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Rick Veitch's The One #1-6
The One
At the height of the cold war, a madman tricks the United States and the Soviet Union into launching their missiles and super-hero agents against each other. But instead of nuclear Armageddon, the act releases the secret cosmic potential of the human race. It was twenty years ago today that Rick Veitch took a bucketful of nuclear fear, added a healthy dollop of New Age mysticism, and served up a comic book super-hero series like no one had ever seen before. Written and drawn at the height of the final showdown between American style capitalism and Soviet era communism, The One spins an outrageous doomsday scenario that has proven even more relevant to today's ongoing global crisis.
The One begins with the United States and the Soviet Union pushed into World War III by a certain blonde billionaire who has figured out how to turn a profit from a limited nuclear exchange. But the threat of Armageddon awakens a mysterious force in the human race that disarms the missiles and sets the world on a high-speed collision course with evolution. Finding themselves stripped of their atomic arsenals, both the American and Russian governments unleash top secret super-soldier projects to wage hand to hand combat against each other. The ensuing "Superior War" makes nuclear weapons seem like mere child's play.
The One begins with the United States and the Soviet Union pushed into World War III by a certain blonde billionaire who has figured out how to turn a profit from a limited nuclear exchange. But the threat of Armageddon awakens a mysterious force in the human race that disarms the missiles and sets the world on a high-speed collision course with evolution. Finding themselves stripped of their atomic arsenals, both the American and Russian governments unleash top secret super-soldier projects to wage hand to hand combat against each other. The ensuing "Superior War" makes nuclear weapons seem like mere child's play.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
1 person is currently reading
232 people want to read
About the author
Rick Veitch
425 books82 followersRichard "Rick" Veitch is an American comics artist and writer who has worked in mainstream, underground, and alternative comics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 13, 2020
The apocalypse is as fragile as the collective consciousness. Uberanimals and people fight their fights in a land populated by human bodies that have overspent their earthly welcome by far.
Inventive to the nth degree, Veitch is a master at making the superhero world even more super albeit very much less heroic. Here, the terrors of the psyche that's at the verge of Apocalypse.
Inventive to the nth degree, Veitch is a master at making the superhero world even more super albeit very much less heroic. Here, the terrors of the psyche that's at the verge of Apocalypse.
June 28, 2023
Rick Veitch doing his thing, this time with a third world war clash between Russia and the USA both sides using super-powered Superman type heroes.
Originally serialized in the mid-80s. Veitch was ahead of his time for sure.
Originally serialized in the mid-80s. Veitch was ahead of his time for sure.
December 24, 2019
Rick Veitch's The One is definitely a product of its time. It has sex, drugs, New Age love and salvation, Commies, nuclear holocaust hysteria, etc. And it employed characters commenting on their current situation or evolution; some characters are drawn grotesquely to an effect.
Its 1980s sentimentalities or stylistics may not be for all fans but it can be a fun read.
Now, reprinted in its full-color glory by IDW Publishing (2018), this package will be a fine addition on your 1980s comics library.
Finally, i will give this modern reprint a 4-star rating because it is pioneer revisionist superhero comics and a fine 1980s comics.
Its 1980s sentimentalities or stylistics may not be for all fans but it can be a fun read.
Now, reprinted in its full-color glory by IDW Publishing (2018), this package will be a fine addition on your 1980s comics library.
Finally, i will give this modern reprint a 4-star rating because it is pioneer revisionist superhero comics and a fine 1980s comics.
July 27, 2020
Ha. This story was a trip. Like a journey I'd go through in my mind while on mushrooms.
The story and afterward posits an interesting question that's probably more relevant now than ever: can existential pressure put upon us by the circumstances we've created fundamentally transform humanity?
Interesting premise and storytelling nearing an oral history narrative with snippets of interviews with main characters a la The Office.
A hopeful message and enough legit critical social commentary on the United States that the story remains relevant and, unfortunately, timeless.
Cool art and incredible coloring.
The story and afterward posits an interesting question that's probably more relevant now than ever: can existential pressure put upon us by the circumstances we've created fundamentally transform humanity?
Interesting premise and storytelling nearing an oral history narrative with snippets of interviews with main characters a la The Office.
A hopeful message and enough legit critical social commentary on the United States that the story remains relevant and, unfortunately, timeless.
Cool art and incredible coloring.
March 13, 2023
Divertida historia de superheroes bizarros ambientada en la época de la guerra fria. Después de un ataque mutuo con misiles entre EEUU y Urrs un extraño superheroe aparece: el uno. Este tendrá que evitar que el planeta se vaya a la porra y detener a otros superhumanos que defienden a ambas poderosas potencias. Desternillante la lucha entre los dos hermanos americanos y el superhombre ruso. Un dibujo underground que recuerda a Crumb y una obra muy divertida.
July 6, 2024
Many consider this one of the first mature comics, pre-dating Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns. While this is the case, just because it is the first mature comic does not mean that it is good. I think that the writer is trying to illustrate ideas he cannot properly illustrate, and does not fully understand. Nonetheless, it was still an alright read.
January 17, 2021
Fun Cold War comics. Clever, witty, and creative.
The Puzz Fundles was incomprehensible. Skipped that stuff.
The Puzz Fundles was incomprehensible. Skipped that stuff.
July 16, 2025
Again, Alan Moore's fingerprints are all over this.
June 20, 2020
Still stunning, even all of these years after its initial publication.
June 28, 2023
Rick Veitch fills in his "King Hell Heroica" series with a highly unconventional origin story that isn't really an origin story but rather a New Age spiritualism mashup with a fever dream. The One is set during the Cold War hysteria, with fears of war between the States and the Soviets reaching new highs. The two superpowers unload their nuclear arsenal upon each other which spontaneously creates the entity known simply as "the One". As humans all around the world fall into "the Big Sleep", the One battles against the Other in a cosmic level showdown. The end result is superpowers manifesting, hence leading to the creation of characters found in Veitch's other series under the "King Hell Heroica" banner.
While Veitch's take on superheroes remains unique and provocative, The One could have benefited a little from being a bit more scrutinizing on the subgenre that is capes. It feels like Veitch has something to say, but the series stops short of really delivering on any message. As intruiging and inventive I found the concepts to be, I do wish it culminated into something more. Though overall I found this to be a solid comic that I could find myself revisiting to see if something else stands out more on subsequent reads.
While Veitch's take on superheroes remains unique and provocative, The One could have benefited a little from being a bit more scrutinizing on the subgenre that is capes. It feels like Veitch has something to say, but the series stops short of really delivering on any message. As intruiging and inventive I found the concepts to be, I do wish it culminated into something more. Though overall I found this to be a solid comic that I could find myself revisiting to see if something else stands out more on subsequent reads.
November 19, 2022
Some of the reviews and lower ratings puzzle me. Maybe these folks thought the book was trying to be something it's not, when it wasn't. Maybe they need to read more of Rick Veitch's work to know how he operates in the world of storytelling.
Much like his King Hell Heroica books, The One is a "superhero" story with something more to say. It avoids coming off as highbrow or pretentious, and manages to remain fun, entertaining, and weird, in the true spirit of Veitch.
Different narrative ideas explored here, but all converging on a central thematic message to humanity, to evolve or die.
I read the older King Hell trade paperback, which I would recommend for two reasons. 1) It's printed in black and white, on non-glossy paper. It's Veitch's art in the rawest form. 2) The roundtable between Gaiman, Bissette, and Rick's brother Tom in the back. 20 pages of them discussing what makes something "revisionist", and where these ideas spawned from.
Much like his King Hell Heroica books, The One is a "superhero" story with something more to say. It avoids coming off as highbrow or pretentious, and manages to remain fun, entertaining, and weird, in the true spirit of Veitch.
Different narrative ideas explored here, but all converging on a central thematic message to humanity, to evolve or die.
I read the older King Hell trade paperback, which I would recommend for two reasons. 1) It's printed in black and white, on non-glossy paper. It's Veitch's art in the rawest form. 2) The roundtable between Gaiman, Bissette, and Rick's brother Tom in the back. 20 pages of them discussing what makes something "revisionist", and where these ideas spawned from.
January 31, 2025
Veitch is one of my favorite comic book creators. I first discovered The One as single issues on the rack back in the mid-80s. I was in high school at the time and in the comic shops, various deconstructive or satirical comment superhero books were bubbling up. The whole black and white indie thing was in full swing and I gobbled up all of it. Veitch was steps ahead and there was something just so compelling and uncomfortable about his art that I found exciting (still do). This is a satisfying collected edition. The colors pop and it's well presented. I lost those original comics many years ago, so it's nice to have The One back on my shelf. Keep going, Rick -- nobody does it quite the way you do.
May 31, 2021
Ah, the '80's; when creators thought existential Cold War super heroes were avant garde even though everybody was doing it.
The United States and Soviet Union launch their nuclear arsenal, triggering the One, a being composed of our collective unconscious, who disarms all the missiles. But with the One comes the Other, a corrupting influence. And, without nuclear missiles, the super powers release the, uh, super powers.
Maybe this felt revolutionary at the time, but now this feels like only a surface exploration of the concepts.
The United States and Soviet Union launch their nuclear arsenal, triggering the One, a being composed of our collective unconscious, who disarms all the missiles. But with the One comes the Other, a corrupting influence. And, without nuclear missiles, the super powers release the, uh, super powers.
Maybe this felt revolutionary at the time, but now this feels like only a surface exploration of the concepts.
April 19, 2025
This has become a new favorite the plot is like if you to watchmen and made it a transcendental allegory for the connected consciousness now their is parts that haven’t aged as well and the exploration of Cold War politics can seem kind like the smug caricatures of a centrist political cartoonist but the use of superhero’s as a metaphor for nuclear war has only gotten more relevant in recent years if your in the mood for s work like watchmen but a little less bleak then this is s good read
November 19, 2025
Just reread this series, the other great Cold War era subversion of the superhero from 1986, alongside the infinitely more portentous (pretentious?) WATCHMEN and THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. Tackles the big ideas of war and existence in classic Roarin Rick funnybook fashion. And it’s the start of his King Hell Heroica, in which he further dissects and destroys the superhero mythos in BRATPACK, and THE MAXIMORTAL.
March 9, 2018
En su época fue una buena crítica a los cómics de superhéroes, una mezcla del underground con el mainstream con un estilo feista muy atractivo. Hoy en día creo que no ha envejecido tan bien como otras obras del estilo, pero si ignoramos la moraleja new age sigue teniendo su gracia.
December 19, 2019
3.5 stars
Revisionist super-hero tale that preceded both "Watchmen" and "The Dark Knight Returns". Although, it didn't have the impact of those other seminal works, this is still a fascinating step in the evolution of comics and deserves to be remembered.
Revisionist super-hero tale that preceded both "Watchmen" and "The Dark Knight Returns". Although, it didn't have the impact of those other seminal works, this is still a fascinating step in the evolution of comics and deserves to be remembered.
December 18, 2020
The One is a tough comic to rate. It's ugly, dated, and lacking in subtlety + depth. However, it's hard to put down due to its sheer weirdness and cold war era social commentary. Worth a look for fans of off-center superhero comics.
July 12, 2019
ITZ GUD.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2020
Un cierre un tanto mediocre para la trilogía 'The King Hell Heroica'. Simplemente no está al nivel de 'Niñatos' y mucho menos de 'El Maximortal'. Esperaba más.
May 28, 2022
I loved the tongue and cheek story this trippy comic ran with. I'm bummed my copy was in black and white and not in full color like other releases.
February 14, 2024
The art is kind of grungy and squalid, but it tells a story well. A story cosmic in scope and far from the beaten path for its time. Very interesting/
March 19, 2017
Read the 6 Issue Series for the story and the trade for the forward and bonus materials.
August 1, 2008
One of the precursors to things like Vertigo and other schools of 'super heroes for adults'.
Very political, metaphysical and entertaining. Hits the right balance between realistic and larger than life without making everything gritty and glum.
Most of the characters are interesting and even likable. The hero fights are cool and tend to level cities.
And the end of the world occurs. Twice.
Very political, metaphysical and entertaining. Hits the right balance between realistic and larger than life without making everything gritty and glum.
Most of the characters are interesting and even likable. The hero fights are cool and tend to level cities.
And the end of the world occurs. Twice.
February 14, 2014
Lo conseguí en la edición española de Norma publicada como "El Uno", quinto tomo en la colección "El día después". Tras años de posponerlo me lo leí en dos toques y si bien no me gustó uniformemente todo el libro, en promedio es más que bueno, y estuvo cerca de las cuatro estrellitas en varios momentos (más en cuestiones conceptuales que técnicas, pero cerca igual). Si no cuelgo mucho, El Maximortal y Niñatos no van a tardar en caer.
August 8, 2009
Written and drawn between 84 and 86, Veitch's story speaks just as truly to the fear of worldwide collapse, even if it's an economic collapse (now) rather than nuclear annihilation (then). What I particularly like in this story is the apocalypse isn't teased, but taken in stride. Artwise, probably the cleanest lines of his I've seen. Good stuff.
August 29, 2012
Part Watchmen, Part Childhood's End, Part zine.
The biggest problem here is the pacing. Too much, too fast and without time to give things real emotional weight.
Silly question: Was this originally printed in color?
The biggest problem here is the pacing. Too much, too fast and without time to give things real emotional weight.
Silly question: Was this originally printed in color?
July 14, 2013
Although not as good as Watchmen, or Dark Knight returns, I would definitely put it as a younger brother in what those books were trying to do to the established medium at that time. It's actually really good.
November 5, 2012
A real mess, reading mostly like a weak knockoff of Watchmen crossbred with Veitch's other similar superhero works. Skip.
January 17, 2013
Immensely enjoyable take on a lot of things, god, the cold war, ambition, super heros. even the judging other by appearance. A great read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews