how fascist movements—both past and present—have shaped the nation’s political landscape. From wartime collaborators like Stepan Bandera and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army to modern groups such as the Azov Battalion and Social-National Party of Ukraine, it traces the enduring presence of extremism. The narrative confronts how these forces, often intertwined with anti-fascist resistance, continue to impact lives today.

A chilling look at a forgotten chapter of history reveals the unlikely alliance between Adolf Hitler and Grand Mufti Amin Al-Husseini during World War II, a partnership that fueled a violent strain of Muslim fascism. Today, the legacy of that alliance echoes as International Freedom Battalion fighters and People's Protection Units [Y.P.G.] fighters continue to confront its remnants in Syria.

A stark look at the enduring legacy of the Ku Klux Klan, this two-page narrative traces the group’s 150-year history of terror, from lynching victims to bombing survivors, and examines how grassroots resistance—like the Lumbee men and the Deacons for Defense—emerged in defiance. It highlights the Klan’s persistent evasion of justice, often shielded by collusion with police, even as opposition grew.

"Fascists and Neo-Nazis in the U.S.A." examines the long history of white supremacist extremism in America, from the German American Bund and George Lincoln Rockwell’s American Nazi Party to modern groups like the National Socialist Movement and the Aryan Brotherhood. It traces their tactics—ranging from violent assassinations and bank robberies to propaganda and religious front organizations—while highlighting how legal action and watchdog groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center have challenged their reach.

A small, revived chapter of the Ku Klux Klan in Canada, known as the Canadian Knights of the K.K.K., finds new life in the 1980s—only to collapse again after its leaders are arrested for plotting a coup against the Caribbean nation of Dominica. Amid the wreckage, figures from the Conservative Party, A.T.F. agents, and former Klan members navigate a tense web of ideology, law enforcement, and political fallout.

A stark, unflinching look at Canada’s troubled past with fascism, from the 1930s to the 1990s, this two-page essay traces the rise and fall of extremist movements like the Nationalist Party of Canada, the Swastika Club, and the Western Guard, often undone by internal chaos or weak leadership. It highlights key figures such as Adrien Arcand and Ernst Zündel, alongside the enduring resistance of anti-fascist fighters and groups like the Parti National Social Chrétien and the Soldiers of Odin.

"The Rise & Fall of the 'Alt-Right'" traces the brief, volatile ascendancy of white nationalist movements from the 2016 election onward, spotlighting figures like Richard Spencer, Steve Bannon, and Gavin McInnes alongside the violent ideologies of groups like the Proud Boys, Three Percenters, and the Atomwaffen Division. As the movement fractures under internal conflict and public backlash, the story examines how fascist rhetoric fueled real-world violence—from the Unite the Right rally to the killing of Heather Heyer—while also highlighting the resilience of Antifa fighters, Berkeley students, and voices like Dr. Cornell West in resisting the tide.