Welcome to the Lair

Lately I've been thinking about mythology, and the art based upon it, this idea partially sparked by reading Japanese manga with references to Japanese mythological beings, of which there are many. It started me thinking on all the great mythical beings and legends and rich mythical backgrounds to many other countries, such as the tale of King Arthur in Europe, etc. I realized that America is the only country lacking a true mythical background. For a long time, I've thought about how America is increasingly lacking it's own individuality, with so many people of different backgrounds that have become part of it over the relatively short time it has been a country. I've always wanted to create some sort of solid legend story and personification of purely American values, events, ideals, and associations. A series of drawings or a book, even a comic book. It would include such rich, purely American genres such as the Wild West, and such 'Mythological' figures as Uncle Sam, yet done in a very fantasy, indirect and modified comic legend story. I've started researching some purely american figures in America's history, such as Uncle Sam, who would be a key player in the story, like a god or wise old man (Zeus, Gandalf) or a god disguised as a wise old man. I would create a sort of alternate universe fantasy version of him. To begin this, I'm researching the previous art of Uncle Sam. Obviously, I have to start with this, the popular propaganda poster by James Montgomery Flagg: