In the alternative history, the
Confederacy won the
Civil War, which resulted in a fracturing of the North American continent, mostly affecting what was the
United States of America into eight nations. These nations are the
Confederate States of America (also containing several
Caribbean possessions), the Free State of
Louisiana (smaller than the real state of Louisiana, but containing the city of
New Orleans), the remaining
Northern states as the United States of America, the
Republic of Texas (also includes portions of what was Mexico), the Great Spirit Alliance (called "
Tecumseh" in the original series's map — also includes portions of
Canada), the
Mormon nation of
Deseret, The People's Republic of
California (including
Baja California) and Pacifica (called "
Sequoyah" in the original series's map — also includes portions of Canada). Canada and Mexico exist, but have lost territory to the various other nations. The means by which the CSA managed to retain its independence was never explained in the series. In the 2018 trade paperback edition, Shetterly's afterward explains that he purposefully omitted an in-universe explanation, because he wanted to let the readers' imagination decide this. Each of these nations has its own propaganda heroes similar to the original Captain Confederacy, though empowered through different means and technologies (armored suits, drugs, etc.). A version of the
Underground Railroad exists within the Confederacy to help oppressed minorities escape to Canada, the United States, or occasionally a smaller nation such as Deseret. Outside North America, a
Japan analogue, Nippon (a native name of Japan), exists as an ally to the People's Republic of California, having a military base there.
Germany on the other hand, is a global power, with a system of
militarized defensive satellites. A
cold war of sorts exists between Germany and Nippon. The technology of this world's 1967 (the year in which the story begins) seems analogous to the real world in about 1980. Although advanced technology was used to create the superheroes, it does not seem to be in widespread use by the general public.
Dirigibles seem a common means of air transportation. The President of the Confederate States is a woman named Lee, hinted to be a descendant of
Robert E. Lee. Miss Dixie calls the President "aunt" at one point, though it is not explained whether this implies blood relation or simply affection. Medical science also is about the same as 1980s medicine. There is a complete separation of healthcare and state in that there is no single-payer nor any programs akin to
Medicaid. Anyone who can afford it has access to medicine, but due to the economic situation minorities receive less treatment in Confederate healthcare than do whites. Governments do not seem inclined to share their technological means. Commercially,
McDonald's is known for its fast food burritos, although it has plans to introduce a new
ground beef sandwich with cheese, while
KFC sells
catfish, not chicken. Both chains seem ubiquitous within the Confederacy. Science fiction is known by Scientifiction and appears more popular than in the real world.
Margaret Mitchell wrote a well known book,
Glorious Tomorrows, hinted to be an analog of
Gone with the Wind but set in a victorious Dixie.
The Beacon Hillbillies, an analog of
The Beverly Hillbillies, is a television comedy popular in the USA that makes fun of the CSA.
Patsy Cline and
James Dean are still alive in 1967, with Dean becoming too old to play the "rebellious youth" roles that first made him a star. ==Reception==