PopCultHQ received a review copy of LOCAL MAN Vol. 1 TPB from Image Comics. Available Wednesday, October 4th, the creators in this collection feature writing by Tim Seeley & Tony Fleecs, art by Tim Seeley & Tony Fleecs, and colors by Brad Simpson & Felipe Sobreiro.
Here’s PopCultHQ’s spoiler-free review of…
LOCAL MAN Vol. 1 TPB
Written by Tim Seeley & Tony Fleecs
Art by Tim Seeley & Tony Fleecs
Colors by Brad Simpson & Felipe Sobreiro
Cover Art by Tim Seeley & Tony Fleecs
Release Date: October 4th, 2023
Collects LOCAL MAN #1-5
STRAY DOGS creator TONY FLEECS teams with REVIVAL’s TIM SEELEY for a wildly critically acclaimed story that combines rural crime noir and superhero action.
Once, JACK XAVER, star recruit of the media sensation super-team THIRD GEN, had it all. But when controversy sends CROSSJACK crawling back to his mom and dad’s basement in the Midwest, Jack struggles to fit into a world he left far behind. And then the bodies start piling up.
Collects the complete first arc of the smash-hit series that Comicbook.com calls “a thought-provoking send-up to one of comics’ weirdest eras, and if you’re not reading it right now, you are absolutely missing out.”
PopCultHQ’s Comic Book Review:
For those of us who were there during the highs and lows of the comic industry during the ’90s, one of the key things that always sticks out when one examines the history of that period is the creation and instant success of Image Comics. After years of the industry being dominated by the Big Two, there was a place where creative minds could not only soar to new heights but also retain the ownership rights to their creations. Local Man is a love letter to that period, full of fun and fantastic original characters courtesy of the creative force of Tim Seeley & Tony Fleecs. Long-time Image fans will note the standout appearance of several prime 90s era Image characters and fun Easter Eggs alluding to other creations from the company’s early days.
Writing: If there was doubt that Tim and Tony were massive fans of Image Comics’ early work, this graphic novel banishes that doubt in a heartbeat. It is chock full of the same kind of outlandish, fun, and sometimes head-scratching story devices utilized during those original runs of comics in the 90s. As previously mentioned, there are also nods to actual Image characters, whether directly or indirectly. On top of that is the A-plot story of Crossjack, aka. Jack Xaver, dealing with his fall from superhero grace and rediscovering who he is outside of the life he once led as a member of his world’s premier superteam, Third Gen. Add in a juicy mystery along with the deaths of two villains; Tim and Tony have cooked up a delightful story that is in-depth, engaging, and enjoyable.
Art: The creative partnership between Local Man‘s two writers is further strengthened by them being the TPB’s artists. Each has a distinctive art style that has become synonymous with their work. What makes this book succeed is having them collaborate by developing the script and artwork together, which means that they are not just on the same page as a team, it means they can channel their passions for this world they’ve crafted and bring it to life the way they envisioned it. In all seriousness, dear readers, Tim and Tony knock it out of the ballpark from an artistic perspective. Those styles just mentioned give a whole layer of depth to Jack Xaver’s story that would have been lost if anyone else had taken up the reins doing the layouts. Or, at the very least, the impact and passion would have been less.
Colors: Brad Simpson and Felipe Sobreiro have been colorists for everyone from Weird Al to the Masters of the Universe. Pairing them up with Tim and Tony is a masterstroke because they can each play off one another and add the sizzle and pop that comes with being a colorist. Brad’s colors with Tim’s art provide that throwback flair to the classic Image days, a lot of pep and power, bright tones, and in-your-face energy, especially with the hues for everyone’s costumes. Meanwhile, Felipe and Tony work well to give the audience a more gritty edge with the art and colors and throw that little something extra to show just how worn around the edges Jack is now that he has fallen from grace.
Overall Assessment:
The story of a hero laid low by life and rebounding to be better than ever is a tale audiences can relate to. Set it in a world that is an homage to the comic books of the 90s, notably Image Comics itself, and that right there is an adventure everyone in their late 30s will buy for the nostalgia factor alone. Finally, throw the names of a very talented group of writer/artists and colorists on the cover, with a dash of personal tragedy for our hero and a smidgen of mystery, and right here is a TPB worth owning and reading over and over.
PopCultHQ’s Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
Publisher – Image Comics
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of bestselling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has six individuals on the Board of Directors: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, Jim Valentino, and Eric Stephenson. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.
