Secret identities may have been written off by some big publishers, failing to recognise how they helped fans identify with their troubled hero or heroine of choice – but not for creators Tom Philipson, James Patricks and artist Devlin Baker who are clearly having fun with the concept in The Stranger… This slick-looking superhero-inspired title is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, and has already smashed its modest initial target.
“In traditional superhero stories, the titular character’s battle to maintain a secret identity is part of the suspense that makes those iconic stories so compelling,” say the team from CoCo Comics Publishing, who were busy promoting the new book at their convention at the weekend in Lancaster. “However, what if there was a story from the perspective of a Detective hell-bent on uncovering the alter-ego of a masked crimefighter?”
In New York, 1975, a hard-boiled detective investigating a murder pursues a long-assumed dead superhero to the top floor of an apartment block, where any of the of seven residents could be… The Stranger!
The Stranger is a Noir/Mystery Superhero comic created by Tom Philipson (Complicated Young Man), James Patricks (The Magician’s Curse), and artist Devlin Baker – and you can find out more about the project here on Kickstarter, where CoCo Comics are seeking backing to complete #1.
Inspired by comics such as The Human Target by Tom King and Greg Smallwood, Watchmen, By Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, and the works of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, the story will, ultimately, run over seven issues, opening with “Where Stalks… The Stranger!“
“The entire story is written out and ready to go,” the team reveal. “The first issue is entirely sketched out by Devlin and will be completed once the Kickstarter has ended. We have completed two successful kickstarters, both of which were shipped on time.”
• Check out Kickstarter for The Stranger #1 here
• Follow The Stranger project on X
• Follow Tom Philipson | James Patricks | Devlin Baker on X
• CoCo Comics is online at cococomics.co.uk
• Follow CoCo Comics on Instagram | X
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
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