New readers may be familiar with heroes like The Web and The Shield from a handful of DC Comics appearances a couple years back. Part of DC’s Red Circle wave of one-shots and ongoings, these were just the latest iterations of journeymen characters who’d patrolled for a number of publishers over the decades. DC Comics never followed through on integrating these guys into the larger DCU and their ownership of the Red Circle gang lapsed sometime last year.
Now The Web, Shield, Fly-Girl, Jaguar, the Comet and more are back at Archie Comics, where they spent much of their formative years. The publisher is set to reissue classic Red Circle comics in digital subscriptions, but the centerpiece of the revival is an all-new, all-ages series called New Crusaders. Issues will debut digitally, with print editions to follow.
It all starts mid May with a launch on the dedicated Red Circle app.
We talked to New Crusaders writer Ian Flynn about this new spin on some storied classics:
iFanboy: Let’s talk about the tone of New Crusaders. Red Circle is an imprint that stretches back to the Archie Comics of the 70s. So there’s some considerable history there. But this is also a digital initiative designed for today’s readers. What’s the ratio of nostalgia to more modern sensibilities in New Crusaders?
Ian Flynn: I’d say it’s a thick candy shell of modern sensibilities with a delightful gooey nostalgic center. We’re writing “New Crusaders” for the readers of today, but we’re still mindful and respectful to the source material. New readers will go “Oh, hey, that’s cool” while veteran readers will go “I remember that!”
iF: We’ve seen New Crusaders described as having “seasons” in some of the press. Can you talk about the way you’re structuring these story lines? Does the knowledge that these adventures are debuting as digital comics affect your approach to writing them?
Flynn: We’re tackling this series in a different sort of way. Right now we’ve got Season One plotted out – the first twenty four issues. Each issue is an “episode.” It helps to put it in a different mindset. As for it being digital, it’s made no difference to me. If it’s a good story, it will transcend the medium.
New Crusaders #1
iF: Who are the New Crusaders? Why have they taken on this role?
Flynn: The New Crusaders are the Shield, the original veteran hero, and six teens who are forced by circumstance to take on the legacies of their predecessors. Some are the original heroes’ children, some are further removed. Who they are and why they’re suddenly in this situation is the focus of the first few stories.
iF: What kind of threats do these young heroes face? What’s the breakdown of cosmic threats to interpersonal conflicts and teenage growing pains?
Flynn: We’ll be pitting them against a range of villainy. We’ve got organized crime, super villains, and unearthly perils. At the top of the food chain is the Brain Emperor, who will be the driving villainous force for the season. This is all on top of their personal lives and conflicts, and we’ll be spending time with both the super and the not-so-super struggles they face.
iF: New Crusaders is described as an “all ages” title. What does that classification mean to you? How do you approaching writing a story that appeals to a wide audience?
Flynn: To me it means something anyone can pick up and enjoy. “New Crusaders” will have more of an edge than our other all-ages titles, but still nothing you haven’t seen on TV. It means the grade schooler, college kid and working adult can all read it, get something from it, be entertained and share it with someone else. Superhero books ought to be for everybody, and that’s what “New Crusaders” will be.
For more, check out RedCircleComics.com.
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Two insect themed heroes is a bit much isn’t it?
Baseless nitpicks aside this actually looks like a pretty refreshing series.
Spider-Man & Spider-Woman are both Avengers.
Spiders are arachnids. Flies are insects.
I’ve always found having the two of them on the Avengers, too much.
Although, it’s true that spiders are arachnids and flies are insects, they are both considered arthropods, thus easily lumped together when speaking in generalities. Of course, to the layperson, it’s very common to confuse the specifics of the animal kingdom when trying to make a simple comment.
Now that Corey has had his science lesson for the day, I would respectfully respond by saying, yes Corey, having two ‘insect’ themed heroes can be a bit much at times, but, as Conor pointed out, The Avengers have done very well with similar themed crime fighters on a team. Hopefully, this ‘nitpick’ doesn’t ‘bug’ you too much and keep you away from trying this series out when it hits the digital stands in May.
I will add that the New Crusaders title looks inviting and I look forward to checking it out next month.
Ant-Man and Wasp.
They’re both legacy characters of the series and the Red Circle imprint.
And many of the above objections, as well.
I remember enjoying The Crucible mini-series by Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn about twenty years ago. These characters are fun when done correctly. This is a different take and I’m not sure about the Saturday morning cartoon art, but I’ll be checking out the first issue.
That’s possibly the most intriguing part for me.
Done right, this could update the source material and pay it homage at the same time.
As shown by the example of Avengers: EMH, both in magazine and cartoon form.
If anybody could do something cool with this material at digest/iPad/tablet size, one would hope it would be Archie.
I like the fact that they’re thinking in terms of episodes and seasons.
Red Circle New Crusaders cartoons done in this style could be great, and animation can be a great way to get your characters out there, as DC’s example has shown.
It might be nice to finally see a third choice become viable again in the All-Ages superhero comic/cartoon market.
And if these guys pull it off maybe I’ll get that Hanna-Barbera super-team-up I’ve been pining for since 1973.
We all know theres quite a few characters out there that resemble lesser or more well known counterparts or just as famous but these guys are such an obvious rip off versions of specific big name characters that I couldn’t even take it seriously unless it was meant to kinda mock those classic characters in a fun way without trying to knock what they’ve obviously been inspired by. And that art is way too all ages for me, but like he said in the interview it’ll have more of an edge but since I’m adult I’ll just read the material that I know is edgy and aimed at mature readers. Without sounding to pessimistic about this book, it looks great for children, and I think a little edge is good for young readers so they don’t grow up thinking everything’s peaches n creme’, people are all trustworthy and know that world can be a dangerous place.
Just so you’re aware, these are decades old characters and some of them predate those “specific big name characters.” The Comet and The Shield, for instance, have been around since 1940. The Fly (who I assume is connected to Fly-Girl) was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.
the shield is actually about a year older than captain america. they actually had to change cap to his round shield because the original design was too close to this character.
Wow, I really like the art style here.
Probably won’t buy it, but it looks cool.
I’m on-board for the print-version of this title. I loved most of the DC versions of these characters from the early 1990’sx, especially Jaguar and Black Hood.
Glad Jaguar is a young woman again, too.
I have very fond memories of the Impact Comics version of “The Comet” – when the series got cancelled, they really took the story to some interested and unexpected places.
I’ll probably nabb this sometime.
Seems like a lot of fun. Not enough fun in comics I say. Not that there’s a shortage, but because we could always use more.
I actually played with some of the Remco “Mighty Crusaders” toys as a kid! With mighty punch action: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7151/6667492159_0d821107d1_b.jpg
I don’t remember that, but I should.
Those are so very Red Circle.
I collected the Impact issues of these characters and I actually just started buying some of the Red Circle versions this week. I’m glad that these characters are making another comeback, but with the cartoon-style artwork,. I just don’t see The Crusaders as a comic I will ever buy. That style is one of the main reasons I stopped collecting comics 12 years ago..
I’ve come to really enjoy that style, when done well.
I try to no longer immediately dismiss something solely for that reason.
Plus, I’m an old man now, so I can like that style again.
8)
Just this one preview looks better than the entirety of the previous Red Circle offering.
They did it to me again!