It’s not all about hyper speed action and knock down, drag out fights. Storytelling involves moments like these. Sometimes in adventure comics, now days, that is forgotten.

So ends this chapter, but wait…there’s more…in our next installment.

Mark’s Remarks: As you can see, the primary roll Max fills is that of personal councilor for Dave. His was not a role which the Project Administrators envisioned at the outset. Had they have thought of it, they would have probably brought in a highly qualified psychologist. It was at Dave’s request that Max was brought on board. In issue two, we see just how the two met and eventually became friends.

Any questions or comments? All are welcome.

Shhhh. Listen to the conversation.;-)

Mark’s Remarks: Dave analyzes his real first adventure since becoming New Man. Max adds his years of experience as guidance for our hero. Just how Max got involved in the project will be revealed in the next issue which we’ll roll out in just a few more days at the conclusion of this landmark publication.

Any questions or comments? All are welcome.

This chapter wraps up the Mall Masacre story with some quiet introspection. Next, in the epilogue, we step up the action a bit giving a lead in to issue 2. It’s actually more of a prologue.

Mark’s Remarks: I always enjoy penciling these quite scenes with folks just doing everyday things. Some folks don’t like it, call it talking heads, but I think it’s interesting telling a story where someone is not getting punched in the fast every now and then. I love the reflective lighting effect Nathan did in panel 3.

Any questions or comments? All are welcome.

The Moriah Building. There is an actual building that inspired this one, located in Birmingham, Alabama. Mark almost got arrested getting photos of it for reference! The Moriah Building is a bit more ornate than the one that inspired it.

Check out the atmosphere Nathan added to this panel. You really get the idea that it’s late at night. His use of lighting is exceptional. Note the guy coming out on the patio deck…

Mark’s Remarks: This page was originally posted on July 4, 2008, Independence Day. Today as we Spotlight this page again as we celebrate Memorial Day, another of our patriotic holiday’s here in the U.S.

Our main character in the story of New Man is Dave Davison. Even though we haven’t shared much about him yet, we do know he served in the Vietnam War. The Mall Killer, Jake Locklear, whom New Man had to stop was one of Dave’s buddies from that war as well. We’ve depicted two people from one of the worst and most hated wars our nation has ever been in. Dave, in spite of the horrors in war he was subject too and the atrocities he was trained to commit, came out of it mentally intact, able to deal with the memories that haunt him everyday. Jake Locklear, on the other hand, could not deal with it and let it drive him over the edge.

Back when the Vietnam War ended and the troops came home some were met with War Protesters spitting on them, calling them names, and throwing vile things at them. Today, we have War Protesters demonstrating at the funerals of fallen veterans. Anyone who is opposed to the war or any war certainly has the right to free speech and SHOULD protest. But at someone’s funeral? What kind of logic is that? The soldier didn’t choose to go to war. Most of them that joined did so in a time peace hoping they would never have to see war!

Going beyond protesting to actually attacking someone verbally or physically is crossing the line. People in demonstrating their rights should also respect the rights of that soldier and his family as well. The same is true for these people demonstrating abortion clinics. Anyone who protests by demonstrating at a funeral or spitting in the face of a soldier, or a doctor or nurse at an abortion clinic are only hurting their cause. The soldiers had to do what they did, protesters who step over the line, don’t, they choose to. If someone says he’s against violence and then engages in violence, he, or she, is contradicting what he says. There are better, far more effective ways to protest than giving more grief to someone or their family. These people have suffered enough. Think about it.

Any questions or comments? All are welcome.