I remember when Image Comics launched over 30 years ago. It was a massive event and ushered in a new wave of superheroes and teams. It also ushered in some rough stories and general a line whose art trumped the stories. While it’s been decades, my memories that for a while Image was more flash than substance, cool ideas without focus beyond flashy art. Thankfully, the publisher shifted over the years and has been putting out buzz and award worthy comics regularly. Some of those look back fondly, both good and bad, at those early years of Image. Local Man #1 feels like one of those comics as well as one that deserves a lot of buzz.
Created by Tim Seeley and Tony Fleecs, Local Man #1 introduces us to Jack Xaver, a former member of the superhero team Third Gen. Going by the superhero name Crossjack, Jack has washed out and is forced back home to his parents who live in the Midwest. Clearly whatever he’s done is newsworthy and his return is generally not welcomed. There’s tension with his parents, the locals, and generally Jack needs to get his act together.
Local Man #1 feels like the latest in media focusing on older men whose life hasn’t gone the way they expected. They’re sad sacks and you feel both bad for them and also want to yell at them to get their act together. But, the duo also are having a lot of fun with the comic with mentions of Brigade and Cyber Force, the comic feels like it’s plopped into the history of Image.
And history is shown. The comic features Jack’s current situation and his time with Third Gen as the comic features a mission of the team. And it’s a revealing one. We get to know the members more and maybe Jack’s not the problem? It’s also a lot of fun with riffs on a more “classic” Image superhero team, silliness and all. It’s both a spoof, homage, and love letter to what has come before.
Seeley and Fleecs trade off the art with each handling one story and are joined by Felipe Sobriero and Brad Simpson on color, Lauren Perry on flats, and lettering by Comicraft. The styles are great together with one having a more modern and the other a bit more retro feel to it all. The comic does an excellent job of focusing on Jack as his body language and expressions tell us so much. And his Third Gen team members wink and nod laughs with their powers but it’s not distracting.
Local Man #1 isn’t another dissection of the superhero nor is it just a riff on what’s come before. By the end, there’s clearly something more going on. While the comic has a foot in its past, it also feels like it’s charting it’s own future and part of the new wave of heroes coming out of Image that show you can deliver fantastic story and eye-popping visuals at the same time.
Story: Tim Seeley, Tony Fleecs Art: Tim Seeley, Tony Fleecs
Color: Felipe Sobriero, Brad Simpson Flats: Lauren Perry Letterer: Comicraft
Story: 9.0 Art: 8.6 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy
Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle
Source: Graphic Policy
