‘Local Man’ is Image’s Nod to the 90’s
Last week Image launched its newest series, and despite its title, the concept is definitely from out of town. Local Man is created and written by the duo of Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash) and Tony Fleecs (Star Wars Adventures) and the tandem has approached the first issue in a most unique way. Jack Xaver, better known by his hero name Crossjack, is a former member of the super team Third Gen. The comic book is actually set up quite unconventionally where the back cover starts with Third Gen in action ripping through a horde of supposed baddies. If you flip the comic book over to the other cover, however, it delves into the modern day aftermath of Jack Xaver back home at his parents’ place in a small town called Farmington. So what got this guy the boot?
First off, we can’t proceed without commenting on this absolutely enjoyably absurd team members of Third Gen. There’s Air Raider who “was an Air Force pilot shot down by Russian Migs who survived by fusing himself with his plane.” Then there’s a Big Island who “sacrificed himself to an angry volcano as a boy to save his village and was rewarded with alien cybernetic technology that gave him the power of earth’s core itself.” It’s over the top, it’s ridiculous, it’s hilarious, and it’s all meant to be, but in their world, this is serious business.
So what’s Crossjack’s story? Why he was expelled or walked out is unknown by the end of the first issue. This is certainly a foundation story arc that will serve issues to come as it keeps readers guessing the dilemma at hand. Meanwhile, Crossjack is back with his parents in the most uneasy of situations. Whatever happened, his arrival back in Farmington is certainly not a welcomed one, and when his old team stops by, it is a n awkward meeting between Xaver and Third Gen.
The writing is stellar and the shift in art between the front and back stories in this book are so wonderfully befitting. When Crossjack is in his heyday with Third Gen, Tim Seeley’s art is reminiscent of the 1990’s WILDC.A.T.S. series from Image. It is so remarkably appropriate it its delivery while dripping with theme. Flip the book over to the meat of the issue and Tony Fleecs visually handles the subtlety of everyday reality when Xaver heads back home.
The end of the issue leaves quite a cliffhanger, though you can anticipate the next issue to come out March 29th.
