A great threat encroaches on the galaxy.
A threat that even the mighty Continuum cannot stop. Once cast aside, The Frontiersmen have assembled anew to face that threat, but the lines between friends and foes have blurred. Priorities have changed and loyalties have shifted. Yet, if the galaxy is to survive, there exists but one single hope. The Return of the Frontiersmen.“
I was one of those who supported DPM’s Indiegogo campaign and have been looking forward to seeing what the studio can bring. That patience paid off big time recently when got a first look at Dragon Phoenix Media’s upcoming Frontiersman/Pathways Issue Zero (#0). The issue will be offered free of charge at their site, Dragonphoenixmedia.com, once it is released.
And wow. Moby was thinking this would be a simple superhero origin story, diluted by having to deal with an ensemble cast. But this zero issue was not that at all.
DPM’s current slate consists of 5 titles with The Frontiersmen being the cornerstone. ‘Pathways’ is a 24-part miniseries leading into ‘The Return of the Frontiersmen’, and this Zero issue has to do with that connection. By use of time distortions we get a glimpse of the past, and a taste of the future. Foes protecting heroes without their knowledge, and mixed allegiances. Here’s the official blurb for Issue Zero:
The Witness travels across the galaxy to discover a mystery that will ignite the universe in a firestorm that heralds the return of Earth’s greatest superheroes: The Frontiersmen.“
I got to page 15 before I had to take a break, take in the story. It can certainly be hard to introduce a whole new universe of characters, but I think writer/artist Bill Lutz did a great job. We get to see the core of the heroes and villains while reading a comic book full of concepts ranging from sci-fi and aliens to temporal distortions and multiple universes. Definitely something an adult fan of something like…say…Star Trek can get into.
The copy I received had no colors or inks, just the words and the pencils. This was another of those little treats in seeing this early. Having done some drawing myself years ago, I know how hard it can be sometimes and am glad I got to see the story without embellishment.
When it comes to the art, Bill Lutz does a good job conveying the story. I was impressed by his use of space in placing the action in ways that allows for the words to be added in and not have the whole thing become a clusterbleep. It helps too that he understands the need to add movement to the characters (someone has read ‘How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way’). OK, so he’s not Kirby or Romita, but Lutz clearly understands the layouts necessary to allow his art to tell the dense story handed to himself. You can click on the example panel for a slightly larger image.
Dragon Phoenix Media got it’s start from a bunch of guys who loved making Star Trek. In fact it was the team of Glenn E. Smith and Lutz that produced “Star Trek Phase II: Illustrated” in 2010, with Smith also writing two Phase II stories. Those stories are available free as ebooks at Star Trek Phase-II: The Novelettes.
I am definitely looking forward to more. Next year’s ‘Free Comic Book Day’ recommendation should be easy.
Recommended.
Issue #1 of ‘Pathways’ is available now on Amazon.
Thank you for the great review! One correction: Bill Lutz is not only the artist on this title, he is also the creator and writer of Pathways/Frontiersmen. I am the editor, not the writer.
Doh! Corrections made, thanks for letting me know about the mistakes!