Like a character from Hair, Malanski embraced the counter-culture, but was drafted anyway. After serving his tour of duty as a medic (and losing an eye in a friendly fire incident), he rejoined his girlfriend Jenny and their hippy circle of friends. As soon as they reach Altamont Speedway, they pick up on the negative vibes. However, they are determined to stay to hear the Stones—even when they hear Jagger was slugged in the mouth when he arrived.
They really should have left after their first dust-up with the Hell’s Angels, but Malanski figures they should be fine when he recognizes his former Army buddy Charlie is one of the senior Angels policing the show. As readers should know (and Charlie duly explains), the Angels were hired to handle Altamont’s security, because they agreed to be paid in beer.
Unfortunately, Eddie the Angel takes such an unhealthy interest in Jenny, so Charlie fires him. Yet, that probably makes him even more dangerous. Malanski also must constantly corral their friend Schizo, who even under the best of circumstances is usually extremely stoned and unstable.
Clearly, Hanna (and presumably Adlard) considers the legacy of the 1960s to be rather mixed. They largely bought the New Left propaganda regarding Viet Nam, but still recognize there was a dark side to the movement that Altamont fatally exposed. It builds to a surprise ending that is genuinely shocking, in a good way. Hanna never hints that it might be coming, but it makes perfect sense when it comes.
It was a bad trip, that’s for sure. Some of Hanna’s characters are largely cliches, but he and Adlard undeniably capture the irrational and violent tenor of the era. In many ways, this is a profoundly 1960s story. Highly recommended, Altamont is now on-sale at book and comic retailers.
