The original version of The Antifa Comic Book by Gord Hill was originally published in 2018, along with an introduction by Mark Bray. Now, the new edition, Antifa Comic Book: Revised and Exparnded, is heading from Arsenal Pulp Press on August 26, 2025 to a local bookstore and/or public library.
In the expanded version, Hill added recent events to The Antifa comic book, including the Canadian Convoy Protests in January 6, 2021, 2021, and 2022. Comic Beat caught up with Hill via email and asked about the process of modifying and expanding the Antifa comic book, the reaction he received according to his work, and his favorite protest symbols so far.
Avery Kaplan: Tell us about the origins of the original Antifa comic book. Tell us about the process behind the original edition.
Gordhill: In 2016 or so, I was approached by the Arsenal Pulp Press during Trump’s first presidential election, and as the far-right mobilization seen during that time increased, I asked if I was interested in doing Antifa comics, as there was a massive conflict in Berkeley, Portland and more.
The process of the original version was essentially to study the history of the fascist movement and the rise of anti-fascist resistance. So I read a lot of books and magazines and watched many documentaries. Notes were used to write scripts, which were disassembled into the Pages panel. They had to collect images of uniforms worn by fascist groups, banners and others, as well as images of cars, clothing and weapons from towns and cities mentioned in the script for a particular period.
Photo credit: Frank L’Opes.
Kaplan: What was the process of modifying and expanding Antifa comic books? Can you give me any ideas about what’s in this business?
Hill: The publisher approached Arsenal about the translation of the Antifa comic book, but wanted to have an updated version, so Arsenal asked if he was interested in doing that. There have been some important developments since the original version was released, so I believed it was the right time to update it. This included several massacres at the mosque carried out by the right wing nuts and Donald J. Trump of the far-right wing nuts was elected second president. It was also a good opportunity to include the chapter as I neglected to include the genocide of young people in Norway by neo-Nazis in 2011. The new edition ends with the second Trump administration, but it was difficult to write because it happened so often and was so difficult to play when I was finishing the page. For example, the “bromance” between Trump and Elon Musk eventually collapsed by late May 2025, followed by the LA protests in June, and perhaps the most important response to the anti-immigration campaign launched by Trump, but unfortunately the book was already out of printers.
Kaplan: As Mark Bray deals in the introduction, comics seem to be the ideal tool for fighting fascism. Why do you think this is the case, and why so many comics are bent on antifa, from non-fiction books like this to the Nazi Punch superheroes?
Hill: I think Comics is a great medium for introducing people to anti-fascist resistance, as it is more accessible than textbooks. And it’s easy for young people, or for those who don’t have strong literacy skills or have no energy to roam history books and more. As for Nazi punches, I think most of them came from World War II along with Captain America and others. I think the Nazis remained an evil man, an evil villain who was easy to portray, and an evil villain with a few sympathies.
Kaplan: Obviously there are many atrocities recorded in Antifa comic books. Did you have any details that seemed too scary to include?
Hill: Yes, there have been a lot of atrocities committed throughout history through far-right movements, but in general, I think that from the genocide to the treatment of prisoners in concentration camps, all of them, demonstrate the distorted inhumanity of the worldview on the far right.
Kaplan: What answers have you received from people regarding Antifa comic books and 500 Years of Indigenous Resistance Comic Books?
Hill: The reaction was pretty positive. I give many presentations to high school and college classes and sometimes get letters from people who express their gratitude for their work.
Kaplan: In mid-2024, I had a conversation with Trump supporters. Trump supporters denounced Antifa and lamented, “They call us fascists.” Do you think you need to talk negatively with your supporters (if you think you need to interact with them at all).
Hill: There’s a fairly wide range of people supporting Trump, from right-wing Republicans to fascists, as well as right-wing Republicans to fascists. And there are people in this who aren’t committed to Trump like Trump. In the first months of Trump’s second presidency, we found that a large number of Republicans were pissed off by the dismantling of the federal government under the administration, particularly the Doge. So there is a potential potential for right-wing support for Trump. But with hardcore Magat and Fascists, it’s basically like talking to cult members, so it’s less likely, but anything that erodes Trump’s base is good.
Kaplan: I think readers will be impressed by how up-to-date the latest chapters in the revised and expanded Antifa Comic Book are. How did you distill the first few months of Trump’s second presidency into the panel? How did you approach these panels?
Hill: As mentioned before, we were trying to figure out how quickly things are developing, and the scale of these new policies, and we were trying to figure out the impact they have. And one thing about Trump is that he is a very liar and opportunist and can’t take what he said at face value. He makes slippery statements and threats, then does not chase or reverse the course the next day. I completed the final page sometime in March, but I still have new updates, new outrageous policies, and so on, so I might still be working on them.
Kaplan: How hopeful are you that widespread antifa resistance is “boiling” before Trump integrates his powers?
Hill: So far, in this second presidency, we have never seen any substantial Antifa mobilization in fact, like Trump’s first campaign. After the January 6th riots and subsequent legal proceedings, the streets generally had less presence from the far right, just as the proud boys were rather quiet after Trump overturned his pardon. We are now looking at a wide range of anti-Trump movements. This includes some of the anti-Tesla campaigns, and now includes the increase in immigration/Latinos against ice attacks. It’s also difficult to put a fascist label on Trump, as he’s too stupid to actually clarify a coherent ideology. His worldview is basically a narcissistic, authoritarian businessman’s worldview. So I think I’ll see a wider movement at this point than mere antifa.
Kaplan: Do you have your personal favorite protest sign?
Hill: I like the banners that the kids in Black Block had. Trump’s second presidency ended with “Fuck this shit.”
Antifa Comic Book: Revisions and expansions will be available at local bookstores and public libraries from August 26, 2025.
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