Uncle Sam

A singular, prestige-format one-shot from DC in 1998, Uncle Sam is a graphic novel by Alex Ross and Steve Darnall that reimagines the patriotic icon as a spectral embodiment of the American spirit. Through Ross's photorealistic painted art, the story weaves a hallucinatory journey through the nation's history, confronting its ideals against its darker chapters. It stands as a powerful, visually stunning meditation on national identity, often cited as a landmark in how superhero-era iconography can be used for serious, critical storytelling.