Nuking Alaska
Notes of an Atomic Fugitive
In his graphic novel Nuking Alaska, Peter Dunlap-Shohl reveals the disturbing history of nuclear weapons in his home state.
Recounting near-misses and actual nuclear disasters in Alaska and elsewhere, this book weaves personal accounts into a larger tale of the irresponsible treatment of atomic weapons by the US government in the Cold War-era. It shows how physicist Edward Teller became a champion for the peacetime use of nuclear bombs and—along with the Atomic Energy Commission—pushed to use them to create a harbor in Alaska. That plan was defeated, but other projects imported contaminated soil to Alaska and led to the test of a massive warhead in Alaskan territory.
But even as the book reveals the government’s often reckless approach to nuclear weaponry, it emphasizes the heroism of activists who fought against such practices. The courage of military men is showcased, including that of the US soldiers who performed a high-risk nuclear cleanup after a 1964 earthquake and of a Russian submarine commander who may have saved the world from nuclear war.
In the art, amusing caricatures of figures including Teller and Richard Nixon pair with compelling, emotional images of ordinary people and wildlife facing widespread destruction. The impact of a nuclear explosion is depicted in unforgettable fashion, from the detonation to the shock wave and the aftermath, via a multi-page transition of colors from red to pink to white.
Nuking Alaska is a fascinating graphic history about the use of atomic bombs in the United States.
Reviewed by
Peter Dabbene
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
