We never found out who Mr. Code from the Henrietta arc was, either.

But yeah, you have to look at reaction to the New American's identity both in the context of the turbulent time period, and in light of whom he effectively replaced: Old Glory, the embodiment of the spirit of America.

I cam out of this disappointed, too. And I'm the biggest X-Statix fan on the planet. It just... I don't know. Nothing happened, you know? I mean, we didn't even get to find out who The Pitiful One was.

John Ridley does an excellent job of making the period an important part of the story instead of simply being a convenient backdrop, and so far his take on the era has been far from simplistic.

On segregation, via The History of Jim Crow:

Although the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Brown v. Topeka Board of Education decision formally made segregation illegal, southern states continued to pass Jim Crow legislation well into the 1960s, particularly in the area of school segregation. Historian C. Vann Woodward estimated that 106 new segregation laws were passed between the Brown decision and the end of 1956. By May 1964, the South had enacted 450 laws and resolutions to frustrate the Supreme Court's decision. Many of these statutes were passed at the local level and were particularly dehumanizing. In 1960, the city of Danville, Virginia, attempted to maintain segregated library facilities by establishing a "stand-up-pick-up-your-books-and-go" policy. Tables and chairs were removed from the library so that patrons could not sit down. The cost of a library card was $2.50 and new applicants (blacks) were required to furnish two credit references and two character witnesses. As late as 1967, the city of Sarasota, Florida, prohibited blacks and whites from using the same beaches and authorized police to clear the area if such mixing occurred.

As for American Way, I think somebody mentioned later in the issue that segregation had already been made illegal (although I thought that wasn't until 1963 or 64...I should look it up), so it seemed kind of weird to me that it would cause such an outcry. I guess this is the superhero comics simplistically dealing with politics again...

Believe me, if I don't like a title (as opposed to individual issues), I will drop it like a hot potato. I give individual issues a bit more leeway.

That's a good point, Phil. It just seemed strange to me, because you would think (like hard core conservatives who change their tune a bit when someone they know is gay), that she might address her contradiction a bit more. Perhaps Millar will do that in the main title, although if I know his writing, he won't.

Of course, they followed that up with their usual adolescent trash responses. Anyway, your reviews are so bitter, it seems like you might want to stop reading so much and start writing the sort of stories you would actually enjoy.

Nextwave on the other hand has actually been one of my favorite titles recently. Since it's primarily an action-humour title it operates more on a premise basis rather than an ongoing drama one, similar to say Dexter's Lab, The Simpsons, or The Venture Bros as far as I can tell. While it could morph itself into fitting with the "small part of a larger piece" mold, I don't think that's the point of it. I can certainly see why one wouldn't feel the need to keep coming back each month if one isn't as drawn to the wackiness but I like that there's title like this out there.

No wonder the audience is getting more alienated from the books

I havent read the comic (and probably wont), so I cant directly make a comment about the first page. But yes, lots of folks who would be angry about a black superhero then. Keep in mind that in 1962, it was still legal to allow segregation of schools, bathrooms, busses, waiting rooms, stores, movies, zoos. People were actually killed for trying to encourage blacks to register to vote.
If you thought blacks were slow mentaly and good only for manual labor (and that includes sports) and not fit to be in the same room with you - having a black with superpowers would be an idea to give you nightmares...
hopes this puts 1962 in better view.