This Image Comic Predicts Today’s Media Chaos Like Never Before!

As a devoted film enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at the significant role Image Comics has played in the comic book industry. Established back in 1992, this groundbreaking publisher has empowered creators to publish their own work, retain profits, and bring their unique stories to life. Over the years, Image has been home to some of the most brilliant comics and provided a launchpad for numerous legends in comic history.

In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Marvel Comics made a strategic move by poaching a wealth of talented writers and artists from Image. One such writer who has since gained legendary status is Jonathan Hickman. Known for his captivating work on superhero comics, Hickman has amassed a legion of devoted fans. However, there’s one Image/Hickman collaboration that feels particularly visionary in 2025 — “The Nightly News.

The six-part series titled “The Nightly News” aired from 2006 to 2007, authored by Hickman. If you’re accustomed to his science fiction and superhero stories, this is quite an unusual read. The comic centers around The Voice, a covert cult that orchestrates attacks on the news networks of New York City, aiming to reshape the world. Throughout its course, the narrative offers numerous unexpected plot developments, and its underlying message is one that people should consider before contemplating voting in 2024.

The Nightly News Is an Indictment of the Power of the Media and its Relationship with Government

Initially striking about “The Nightly News” is its distinctive graphic approach. Although Hickman no longer creates comics, his design sensibilities and layout techniques are groundbreaking. He tends to avoid the traditional panel structure of comics as much as feasible, resulting in a distinct, albeit somewhat disjointed, feel that effectively conveys its message. The work exudes an air of disorderliness, akin to the tactics employed by cults for indoctrination; it serves as a counterbalance to chaos. A detail longtime Hickman enthusiasts will notice is his use of white space and infographics. This marks the emergence of what has since become known as the Hickman style, giving an impression of a cutting-edge comic.

The infographics of the book are the key to the whole thing. Hickman meticulously researched the news media in the United State and the way it intersects with the government. The Nightly News is strangely apolitical in a lot of ways, something that is hard to find currently, but it does have a message — the media and the government have teamed up to control the American people since the advent of radio and TV. Hickman uses the infographics to show how the media has become smaller and smaller, with the majority of American media companies owned by just six entities. These six entities control the focus of the the people, and are able to manufacture public opinion, all while the government controls them. The Voice exists to fight them, as people who have been hurt by the media commit terrorist attacks to damage them.

As a movie critic reflecting on Robert Redford’s 2009 film “The Nightly News,” I find its portrayal of the news media landscape strikingly relevant in today’s context. Back then, terms like “fake news” were unheard of, and the independent media market we see today was still taking shape. Redford masterfully crafted characters inspired by real-life media personalities, using actual quotes to expose the arrogance that has become synonymous with the industry.

The media in “The Nightly News” serves as a reflection of power dynamics, and while it may appear that the current state of media, where individuals have more influence than ever, could avoid the issues portrayed in the film, it’s hard not to see similar problems emerging in independent media, just as they do in corporate media. Politicians and political appointees seem to wield more control over the media now than ever before.

In essence, The Nightly News isn’t just a tale exploring the potential malevolent use of news media, but it also serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of cults. The character known as The Voice initially appears to have an altruistic agenda: challenging the power of the media and the government. However, this noble facade is shattered when the true nature of The Voice is unveiled. This revelation mirrors the reality of today’s independent news media, which often appears to be under the control of a hidden, malicious influence seeking to consolidate more power. Essentially, The Nightly News delves into the issues surrounding the misuse of power by both the media and the government, issues that have shaped the United States depicted on our TV screens and digital devices daily.

The Nightly News Predicted the World of Today

The insights from “The Nightly News” in 2007 aren’t drastically different today; then it was a debate about how the government and influential figures can manipulate public opinion. Over the past 18 years, the news landscape has significantly evolved, but one consistent factor remains: an excessive amount of power held by the media over American citizens. Despite the shift to digital media and increased citizen journalism, the issues with the media in 2025 are strikingly similar to those portrayed in “The Nightly News.

The thought-provoking piece titled “The Nightly News” might be misinterpreted by some readers due to its depth. There’s always that person who criticizes “mainstream media” yet echoes the views of commentators influenced by the same sources as mainstream outlets. They would read “The Nightly News” and fail to grasp its critique of the media they admire. However, this book has accurately forecasted the course of recent electoral cycles, exposing the manipulation of truth by the government and media. Tomorrow’s news will confirm the warnings in “The Nightly News“. Though many works are commendable, few can rival the impactful message conveyed in “The Nightly News“.

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2025-03-02 23:10