G-Men United #5 - G-Man Comics

G-MEN UNITED No. 5, November 2024

Financed through the crowdfunding platform “Kickstarter” to the tune of $5,033 back in August 2024, those 77 backers who pledged for Issue Five of “G-Men United” were probably almost overwhelmed by the quality of the various stories contained within this anthology comic book. In fact, many doubtless found it difficult to find anything to criticise when it comes to the forty-page periodical’s considerably-sized content, courtesy of some pulse-pounding penmanship by the likes of Rik Offenberger, Chris Squires, Jim Burrows, and Eric N. Bennett.

However if pushed, many a bibliophile may well point to the tome’s narrative concerning Agent Squires and Kid Terror as the 'cream of the crop', due to their paths intermingling with the short-lived plots of several of this publication’s adventures – starting with the wonderfully written “Generation Gap”, where the duo’s humour-filled banter with one another proves incredibly entertaining, and impressively also continues to progress this title’s ongoing storyline involving the fascist criminal mastermind, Rothlander; “This is music.? I thought you ran over a cat!”

Following on from this tongue-in-cheek tale is the much more serious “Temptation”, in which Offenberger manages to cleverly show the significant difference in morals between the aforementioned non-powered F.B.I. operative and the slightly shady protagonist Mateo Martinez. Featuring some awesome layouts by Samir Simao, which genuinely help emphasise the pair’s disparity, it soon becomes incredibly clear just why Squires was asked to mentor the late Jamal Rashed’s vengeance-obsessed son, as opposed to an overtly violent super-hero who debatably kids himself into thinking he can use the ‘good graces’ of his department’s arch-nemesis against him.

Lastly, this comic’s final yarn once again taps into the naïve jesting of the young, by depicting Kid Terror, All-American Kid and Pollita confronting the reasonably formidable Firebomb in Washington D.C. To be perfectly honest this is a pretty straightforward affair, where the adolescent trio are badly underestimated by their fiery foe. But despite such relative simplicity, Bennett’s script once again serves to show just how trustworthy Agent Squires is as a role model for the G-Men’s upcoming generation, as well as how proud the man can be of the kids' achievements when they skilfully apprehend their opponent using combined tactics and teamwork. Furthermore, who can’t love the ever-effervescent Mary Willams Tapia been dynamically drawn by Joshua 1:9 Holley excitedly shouting “Pio! Pio!” in every other panel..!?!

The regular cover art to "G-MEN UNITED" #5 by Dave Matsuoka

G-Men United #3 - G-Man Comics

G-MEN UNITED No.3, October 2023

Containing five stories, or six if the rather mischievous Editor-in-Chief is to be believed in his foreword, there can surely be little doubt that Issue Three of “G-Men United” certainly gives plenty of bang for its buck. Indeed the anthology comic is an excellent example of Rik Offenberger’s ever-expanding universe, with all manner of imaginative costumed crime-fighters, demi-gods and deities depicted battling fire-breathing dragons, fending off murderous forest beasts, and even becoming the centre of attention for an unscrupulous boss of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; “She could be the world’s greatest champion, or the end of all life on Earth. I’m only going to have one chance to win her trust.”

Foremost of these adventures though is undoubtedly “Fire!” which sees the Agent cajoling poor Maya Santiago into mentoring the potentially deadly Atomik Bombshell. Penned across just eight pages, this yarn does an excellent job of showing the super-heroine’s nervousness at tackling such a great responsibility, as well as quickly hurling the audience into a seriously high-octane scrap against an impressively sketched giant winged serpent – complete with Sister Flag trying to blow the mythical beast away with a hand-held bazooka.

Somewhat slower paced, simply on account of Taranis excitedly showing his beloved Dara the splendour of his “long-missed home”, Avalorr, is Eric N. Bennett’s fantasy-based tale “The Eyes of Esh-Kar”. Rather intriguingly touching upon the central protagonist’s chauvinism, or perhaps his lady’s ungratefulness at being rescued just prior to her being mauled to death by a sharp-toothed monster, there’s a fair bit of character development to be found within its dungeon & dragons-flavoured doings which helps bring artists Ron Williams and Victor Raniery’s wonderfully sketched medieval metropolis to vibrant life.

Lastly, many a bibliophile may well be enthralled by the third instalment to “The Night Lili” due to the ongoing narrative quite neatly dealing with both the aftermath of the True Knight’s injuries battling against a dark-hearted demonette, as well as setting the super-heroes up for a rematch. Initially, this refight appears to be a bit of a one-sided affair, courtesy of Red Halo’s involvement. But all is not what it seems when it's revealed that the original Astor’s body is disconcertingly “beginning to be someone” else, and resultantly the nefarious Lili can’t simply be banished to another realm just yet.

The regular cover art of "G-MEN UNITED" #3 by Stefani Rennee

G-Men United #4 - G-Man Comics

G-MEN UNITED No. 4, May 2024

Definitely providing this anthology comic with a strong opening is Rik Offenberger’s insight into just how well liked a super-hero can actually be by their fellow team-mates, when even Meredith Fremont’s foster parents never dared tell her “no” for fear of the emotionally volatile crime-fighter accidentally killing them! Indeed, despite much of this eight-pager demonstrating just how deadly Atomik Bombshell’s powers can be, especially when facing three highly impotent members of the eco-terrorist group Cilantro, the real story is how difficult the likes of Lynx finds it working alongside someone who can generate, manipulate and absorb deadly radioactive energy without a moment's thought.

Much more stately and majestic is Eric N. Bennett’s “Tales Of Otherworld”, which proves to be a predominantly dialogue-driven visit to the High Court of the Gods of Avalorr. Full of all the ritualistic pomp and ceremony a reader might expect from such a medieval-flavoured gathering, this particular yarn ends on a cracking cliff-hanger as King Nuada Silverhand’s guards are suddenly assailed by an army of flaming Fire Trolls just as the royal household’s formalities are finishing; “To Arms! Avalorr is under siege! Aenyr has returned -- And the walls of the city burn!”

Surprisingly serious for a storyline pencilled by cartoonist Joshua 1:9 Holley, “Adoption” does a good job of mixing up the tongue-in-cheek antics of Pollita and Kid Terror as they struggle to behave whilst on Agent Squires’ watch, with the judiciary drama of Vencejo attempting “to adopt an eight-year-old girl who isn’t a relative.” Well-penned by Offenberger, this light-hearted look at a serious subject matter also shows just how deviously demanding and disconcertingly manipulative the FBI Director, Peter Jameson can actually be too.

Lastly this book contains a good old-fashioned punch-up involving Taranis and the Norse God of War, Tyr. Unlocked as a mini-comic bonus during the publication's successful Kickstarter in February 2024, this no-nonsense adventure is written/drawn by Lee Gaston, and initially pits the two deities against one another, before pairing them together when a giant-sized Jötunn decides to invade Midgard. Filled full of jaw-wrenching fists straight to the head, and an impressive team effort against a colossal-sized foe, most bibliophiles will surely enjoy just sitting back so as to let this formidable bout of fisticuffs take them on an entertaining ride.

The regular cover art to "G-MEN UNITED" #4 by Ron Williams

G-Men United #2 - G-Man Comics

G-MEN UNITED No.2, December 2021

Promising “four great tales from the G-Men in a single comic”, Eric N. Bennett’s script for “Thunder Struck” certainly gets this anthology title off to a rip-roaring start with both a notable nod to the Nazi-bashing antics depicted during the Golden Age, and its frenetically paced storytelling once events move forward to the hectic life of a modern-day speedster. However, whilst the Blue Bolt’s subsequent scintillating arrest of the villainous Thundervolt certainly provides artist Luis Rivera with plenty of opportunity to pencil a dynamically drawn chase across the waters of a local harbour, it’s the writer’s cliff-hanger of a conclusion in which Conrad Calvin’s alter-ego is shockingly accused of treachery against the Caped Agent Program that will surely have its readers clamouring for more within “the pages of the… First Guard.”

Equally as fascinating though is Rik Offenberger’s “The Double Life Of Ali Rashed” which on the face of it concerns the no-nonsense foiling of “an armed robbery at Empire City Pharmacy in Atlanta”. But in reality, explores the difficulty some protagonists face when they want to remain incognito from their friends and family. The yarn generates an arguably surprising element of empathy for Terror Noir in the reader as he is clearly thinking first and foremost about his co-workers’ safety throughout the crime, and yet ultimately loses their respect due to them erroneously believing him to be a coward who selfishly hid himself away during the entire raid; “Our lives were at risk and you were hiding! I Quit!”

Perhaps by far this publication’s bloodiest adventure concerns Sergeant Flag’s desperate mission to rescue “a cop captured by the Factory”. This five-pager very quickly gets down to the task at hand with Bobby Ragland sketching a sense-shattering tussle between the colourfully costumed super-hero and the appropriately named striped lycanthrope Tigerstrike. Indeed, the sheer viciousness of the weretiger genuinely leaps off the printed panel, and momentarily will make any perusing bibliophile believe that for once Rob McFarlane may well have bitten off more than he can chew with this mission.

“Rounding out the issue is Jim Burrows’ Who is Outrage?” which rather succinctly covers the origin story of the demon-fighting powerhouse from her grandfather’s days as a Tuskegee Airman “used for testing super-soldier protocols” through to the angry young woman finally accepting her place within the world as a registered crime-fighter. The author does a good job in penning the adolescent's frustration at the authorities for incarcerating her “papa” in an extraordinary maximum-security prison following his fall from grace, and her eventual realisation that she could do great good with her special abilities in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The regular cover art of "G-MEN UNITED" #2 by Bobby Ragland

G-Men United #1 - G-Man Comics

G-MEN UNITED No. 1, May 2021

Somehow cramming American politics, prejudices, violently opposing perspectives and legislative procedures all within the confines of a single twenty-page comic book, Rik Offenberger’s Issue One of “G-Men United” definitely does a fantastic job in depicting just how diverse and immersive his fictional universe of super-powered crime-fighters is. Indeed, it is arguably hard to imagine what else this publication could contain, considering it takes its audience to major disasters, the heavily-armed headquarters of a horde of notorious master villains, a mesmerising fantasy land inhibited by green-skinned fairies, a world which transforms its visitors into cartoon caricatures, and a potential planetary invasion from some Hellish domain packed full of viciously-fanged demons.

True, all four of this magazine’s stories are somewhat short-lived and resultantly rush the reader straight through their exhilarating combat sequences without much in the way of context or exposition. But such is the raw energy of the storytelling that most bibliophiles should easily be able to accept the brevity of each adventure’s ‘set-up’, and happily dive head first into the action alongside the likes of Pocahontas, Terror Noir and Sergeant Flag; “Me and Rex were handling security for the Kawaii delegation to the U.N. And Rex, the big oaf stepped on a squad car.”

Perhaps this comic’s greatest asset though lies in just how many questions it raises as to how its vast cast and locations came to exist in the first place. For example, Earl Wajenberg’s “The Fifth Time” does a fairly good job in briefly explaining how The Energist came to gain his staggering ability to “manipulate basic forms of energy”. However, the tale of him rescuing Irene from a building full of similarly strong criminals arguably merely acts as an appetiser for the audience, with many doubtless wanting to know much more about what actually happened to “Uncle Dan” when he mysteriously disappeared for a few months and returned looking ten years older..?

Happily, this book’s layouts, predominantly pencilled by Johsua 1:9 Holley, is also rather engaging, being somewhat reminiscent of the illustrations found inside the old Eighties “Games Workshop” role-playing game “Golden Heroes”. In fact, the artist’s panels on “Into The Halflands” genuinely help imbue Flag’s character with considerable humour, especially as the red, white and blue garbed government operative is clearly unhappy with the mission he’s been assigned, and ultimately ends up having his fears confirmed when he’s being chased by a large, somewhat cuddly-looking, Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Writers: Rik Offenberger, Earl Wajenberg, & Jim Burrows, and Artist: Joshua 1:9 Holley