Welcome back to Collecting Issues, the monthly comic book book club! This week, Michael and Benjamin are heading to the Midwest to tackle a modern critical darling: Local Man (Issues #1-13 & #25).
Published by Image Comics, Local Man is the 2023 creation of Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash, Grayson) and Tony Fleecs (Stray Dogs). It’s a genre-bending mix of rural noir and 90s superhero pastiche that asks the question: What happens when an \"Extreme\" era hero gets cancelled and has to move back into his parents' basement? (Spoiler: His parents are very disappointed).
Join us as we determine if this book is a deconstruction of the industry or just a chaotic ride. Ben realises \"Local Man\" is actually a derogatory term for someone who parks on a curb, while Michael tries to figure out if Crossjack is the Hawkeye of the Midwest or just an absolute arsehole.
We discuss:
Follow the Podcast:
Join the Discord and read along
Time Stamps:
00:00 Introduction to Collecting Issues
00:28 Comic Book Confusion and Local Legends
03:16 Elevator Pitch and Creative Team
05:16 Tim Seeley and Tony Fleecs' Background
16:28 Image Comics and the 90s Influence
20:43 Cross Jack's Return and Character Dynamics
28:44 Villains and Plot Twists
37:26 Inga's Character and Comic's Weaknesses
38:01 Corporate Superheroes and Inga's Role
38:26 Tim Sealey's Influence and Comic Tropes
38:58 Second Arc: Horror and Cult Elements
39:22 Cross Jack's Powers and Fourth Wall Breaking
40:28 Inga's Villainy and Characterisation Issues
43:01 Third Arc: Fetishes and Dream Narratives
43:46 Neon's Confrontation with Inga
45:36 Seascape's Mythical Origins
47:44 Faceless Hoard and Comic Book Tropes
52:33 Comic's Rushed Conclusion and Missed Opportunities
54:08 Tim Sealey's Style and Comic's Inconsistencies
01:02:46 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
Next Comic: Tuatha, a new digital release from IDW involving Irish myth and horror by Gavin Fullerton.
","author_name":"collectingissues"}