Welcome to an all new edition of Parlay points!
For this entry….F*CK Crossjack!
One of the best books at the LCS continues its’ throwback influenced saga of a hero’s fall from grace. Jack Xaver’s future is still anchored down by his past sins. Public opinion has turned against him. Xaver technically can’t be a super hero legally. Even with these factors, the disgraced hero is still trying to do the right thing.
Local Man #11 BY Tony Fleecs, Tim Seeley, Brad Simpson and Felipe Sobrerio sees Xaver take drastic measures to take down the Faceless Horde. Will he prevail?
Let’s take a closer look and see how he fares now.
Local Man #11 BY Tony Fleecs, Tim Seeley, Brad Simpson and Felipe Sobrerio (IMAGE COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Fleecs and Seeley masterfully balance the sharp humor and drama at hand. Xaver is a flawed character. Even with the odds stacked, he shows there is a hero somewhere inside him. The conversation with Naveen is a prime example of how little he is regarded by his “peers”. This serves to amplify the last resort play for help in Officer Kopecki.
The mood is uneasy but the writing injects some well timed breaks in that makes the confrontation stand out (and who knew about the officer’s “powers”). The Slide 2.0 steals scenes throughout the issue. The odd-couple pairing of Rudy and Xaver works to lock readers in for the unlikely villain of this chapter. Its’ resolution nails the landing. From here, the closing pages throw some interesting directions at the readers for where we go next.
Paired with the throwback story, there’s no doubt about why this series gets the praise and hype it deserves!
The art captures the frustration of Xaver’s plans extremely well. His expressions while dealing with Naveen and Officer Kopecki are an easy win with readers. Capturing the comedic timing of The Slide breaks up the drama perfectly. How the villain here is taken out are panels fans won’t want to miss.
There are some more serious images that keep things very grounded as well. The Fright being unleashed are panels that set a striking tone leading to its’ unlikely conclusion. Along with the final pages, the issue has something for everyone to be invested in.
FINAL POINT: 8.8
The life and times of Jack Xaver never cease to amaze and please. Fleecs, Seeley and the team gift readers with an entertaining trip through the struggles of a fractured hero. This book always sets a high bar for storytelling and comic fans simply can’t miss it.
Hit me up on ODPHpod social media and let me know your thoughts on Local Man #11. Thanks for reading!