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Review: Red Scare

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Red Scare
By Liam Francis Walsh
New York : Graphix, 2022. Graphic Novel. 236 pgs.

Red Scare follows Peggy, a girl living with Polio at the height of the Red Scare in 1953. When Peggy comes in contact with a man suspected of being a Soviet spy, she starts receiving visits from the FBI, who accuse her of helping the “Commies.” Peggy soon discovers that she is not as unaffected by the encounter as she thought when she finds the strange artifact that the FBI were looking for hidden in her crutches. Peggy must decide what to do with it, all while witnessing the fear and hate in her community towards anyone associated with communism. 

This graphic novel touches on themes of war and recovery, illness and disability, and standing up for the liberty of others against a culture of fear and exclusion. The discussion of the need to see community members as individuals beyond their beliefs was insightful. Peggy also struggles to come to terms with her disability throughout the novel as she learns to stand up to bullies and make new friends. A great blend of history and science fiction, with a historical note at the end for curious readers.
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