Local Man (comics)
| Local Man | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Image Comics |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Genre | Crime Noir, Superhero |
| Publication date | February 2023 |
| No. of issues | 10 (and 2 specials) |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | Tony Fleecs Tim Seeley |
| Artist(s) | Tony Fleecs Tim Seeley |
| Colorist(s) | Brad Simpson, Felipe Sobreiro, Brian Reber |
Local Man is a comic book series written and drawn by Tony Fleecs and Tim Seeley for Image Comics. Each issue has a lead story written by Fleecs and Seeley with art by Fleecs and a flashback story, drawn by Seeley. The colorists are Brad Simpson, Felipe Sobreiro, and Brian Reber.
It launched in February 2023.
Plot[edit]
The story follows "a disgraced former superhero who becomes embroiled in a mystery after moving back home".[1]
Jack Xavier has been expelled from his superhero group, Third Gen, for reasons initially unknown to the reader. Soon after moving back into his parents' basement, an old adversary is killed in mysterious circumstances. While trying to clear his own name, Jack tries to find out who was responsible, while struggling to fit back into small-town life.
| Issue | Publication date | Plot |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Feb 22, 2023 | Once, Jack Xavier, 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. |
| #2 | Mar 29, 2023 | |
| #3 | Apr 26, 2023 | |
| #4 | May 31, 2023 | |
| #5 | Jun 28, 2023 | |
| Gold | Aug 30, 2023 | Jack comes face to face with his explosive past when his superhero alter ego is blasted into modern-day Farmington by a massive cosmic event. |
| #6 | Oct 18, 2023 | Jack Xaver, Farmington's very own Local Man, is called in to investigate a mysterious drowning on dry land. The problem is, Jack isn't legally allowed to be a superhero. Oh, also, he's sleeping with the police chief's wife. |
| #7 | Nov 29, 2023 | |
| #8 | Dec 27, 2023 | |
| #9 | Jan 31, 2024 | |
| Bad Girls | Mar 27, 2024 | Local Man's former girlfriend is now on the run, where she runs into superhero, Neon. |
| #10 | May 22, 2024 | Jack Xavier needs to hide out alongside an ally from his past. |
Reception[edit]
Reviews for the series have been largely positive. Games Radar placed the series at number 25 for its best comics of 2023, noting it was: "A treat for anyone who read '90s superhero comics, especially the first generation of Image titles".[2] The Hollywood Reporter included the series in its 2023 round-up of best new series, writing: "It's a book that should be a joke – and believe us, it's got plenty of those – but it somehow manages to be a well-thought out superhero noir that moves beyond simple nostalgia."[3] It was also an honorable mention in IGN's list,[4] plus came in at number 74 of Comic Book Resources' best comics for 2023.[5]
Collected Editions[edit]
Trade Paperbacks[edit]
| Title | Material collected | Publication date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Man: Heartland[6] | Local Man #1–5 | Oct 4, 2023 | 9781534399587 |
| Local Man: The Dry Season[7] | Local Man #6-9, Local Man Gold | Apr 2, 2024 | 9781534397361 |
References[edit]
- ^ "Fleecs & Seeley's LOCAL MAN combines past superheroics with a present murder mystery". Comics Beat. 21 November 2022. Retrieved Feb 26, 2024.
- ^ "The 25 best comics of 2023". Games Radar. 14 December 2023. Retrieved Feb 26, 2024.
- ^ "'Birds of Prey,' 'Transformers,' 'I Am Stan' and More: Heat Vision's Best Comics of 2023". The Hollywood Reporter. 27 December 2023. Retrieved Feb 26, 2024.
- ^ "The Best Comic Book Series or Original Graphic Novel of 2023". IGN. 11 December 2023. Retrieved Feb 26, 2024.
- ^ "CBR's Top 100 Comics of 2023". Comic Book Resources. January 2024. Retrieved Feb 26, 2024.
- ^ "LOCAL MAN, VOL. 1 TP". Image Comics. Retrieved Feb 26, 2024.
- ^ "LOCAL MAN, VOL. 2 TP". Image Comics. Retrieved Feb 26, 2024.