Welcome to an all new edition of Parlay Points, the comic book review blog to the ODPH Podcast!

For this entry, we’re diving back into the world of JACK XAVER aka CROSSJACK in the pages of one of Image Comics’ best new series. LOCAL MAN #2 by by Tony Fleecs, Tim Seeley, Brad Simpson and Felipe Sobrerio picks up on the mystery surrounding Jack’s return home and fall from grace in the eyes of the general public. The story calls back to the early days of Image Comics and made a strong impression with its’ debut. As an old school reader who grew up on Spawn, Youngblood and Shadowhawk to name a few, the series mixes in nice homages to the past while keeping a modern feel moving forward. There is much to discuss with the latest issue, so let’s not wait any longer and dive in, shall we?

LOCAL MAN #2
Creative: Tony Fleecs, Tim Seeley, Brad Simpson and Felipe Sobrerio (cover Todd Nuack & Brian Reber)
Credit: Image Comics

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

The series focuses around Jack Xaver, known to the public as former Third-Gen team member Crossjack. Removed from the team, Jack returns home to Farmington disgraced and unwelcomed by the town (and even his own family). It is never a good sign when the most popular phrase in town is “F*** CROSSJACK”. Never the less, Jack tries getting used to his “new normal” but can’t escape his past. His former arch-enemy Hodag tracks him down. Jack thinks this is a trip down memory lane but Hodag is actually trying to relay a message with no avail. Hodag is arrested and taken to jail while Jack finds an old (and maybe his only) friend Inga to try making sense of everything.

Jack can’t even catch a break here when Third Gen shows up and gives him paperwork stating he violated copyright by engaging in super hero activities with Hodag. What is a super-hero supposed to do when they can’t be a super-hero? Unfortunately, there appears to be even bigger concerns on the horizon as Hodag is brutally murdered inside his holding cell.

This issue opens up with the police arriving to bring Jack in for questioning involving Hodag’s death. Jack is very puzzled to what’s going on but seeing the pictures of Hodag brings a bit of shock to the fallen hero. Chief Bucholz begins questioning Jack, but the alibi given is not going to make the Chief happy. Jack states that he was with Inga (The Chief’s wife) during the time of Hodag’s death. Jack is released but not without some parting shots from both, which readers will have much enjoyment with.

Returning home, Jack finds more than his disappointed father waiting for him. Third-Gen has a watchful drone informing him that he broke copyright again by “helping” the police with Hodag’s death investigation". Jack gets wise to his drone problem and makes a deal with it to monitor him while he takes his dog for a walk. That walk leads him to the doorstep of Hodag’s mother!

How does that conversation go down? Is Jack ready for what lies ahead? Better yet, are the readers? The talk may throw some readers for a loop but at this stage, anything not “F*** CROSSJACK” for Jack is a win. Post-conversation, the final act steers plans into a new direction heading the story onward. Excellent flip-book companion portion to give some noteworthy elements to the overall story.

LOCAL MAN #2
Creative: Tony Fleecs, Tim Seeley, Brad Simpson and Felipe Sobrerio
Credit: Image Comics

BREAKDOWN: Fleecs & Seeley continue to slowly peel layers back into the mystery behind Jack’s firing from Third-Gen. The banter between Jack and Officer Buckolz was a fun play as it established both characters while setting up for more in the future. The strongest portion of this issue falls at the conversation between Jack and Hodag’s mother. It will surprise some readers but its’ message is very straight-forward. . Its’ a well-timed pace changer that has a bigger after effect than anyone can fathom. The small nods to Image’s past (such as the TV shows page ala early Spawn), were noteworthy as there is much more to Jack than readers might be ready to find out. The flip-book portion serves its’ purpose giving more insight onto what really happened in the past. This will pay off big when readers get the huge reveal about Jack building within the series.

The art perfectly captures Jack’s tiredness of the post-superhero life. Readers bare witness to the dread of Jack dealing with the fallout from Hodag’s death. Excellent panel shot of the “welcome to Farmington” Third-Gen weathered image as Jack looks up to see himself in the past. The conversation with Hodag’s mother delivers on the emotional impact they both share with his loss. The facial expressions show the grief and anger she feels, countered by Jack realizing what this moment represents not only to her, but himself as well. Great final panel to send readers off with until their next trip into Farmington. The retro feel of the flip book adds a solid compliment to the more grounded tone of the current state of Jack’s life.

FINAL POINT: Local Man #2 follows up on its’ impressive debut with an issue grounded in the mystery of Jack Xaver’s post-heroic woes. Fleecs, Seeley and the team take readers along for the ride with solid art and writing questioning whether Jack can handle the weight of his “new normal” or buckle at its’ pressure. The story is kicking into another gear and it is one not to miss at the local comic shops this week!

Hit me up on ODPH social media and let me know what you thought of Local Man #2. Thanks for reading!

LOCAL MAN #2 (IMAGE COMICS)

Ken M