This month for the Galactic Comics and Collectibles Book Club we read Frontiersman from writer Patrick Kindlon and artist Marco Ferrari published by Image Comics.
A retired superhero is coaxed back into action by an environmentalist group, only to find life as a spokesperson makes him a target for old and new enemies alike! Doing a tree-sit protest to stop a logging company means everyone he’s ever had a problem with knows where to find him. And they come running.
The room for this month’s book club was filled with mixed emotions on Frontiersman. Some in the group appreciated the unique storyline that was not from DC or Marvel, whilst others missed the familiarity that comes with their favorite publishers. The consensus was that if you’re going to create a superhero outside of the big two, then there are some expectations to meet, and Frontiersman just wasn’t quite there yet.
Others found the book to be too wordy, with too much additional dialogue in the trade paperback collected edition. The dialogue detracted from the overall story and led to moments where the reader was confused or trying to remember a prior conversation. It wasn’t clear whether the added dialogue was necessary for the storyline or if it could have been removed without affecting the overall narrative.
But there were also fans of the artwork. The line work stood out to some while the colors brought each character to life.
That being said, however, even those who enjoyed the artwork couldn’t ignore the downsides of the storytelling and plot. The excitement that was built up in the story faltered at times and felt like it was lacking true direction. It had good moments, but not enough to keep the excitement simmering.
While there were elements of Frontiersman that we all enjoyed, the consensus at our book club was that it fell short of our expectations. While the artwork was a standout part of the book, the inconsistency of the plot and dialogue left us confused and at times disinterested. However, find out for yourself and grab a copy of Frontiersman at your local comic shop or bookstores everywhere.
Join The Book Club
Galactic Comics and Collectibles hosts a book club each month to read and discuss one trade paperback. Each month a group of individuals reads the same book and meets to discuss. Follow along as we discuss these books here as well. Next month we head back into the world of Independent Comics with Naughty List from Aftershock Comics by writer Nick Santora and artist Lee Ferguson.
In previous months the group has discussed A Legacy of Violence, Trojan, Flashpoint, Wynd, Nailbiter, House of M, The Recount, Superman: Last Son of Krypton, Something is Killing the Children, I Hate Fairyland Vol. 1, Thanos by Donny Cates, Wytches, and Batman: The Long Halloween.
