
In the visual representation of the Preamble from the U.S. Constitution, Hennessey and McConnell explain to us through comics the real purpose of the Constitution. Many of the messages within the Constitution are misunderstood as a result of the flowery language and outdated terminology. This comic is directed to all citizens of the United States with the intention of influencing public opinion on government responsibility. The visuals, coupled with text directly from the Preamble, force the reader to see with his/her own eyes exactly what the words mean today, in real time. Through juxtaposition and visual reference to past and present politics, the audience is presented with a new historical perspective in order to highlight both positive and negative aspects over the course of the evolution of U.S. Government. 

Through the use of various colors, Hennessey and McConnell provide the reader with images for each responsibility of the Government. The white box consisting of black written text in the middle of each panel serves as a description of the image behind.  The colors white and black here are symbolic of our judicial system in connection with that every defendant is found either guilty or not guilty, there is no in between.  For “Establish Justice…” (Hennessey and McConnell 202) there’s a picture of a judge bringing down the gavel with a “crack” written in black, bold letters. The use of onomatopoeia suggests the author’s attempt is to try and grab the reader’s attention by emphasizing the importance of establishing justice within our country.

The layout of the first page has very few borders between images, creating a collage which suggests a common thread between the images. allowing them to all boil into a collage. The image of people waiting in line to cast their ballots and the woman directing the homeless man to shelter behind the text: “...And secure the blessings of Liberty.” (202) are placed adjacent to each other to highlight the compassion and morals this country was founded on. The Social Security Administration building being a luminous yellow color suggests positive connotations and a haven of sorts. The people waiting in line to put their votes in are tucked in at the bottom of everything, getting smaller and smaller towards the corner of the page. This skewed-left distribution and the greyish color of their clothes suggests the struggle people went through to earn the right to vote. The juxtaposition of these two images is utilized to show both the positives and negatives of our political history. This image is the epitome of the sacrifices many people made to grant each of us the right to vote.

The layout of the second page has more structure than to it than the first with There are more defined borders between the photos suggesting that suggests a lapse in some amount of time between pictures. The juxtaposition of the two images at the top suggests the moral code of our government has evolved considerably since the Constitution was founded. The image on the left is of an old wooden compass with a skeleton key beside it. Both items seem to have a considerable amount of history to them. In the right panel is a hand holding a GPS which seems to be on a street in a city judging by the taxi in the background. The simplicity of the wooden compass is put up against the GPS to show how 1787 was “A wildly different moral universe…than the one we live in today” (203). The values and morals of the Government today are much more complicated and specific to current events and different issues than they were in 1787. 

The image below the compass is one without borders, demonstrating that the issue of racial inequality is not bound to a specific time period and is still prevalent today.    however showing two groups of people colliding in conflict. The man leading the group of what seems to be lower class people or perhaps slaves, on the left, has an ethereal look to him with angelic wings. He is also carrying an hourglass indicating the men on the right’s time is almost up as they glance at him fearfully. This is symbolic of revolt and perhaps the abolition of slavery. The contrast in color of light and shade is representative of the transfer of power among the people. Initially, this term was exclusive to “..those rich enough to own land” (203) however, in the next picture, the vault is opened and two men carry the American Flag while a group of people from various backgrounds say the pledge. Hennessey and McConnell show us through the passage of time how “We the People” has evolved to encompass citizens of every class in the United States, not just those with wealth and power. 

Hennessey and McConnell conclude their comic on the Preamble on a more an ominous note serving to remind the reader of all those we enslaved for two hundred and fifty years.  with The image being two sets of hands in chains accompanied by the excerpt: “..to know the legacy of political exclusion that once existed in the Constitution is to have a greater insight on the most unflattering chapters of the nation’s history” (203). The hands in chains being the same shade of black as the image of the judge cracking down the gavel, invokes evokes mixed emotions of guilt and sorrow for all those we have enslaved. for the reader The connection between the two images being oppression and a lack of justice for millions of people over the course of our history. The images call for reflection and examination of the Government’s actions in both past and present democracy. 

This graphic adaptation of the Constitution is paramount in developing the ideologies and moral code of the citizens of this country. Very few people have a good understanding of how and under what circumstances our democracy was born. Through juxtaposition and the free flowing layout of the graphic, Hennessey and McConnell artfully transform the Preamble from outdated words on a page, to an insightful glimpse into our country’s past. Everyone with the right to vote should be viewing this graphic, especially considering the upcoming presidential election. In order to further the advancement of our society we, as Americans, must all be privy to the positives and negatives of our political history, and be cognizant of all “The People” who have made sacrifices in the name of freedom. 
