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:

• Why the first arc feels like The Boys meets Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye—if Hawkeye was a glory-hound who slept with everyone’s wives.
• The Dual Art Styles: Breaking down the genius flip-flop between Tony Fleecs’ grounded, photo-referenced reality and Tim Seeley’s Rob Liefeld-esque 90s flashbacks (no feet allowed!).
• The "Image" History Lesson: How the book serves as a love letter (and a tombstone) to the 1992 founding of Image Comics, referencing WildC.A.T.s, Gen13, and the "pouch era."
• The Inga Problem: The twisty villain arc that left us asking: Is she a Lex Luthor mastermind or just a messy ex?
• The Verdict: Why we believe Volume 1 is a masterpiece that belongs on your shelf, but why the "cosmic shenanigans" of Arcs 2 & 3 gave the lads "comic book blue balls."

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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.

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