Written by John Smith and initially with art from Jim Baikie, the story took place in America, 2047 and revolved around the Optimen, a group of genetically engineered superheroes assigned to each U.S. state - one of whom is running for President.

[1] He would later describe the storyline as "deliberately convoluted" and noted that films were more of an influence on the story than literature, crediting Don't Look Now, Blood Simple and 12 Angry Men as particular inspirations.

[3] However, after a respectable start sales for the title tailed off alarmingly; MacManus found himself defending the comic against Sanders' replacement after Fleetway were drastically downsized under the ownership of Robert Maxwell.

"New Statesmen" was compiled as a five-part prestige-format limited series, with the new strip as a prologue - speculated to be an attempt to counter some of the criticism of the story's labyrinthine plot.

[7] Bankrolled by funds diverted from Ronald Reagan's Star Wars programme in 1984, scientists Alan Lambert and Dr. Kathleen Shaw set up the Hephaestus Program in 1988.

The pair solved the genetic code of mankind in two years, unveiling the first genetically-engineered Optiman prototype in 1990 and in August 1992, the first batch of three enhanced Optimen was completed.

In 2010, America pulled out of NATO, with England following the year later (despite opposition from the English Liberation Army) and eventually being accepted as the 51st state, while the EEC allies with the USSR after the 2014 Lutsk summit.

[8] Ongoing terrorist actions saw the Optimen sent into combat shortly afterwards; while officially the Statesmen were anti-terror troops they also carry out numerous other destabilising missions for the American government.

While initially the genetic superhumans are treated with suspicion, careful spin and branding from the Federal Defence Council (FDC) saw them acclaimed as celebrities and heroes, especially after intervention in South Africa.

However, the group's return is exposed when an unsuccessful assassination attempt is made on Dalton (a closeted homosexual, despite his relationship with Meridian),[10] who triggers a blackout of half the city in response after killing the gunman and scores of others, causing further unrest.

[14] The Statesmen reunion continues and parades through America, with the Halcyons included on government orders; when not actively in front of the public the superhumans turn to drink and gossip, though Burgess comes increasingly distressed about his role in the Tariq Alley massacre.

[15] Fights break out and a journalist visiting the Statesmen is accidentally killed, while Meridian receives a vision saying Cleve will die - but is devastated when she finds Dalton in bed with Burgess.

[16] Riots begin to break out between mobs supporting and opposing the League of Light, while Californian Senator Bob McKitrick - an ally of Phoenix - is shot at a rally.

Smith's own foreword to the 1990 collected edition felt that "like a suicide attempt, this was a desperate plea to be noticed" and generally made light of his learning curve with the series.