We Stand on Guard is a speculative fiction graphic novel written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Steve Skroce. Set in a dystopian near future, the story imagines a scenario in which the United States invades Canada, triggering a war that leaves the northern nation in ruins and its citizens resisting through guerilla tactics. Published by Image Comics in 2015 as a six-issue limited series and later compiled into a single volume, the graphic novel fuses military science fiction with political commentary and strong visual storytelling.
Narrative Structure and Setting
The story begins in the year 2112, opening with a catastrophic event: a drone strike on the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa. The United States blames Canadian forces for an attack on Washington, D.C., and launches a full-scale invasion. The narrative follows a small group of Canadian freedom fighters known as the Two-Four, named after a Canadian slang term for a 24-pack of beer. These characters navigate the frozen terrain of a devastated Canada, facing off against an American military force equipped with advanced robotics and surveillance systems.
The plot unfolds in a linear fashion with intermittent flashbacks that deepen character backstories and provide emotional context for their motivations. Amber, the central protagonist, is a young woman orphaned by the war who becomes a committed member of the resistance. The storyline explores themes of trauma, nationalism, survival, and moral ambiguity in warfare.
Political Themes and Symbolism
We Stand on Guard is unambiguous in its political commentary, presenting a dystopian vision of American imperialism and resource extraction. The narrative implies that the United States’ interest in invading Canada is largely driven by water scarcity—mirroring contemporary geopolitical concerns about natural resources. The depiction of American forces as technologically dominant but ethically compromised presents a critique of both real-world militarism and interventionism.
The Canadian resistance fighters are portrayed as underdog heroes. They are resourceful, idealistic, and fiercely patriotic, yet not free from acts of violence and moral compromise. Vaughan deliberately avoids romanticizing either side, instead offering a bleak assessment of how war transforms ideals into pragmatic survivalism.
Visual Style and Artwork
Steve Skroce’s illustrations play a vital role in shaping the novel’s tone. His detailed line work and dynamic layouts convey both the vastness of the Canadian wilderness and the menacing presence of war machines such as towering combat mechs and autonomous drones. The color palette, managed by Matt Hollingsworth, contributes to the emotional atmosphere—icy blues dominate the landscapes, punctuated by the reds and oranges of violence.
The art also supports the novel’s thematic weight by juxtaposing intimate human moments with large-scale destruction. Skroce’s cinematic sensibility is evident in the way panels are framed and paced, with sequences that resemble action set pieces from science fiction films.
Character Development and Dialogue
The resistance fighters are diverse in background and temperament. Amber serves as the emotional core of the story, grappling with grief, vengeance, and leadership. Supporting characters, such as the idealistic Tommy and the pragmatic clone McFadden, offer different perspectives on the morality of resistance. While the limited space of the six-issue structure constrains deeper development, Vaughan uses sharp, efficient dialogue to give each character a distinct voice.
The American antagonists, including a ruthless general and interrogators using virtual reality torture, are less nuanced but serve their purpose within the allegorical framework of the narrative. The portrayal of propaganda, technological surveillance, and military superiority reinforces the story’s cautionary tone.
Allegorical Dimensions and Reception
We Stand on Guard functions as an allegory for how nations justify conflict under the pretense of national security or retaliation. By inverting the traditional roles of aggressor and defender—casting the United States as the invader and Canada as the battleground—it encourages readers to reconsider assumptions about global power dynamics.
The novel received generally favorable reviews upon release, praised for its bold concept, striking visuals, and political relevance. Critics noted the graphic novel’s effective blending of speculative fiction with real-world anxieties, particularly regarding the militarization of technology and the ethics of resistance. However, some readers found the character development and world-building constrained by the brevity of the series.
Summary
We Stand on Guard is a thought-provoking and visually compelling graphic novel that explores the consequences of occupation, the ethics of insurgency, and the limits of national sovereignty. Through speculative fiction and allegory, it offers a dystopian lens on resource conflict and political power, while still delivering a fast-paced, emotionally engaging narrative. Brian K. Vaughan and Steve Skroce construct a bleak but imaginative future that holds a mirror to contemporary geopolitical tensions, especially concerning environmental resources and military dominance.
Though the story might have benefited from a longer format to expand its world-building and character arcs, it succeeds in using its limited space to deliver a resonant message. For readers interested in politically charged science fiction, war narratives, or alternative histories rendered in graphic form, We Stand on Guard presents a vivid and unsettling vision of what might come when borders are violated not just by armies, but by ideology and desperation.
