Synopsis
Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf is a meticulously researched graphic novel that chronicles the tragic events leading up to and including the Kent State University shootings on May 4, 1970, when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed students protesting the Vietnam War, killing four and wounding nine. Backderf, a native of Ohio who was ten years old at the time and witnessed National Guardsmen in his hometown days before the incident, uses his journalistic skills to weave a narrative that combines historical accuracy with emotional depth. The book, published in 2020 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the tragedy, focuses on the four days prior to the shootings, delving into the lives of the four students who died—Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer, and William Schroeder—while also exploring the broader social, political, and cultural tensions that set the stage for the massacre. Through stark black-and-white illustrations and a propulsive narrative, Backderf aims to humanize the victims, correct historical misconceptions, and draw parallels to contemporary issues of dissent and authoritarianism.
The narrative begins by setting the scene in late April 1970, capturing a deeply divided America grappling with the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and domestic unrest. Backderf introduces the four students, portraying them not as radical revolutionaries but as ordinary young people caught in a turbulent moment. Allison Krause, a passionate activist, and Jeffrey Miller, a musician with growing anti-war sentiments, are shown alongside Sandra Scheuer, a kind and apolitical student, and William Schroeder, an ROTC member who was not even protesting. Through their personal stories, Backderf emphasizes the diversity of their backgrounds and motivations, countering the narrative propagated by authorities that painted Kent State as a hotbed of militancy. He also details the presence of the Ohio National Guard, called in by Governor James Rhodes to quell campus protests following President Nixon’s announcement of the Cambodia invasion. Backderf highlights the Guardsmen’s exhaustion, lack of crowd-control training, and the paranoia fueled by political leaders like Rhodes, a Nixon ally who frequently deployed the Guard to suppress dissent.
As the story progresses, Backderf meticulously reconstructs the escalating tensions on campus, driven by a volatile mix of student activism, administrative missteps, and aggressive law enforcement tactics. He illustrates the chaotic environment, with five competing law enforcement agencies, undercover agents, and provocateurs like Terry Norman, an FBI informant whose actions remain controversial. The graphic novel vividly depicts the protests, riots, and the National Guard’s heavy-handed response, including the use of tear gas and bayonets, which inflamed tensions further. Backderf’s artwork captures the claustrophobic atmosphere, with crowded panels reflecting the mounting chaos. He also weaves in broader context, such as the COINTELPRO program’s surveillance of students and the conservative backlash against the anti-war movement, showing how fear and misinformation exacerbated the crisis. The narrative underscores the disconnect between the “Town vs. Gown” divide, where local residents and authorities viewed students as threats, and the students’ growing frustration with the Guard’s occupation of their campus.
The climax of the book is the harrowing depiction of May 4, when the National Guard fired 67 shots in 13 seconds, killing Krause, Miller, Scheuer, and Schroeder and wounding nine others. Backderf compresses this moment into a gripping sequence that conveys the shock and tragedy, using his art to evoke the visceral impact of the violence. He avoids sensationalism, instead focusing on the human cost and the immediate aftermath, including the massive student walkouts across the country—over four million students participated, marking the largest student strike in U.S. history. The book also addresses the lack of accountability, as no one was prosecuted for the shootings, and the official cover-up that portrayed the students as dangerous radicals. Backderf’s extensive research, drawing from the Kent State University May 4 Collection, interviews, and historical records, is evident in the detailed notes and his effort to present multiple perspectives, including those of the Guardsmen, though he reserves strong criticism for leaders like General Robert Canterbury and Governor Rhodes.
In its final pages, Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio reflects on the lasting impact of the shootings, which shocked the nation and shifted public opinion against the Vietnam War. Backderf draws sobering parallels to modern times, noting the resurgence of political rancor, authoritarianism, and distrust in institutions, suggesting that the lessons of 1970 remain unheeded. The graphic novel serves as both a memorial to the victims and a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power and the suppression of dissent. Backderf’s punk-inspired art style, with its exaggerated figures and stark contrasts, amplifies the emotional weight of the story, making the tragedy feel immediate and relevant. The book is not just a recounting of historical events but a powerful commentary on the fragility of civil liberties and the enduring cost of division, leaving readers with a profound sense of loss and a call to remember the human stories behind the headlines.