Tim Seeley and Tony Fleecs’ Local Man is many things. It’s been a murder mystery, it’s dabbled in cosmic horror, but above all else it is a tribute to the early days of Image Comics, where creators found their potential and crafted characters that could stand shoulder to shoulder with the heroes of the Marvel and DC universes. Local Man #25 takes this to its ultimate extreme, jumping forward one whole year after the events of Local Man #13. Jack Xaver’s not only gotten back on his feet, but he’s managed to build a whole new life for himself, seemingly leaving Crossjack behind. But when Third Gen arrives, seeking help against their successors Fourth Gen, Jack is left with a painful choice: can he truly leave the past behind, or will he embrace nostalgia’s siren call?
A big part of Local Man is questioning if people can change, whether for better or worse. Seeley and Fleecs revisit that, showing how Jack has truly changed – both physically, as he’s now sporting a metallic limb that would make Cable jealous, and emotionally. His connection to Rudy, aka the new Slick, is the beating heart of this issue; after his encounter with Third Gen, Rudy hits Jack with a speech that causes him to make a major decision that shapes the book’s finale fight.
The comic also has a unique approach to its artwork: while the flip book element is still present (with Seeley presenting his own hilarious take on the “swimsuit specials” that permeated ’90s comics), the creative team opts to blend together their styles, resulting in a truly unique visual language. The more gritty, down-to-earth vibes of Fleecs’ artwork soon give way to Seeley’s more cartoonish, bombastic style, and they even collide in the clash between Third Gen and Fourth Gen. The only one who doesn’t change, whether he’s in regular clothes or his Crossjack uniform, is Jack – which shows that no matter what, he can’t truly go back to the teen hero he was.
Image Comics
The Third Gen/Fourth Gen battle is the standout of the issue, both visually (Fourth Gen’s membership includes Klk Klk Bang Bang, an anime-esque battle droid, and Meme…who is a living meme) and thematically (it turns out that Third Gen will do anything to keep their time in the spotlight.) It’s a perfect representation for what Image Comics is, and what it’s grown into; there is room for Spawn and Cyberforce and Shadowhawk but also Radiant Black and Kill Your Darlings and Rook: Exodus. If you want to truly be great, you have to learn how to grow.
Sadly, a letter from Fleecs reveals that this series will be taking a hiatus. When it returns, and what that return will bring, I don’t know. But here’s what I do know: Local Man #25 is a reminder of everything I love about superheroes, Image Comics itself, and storytelling – and it’s proof that despite what people might shout online, comics are thriving and will continue to thrive if new storytellers get that chance to grow.
Until then, thank you Tony Fleecs and Tim Seeley for this series. It was truly special.
You must be logged in to post a comment.