I know I'm probably preaching to the choir here, but I've been recommending The Nightly News to every person who I think will appreicate it. Usually, that means fans of DMZ, Channel Zero, V for Vendetta, The Losers (Diggle's version), and American Flagg. But it also includes non-comic readers who nevertheless appreciate stuff like culture jamming, political punditry, and media industry critique.
And yes, I do realize the comic is a bit of an "acquired taste", with the unconventional design and layout, the stylized artwork, and the fact-heavy blurbs. But all these flashy narrative devices act in the service of telling a gripping story. And that's what really matters.
It's to Hickman's credit that he's able to hold readers interests, in the absence of a "likeable" (or, for that matter, "relate-able") protagonist. I think a lot of people have felt wary of corporate globalization, at some point, even if we're not always sure how to articulate it. We've all experienced varying levels of disillusionment with the Powers That Be. And while few of us have probably gone as far as contemplating membership in a secretive cult of trained killers, it's easy enough to understand the sentiments that lead John to make that choice. We don't exactly sympathize with him, but we care about his fate, just the same. And that, to me, is just one indication of a story worth reading.
