Cover of a book. Title reads '1/6: The Graphic Novel: What if the Attack on the U.S. Capitol Succeeded?'. Illustration of the white house with smoke billowing up to the sky and a group of insurrectionists waving a flag with a gun on it in front of the building. At the top right are two feet dangling. They are wearing black business shoes and pants.

1/6: The Graphic Novel: What if the Attack on the U.S. Capitol Succeeded?

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Introduction

1/6 asks and answers the question: What if the January 6, 2021 Insurrection had been successful?

These graphic novels chillingly illustrate how close we came to authoritarian rule in America and the threats to our democracy that we still face.

In the tradition of speculative fiction from George Orwell’s 1984 to Margaret Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale to the Twilight Zone, it explores themes of autocracy, scapegoating, strategic disinformation, and more, all told through a compelling, character-driven story. It then imagines a world in which the events of that day turned out very differently.

Drawing on real-life events, 1/6 travels the road that led from back-room meetings, white supremacist rallies, and the Four Seasons Landscaping parking lot to a violent attack on the Capitol that left several Americans dead and shook our nation to its core.

1/6 is for lovers of graphic novels, lovers of speculative fiction, lovers of politics, and lovers of our democracy. It’s a story that demands our attention and calls on us to take action…while we still can.

1/6 Graphic Novel: Eduction and Action Guide

Cover of Guide - Text reads '1/6 Graphic Novel: Eduction and Action Guide'. An illustration of a male security guard or police office at the top of the stairs holding a baton inside the US Capitol Building. At the bottom of the stairs is a group of insurrectionists. One of them is holding the Confederate battle flag and another one is pointing at the officer. There is a US flag on the right of the stairs.1/6 Graphic Novel: Eduction and Action Guide

Accompanying the graphic novels is an Education and Action guide developed by the Western States Center, a nonprofit organization that works with communities and organizations to build movements, develop leaders, shift culture, and defend democracy.

This is a struggle for the values we share – democracy, equal dignity, and truth – but we can’t let those values feel abstract. This work has real stakes for all of us, it’s happening in our own backyards as well as across the country, and it must be addressed now.

The guide has lots of ideas on how to move toward a stronger and more just democracy such as:

  • principles to consider
  • 6 things you can do at a personal level
  • 6 things you can do a community level
  • 4 things you can do at the policy level
  • 4 ways you can use the graphic novel for education and organizing

Watch Videos

Harvard Law School Book Talk: 1/6: The Graphic Novel

Review by Graphic Policy: 1/6: What If the Attack on the US Capitol Succeeded? explores what might have been

Listen to Podcasts

What Could Have Been – Insurrection and Democracy in Crisis, with Alan Jenkins and Gan Golan


Scot and Sue have a conversation with Alan Jenkins and Gan Golan, co-authors of the graphic novel 1/6, which speculates on what could have happened if the insurrection on January 6, 2021 had been successful. After the insurrection, Alan and Gan were concerned with how quickly the nation was forgetting–and, more troubling still, reinventing history. They retell this history in a compelling way that can reach everyday people. It’s not just the story of what happened, but of what could have happened and how close we came to losing our democracy. How can this moment in history be a warning sign and call to action for us all?

1/6 : A What If? comic about The Insurrection by Graphic Policy

1/6 is a 4 part comics series written by Alan Jenkins and Gan Golan and illustrated by Will Rosado. Prof. Jenkins and Golan joined me on the podcast to talk about their comic which combines comics journalism, speculative fiction, and activism.

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