Highlight #4 - G-Man Comics

HIGHLIGHT No. 4, November 2024

Considering just how many super-powered characters Gilbert Monsanto throws at his audience in Issue Four of “Highlight”, it’s rather impressive that the periodical’s thirteen-page plot still manages to make the titular character its focal point. Indeed, arguably many a writer may well have succumbed to all sorts of temptations with so large a cast, and relentlessly flung their readers all over the place with a plethora of head-swirling origin stories; “From across all realities, they come. They are their worlds’ most brilliant minds.”

Happily however, the former chief instructor for Whilce Portacio’s comic creation school in Manila controls just such an urge by largely concentrating upon some of the issues Highlight is currently struggling with as a visitor to both our dimension, and the human form. Furthermore, the opening sequence contains some ominous foreshadowing as to what the hero’s future might hold, and this mysterious potential attack upon his life rather intriguingly sits at the back of the bibliophile’s mind throughout the rest of the publication.

Of course, the best part of this comic is unequivocally Red Halo’s ability to surround her comrade-in-arms with a small army of “selected detectives from different corners of the created realities”. This so-called League of the Minds conjures up an almost insurmountable number of questions as to just who each colourfully-costumed protagonist is, and the promise that these queries will be answered in the forthcoming battle for the persistently tormented Multiversal-Man’s sanity should have onlookers hooked for a fair few more future instalments to come.

Rounding off this particular publication is Monsanto’s secondary yarn “Welcome To The Jungle Dark!”, which depicts the always foul-mouthed Sgt. Flag and Joe Dragon desperately attempting to rescue a congresswoman from a mythical land just outside Beringan city . Gilbert does a good job in penning some nice verbal interplay between this tale’s leads, and also manages to pencil some cracking splash pages to boot – most notably a pin-up just before the adventure starts which showcases the artist’s ability to imbue all his figures with resonating dynamic life, and an inventively angled illustration which shows the two G-Men tackling a forest full of wonderfully imaginative Mushroom Men.

Story & Art: Gilbert Monsanto, and Story Assist & Letters: Eric N. Bennett

Sgt. Flag #4 - G-Man Comics

SGT. FLAG No. 4, November 2024

Arguably focusing more upon the trials and tribulations of a reality television show filming crew rather than this comic’s titular character, Rik Offenberger’s script for Issue Four of “Sgt. Flag” quite wonderfully captures all the restrained frustration found inside a super-hero having to do his difficult day-job under the scrutiny of the media’s spotlight. Indeed, such is Rob McFarlane’s increasing infuriation with Will White and Marcus Sherlock’s constant questioning and criticisms, that by the time the colourfully costumed Federal operative encounters an old Afghanistan veteran-turned-weapons dealer, the protagonist's barely contained fury is truly palpable to the reader; “There. Is that enough PG-13 for ya..?”

Likewise the audience should enjoy a fair amount of tongue-in-cheek humour, courtesy of some great one-liners from the rather straight-faced Agent Squires. Much of Christopher’s complaints about the naïve movie-makers exactly mirrors Flag’s own reservations. But when the security G-Man suddenly starts unfolding a giant inflatable splat calculator at the scene of a suicide bomber, and then later gets grumpy when the “idiots” misinterpret his request to prepare themselves for an attack by readying themselves to just film it, it’s surely going to be hard for many a bibliophile not to start laughing at the highly-trained martial artist’s evident impatience.

Equally as well done as all this twenty-page periodical’s pulse-pounding set-pieces, is the American author’s ability to make its more quieter moments feel just as authentic. This prodigious penmanship is perhaps best seen either when White and Sherlock decide to interview some of the other licenced meta-humans who work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation - so as to obtain a better picture as to what McFarlane’s team-mates think of working alongside him - Or after the pair verbally criticise Flag for “drinking on the clock” and for once, the former U.S. Marine Corps sergeant opens up as to the pressure he faces “Every. Single. Day.”

Finally, a considerable amount of this publication’s success also rests upon the shoulders of Gilbert Monsanto, who seemingly pours his heart and soul into making this book feel like a docuseries of some kind. The freelance artist is excellent in imbuing all the high-octane moments with plenty of explosive bang for the buyer’s buck. However, it’s the little things, such as Director Jameson’s obvious doubts as to the bankability of his department’s so-called social media superstar which help make each cast member’s motivations and physical behaviour much more believable.

The regular cover art of "SGT. FLAG" #4 by Stefani Rennee

Simon N. Kirby, The Agent #9 - G-Man Comics

SIMON N. KIRBY, THE AGENT No. 9, November 2024

For those comic book fans who thoroughly enjoy their senses being smacked straight on the snout just as soon as they open up their latest read, Rik Offenberger’s narrative for Issue Nine of “Simon N. Kirby: The Agent” should land very well. Indeed, combined with an absolutely outrageous mass fist-fight which occurs inside a criminal-laden Tiki Bar towards the end of the publication, this twenty-page periodical’s beginning is arguably pure perfection – and should genuinely draw a sigh of exhilaration from any perusing bibliophile as alleged team-mates Sergeant Flag and Vencejo stand toe-to-toe with one another trading punches.

Just as exciting however, has to be this edition’s covert operation to locate the nefarious Tiki Man and bring “the Kingpin of the Underworld” into custody for questioning. Focusing on the feminine wiles of a disguised Pocahontas, this admittedly dialogue-driven sequence is packed full of tense, threat-laden verbal exchanges, and does a marvellous job in highlighting both how nasty a villain the mask-wearing hoodlum can be, as well as just how close to a painful demise the young Federal Agent actually gets; “Why don’t you come over to my table while I figure out what to do with you. I insist. If I decide you’re trustworthy, I’ll let you leave.”

Of course, probably the most eye-catching event within this comic is the aforementioned smackdown on the drinking club’s malodourous occupants by the titular character’s numerous comrades-in-arms. This rather one-sided battle was clearly a great chance for Offenberger to pen some of his creations (alongside others) having a blast whilst thumping a good dozen roughnecks in the mouth, and the American journalist appears to grab the opportunity with great gusto.

Prodigiously cramming all these adrenalin-fuelled antics into the confines of each printed panel is Gilbert Monsanto, who masterfully manages to capture the look and feel of the medium’s Bronze Age with sensational aplomb. Whether it be Rob McFarlane’s colourfully-costumed alter-ego genuinely appearing to be about to smash the reader straight in the face with this comic’s opening splash page, or the closely-confined combat between The Agent and the Tiki Man in a night-time alleyway, the artist manages to bring every movement to dynamic life with his top-tier pencilling.

The regular cover art of "SIMON N. KIRBY, THE AGENT" #9 by Stefani Rennee

Simon N. Kirby, The Agent #8 - G-Man Comics

SIMON N. KIRBY, THE AGENT No. 8, May 2024

Having previously established Doctor Rottman as a criminal stooge of the fascist corporation Rothländer Industries, Rik Offenberger’s high-octane opening to Issue Eight of “Simon N. Kirby, The Agent” probably put a fair few of the comic’s eighty-eight backers in something of an awkward frame of mind. For whilst the skeletal-looking scientist arguably receives some ‘just rewards’ at the hands of the bloodthirsty Brotherhood when the far right terrorists mercilessly blow up his A.I. research facility and plug him with a barrelful of bullets, many a bibliophile will probably still go on to cheer the tiny alien Ariel-51 as the little green extra-terrestrial subsequently attempts to save his fiendish friend’s life.

Impressively however, such an intriguing play on the reader’s emotions doesn’t stop there either, as the American author cleverly places the evil Murder Hornet at the centre of the explosion’s aftermath in the guise of an ‘avenging angel’. This role enthrallingly traps the audience between momentarily supporting either the band of merciless militants who gunned down “Mister Skeleton”, or the cold-blooded killer Henry Rothländer – neither of whom actually display even the slightest modicum of human decency or kindness.

Adding another layer to these sense-shattering shenanigans is the handling of the titular character and Sgt. Flag, who together provide this rather serious twenty-page periodical with some much appreciated humour and action. The two crime-fighters genuinely appear to bicker with one another like an old married couple whenever they’re given any leisure time. But when the chips are down, and Kirby is cruelly shot straight in the chest by an unseen assailant, there can be no doubting the strong bond between the colourfully-costumed F.B.I. agents; “Rob, I left my shield in the back seat, Can you grab that for me.? AGCK!!”

Perhaps this book’s biggest asset though lies in all the Machiavellian machinations which Offenberger weaves into his narrative and lurks just beneath the surface. On the face of it, this publication’s plot could simply be seen as a straightforward tale of ‘tit-for-tat’ policing, where having committed a horrendous crime the “mostly ex-military” members of the Brotherhood are lawfully detained by the United States’ security service. Yet such a view genuinely does the publication’s penmanship a great disservice, as the likes of Director Jameson and Rothländer continue to confound the G-Men with their whimsical web of treachery, misdirection and murder.

The regular cover art of "SIMON N. KIRBY, THE AGENT" #8 by Gilbert Monsanto 

Simon N. Kirby, The Agent #7 - G-Man Comics

SIMON N. KIRBY, THE AGENT No. 7, October 2023

Arguably depicting one of the most disagreeable characters in Rik Offenberger’s fictional roster, Issue Seven of “Simon N. Kirby, The Agent” certainly must have made it plain to the seventy eight backers who supported “G-Man Comics” successful "G-Men Unleashed" Kickstarter in August 2023, that things at the Federal Bureau of Investigation were not going to run all that smoothly under newly appointed Director Jameson. Indeed, as the titular character himself states to a bemused Agent Squires early on in the tale “He’s trying really hard to make me dislike him.”

This tension between Agent Kirby and Sgt. Flag with their “new boss” really is incredibly well-presented by the American author, courtesy of some seriously sharp-tongued exchanges between the three men. Of particular interest though is the FBI’s senior leader openly boasting to the Agent about his close, special relationship with the fascist criminal industrialist Rothlander. This arrogant admission appears to be a blatant attempt to goad the G-Men squad’s colourfully-costumed supervisor into directly challenging Jameson’s top position within the security service, and smacks of the freshly-appointed director wanting to have someone much more loyal to him running his field missions.; "You act like you have a choice! That's an order, marine!"

Also providing this twenty-page periodical with another intriguing hook is the arrival of the Boo Crew, and the mistaken belief that the spooky-looking antagonists were robbing a bank – as opposed to them simply wanting to register as super-heroes and the staff freaking out at their ghastly appearance. Apparently based upon a brand of Monster Cereal from the Editor-in-Chief’s childhood, there’s a genuine sadness to the unfair predicament of the vampire, ghost, werewolf, mummy, and Frankenstein’s Monster lookalike, even if they do eventually live up to their Silver Screen cinematic counterparts towards the end of the story when physically pushed into a corner.

Desperately trying to squeeze all these sinister shenanigans into a single instalment is Gilbert Monsanto, who does a top job pencilling Jameson as an egotistic dictator that seemingly goes well out of his way to stir things up within his own department. Furthermore, the illustrator does a smashing job of adding plenty of detail to even the smallest of his panels, not least of which is the director’s coffee cup having a hornet on it – which foreshadows "Murder Hornet 2.0" shockingly joining the G-Men at the publication’s cataclysmic conclusion.

The regular cover art of "SIMON N. KIRBY, THE AGENT" #7 by Joshua 1:0 Holley

Simon N. Kirby, The Agent #6 - G-Man Comics

SIMON N. KIRBY, THE AGENT No. 6, May 2023

For those bibliophiles unfamiliar with events leading up to the death of Terror Noir, as depicted in Issue One of “Lynx”, this particular twenty-page periodical’s premise of exploring its aftermath and wrapping up “the mole storyline with Michael Infantino” might seem a little daunting. But whilst this “kind of buddy cop movie version” comic initially focuses upon the quite literal demise of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Interim Director. It soon sets this ongoing narrative aside in favour of a genuinely pulse-pounding piece which sees both Agent Kirby and Sgt. Flag battling more rambunctious robots than a reader will find at the Wolfsburg Volkswagen Factory in Germany.

Indeed, having disconcertingly disclosed the treacherous Jameson as Murder Hornet’s latest pawn inside America’s domestic intelligence and security service, Rik Offenberger suddenly completely changes the atmosphere of this book into a far more tongue-in-cheek affair, with Rob McFarlane’s colourfully costumed alter-ego genuinely providing a fair few belly laughs throughout its remaining storyline; “Ha! Are you @#$%£ing me?! General Nuisance?! That has to be the worst @#$%£ing code-name ever!”

Just as clever though, has to be the American author’s ability to surprisingly revert this publication’s tone back to a much more serious one, following the titular character’s somewhat shocking capture by “a massive quantity of androids.” Initially, Simon N. Kirby’s battle inside a Seabucks Coffee house appears to be going so well that his regular comrade-in-arms is shown actively trying to drag the fight out because he's enjoying it so much. However, once a modern-day Nazi officer arrives with an army of mechanical thugs in tow, the ‘sport’ in the superheroes’ predicament is quickly replaced by concern, and a shockingly solemn defeat.

Notably “making the eye candy” for such a roller-coaster of a comic is Alan Faria, who does a tremendous job of pencilling some truly jaw-dropping fight sequences - such as when Sgt. Flag seemingly completely loses it whilst slicing through his robotic attackers with a giant double-handed sword. In addition, the Brazilian artist does a stellar job in illustrating the sheer size of General Nuisance’s base of operations, and the subsequent carnage that ensues when the rest of the G-Men arrive to rescue their incarcerated leader.

Writer: Rik Offenberger, Artist: Alan Faria, and Letterer: Eric N. Bennett

Sgt. Flag #3 - G-Man Comics

SGT. FLAG No. 3, October 2023

For those comic book fans who want to simply enjoy a titular character essentially going on a twenty-page killing spree then Rik Offenberger’s narrative for Issue Three of “Sgt. Flag” should definitely fit their bill, courtesy of Rob McFarlane’s solo suicide mission aboard an alien spacecraft. True, this publication doesn’t resultantly contain too much in character development for the “one-man extraction team”. But it does rather delightfully depict a super-hero who for once actually “enjoys the violence as much as the reader does”, and quite novelly relishes the challenge of facing almost certain death too.

Furthermore, in between the high octane action sequences and increasing extra-terrestrial body count, this periodical does quite surprisingly still manage to show some deeper insights into its secondary cast – most notably Christopher Squires, who genuinely appears to care for the smart-mouthed gunslinger so much that he actually attempts to persuade Flag into refusing Simon N. Kirby’s assignment. Indeed, considering just how loyal the F.B.I. operative has been to the G-Men’s leader in past storylines, his sudden willingness to rebel against his boss' wishes produces a genuinely shocking moment.

Of course, all eyes will predominantly focus upon McFarlane’s desperate attempt to reach both the space invader’s hangar and engine room, before facing the disconcertingly mysterious Alien Singularity who kidnapped Atomik Bombshell. This series of head-long “Bonsai!” battles does not disappoint, with the protagonist impressively utilising all manner of man-made firearms and witty wisecracks, as well as the little yellow spacemen’s own advanced weaponry, against his would-be assailants; “More bugs! And it’s not even my birthday!”

Ultimately, such an intense rodeo of a ride in a comic debatably lives or dies on the quality of its artwork, and Gilbert Monsanto's dynamic drawings do not disappoint. There’s a palpable energy to the freelancer’s pencilling which really adds to such instances as Sgt. Flag’s less than subtle infiltration of the UFO, the visible concern Agent Squires has for his comrade-in-arms, and even the draining physical cost to Mummy Girl’s utterly exhausting teleportation tricks. In fact, the illustrator’s double-splash of Rob gunning, kicking and crushing his abundant foes simultaneously is well worth the cover price of this book alone.

Written by: Rik Offenberger, Art by: Gilbert Monsanto, and Letters by: Mike W. Belcher

Sgt. Flag Meets Tomorrow Girl #1 - G-Man Comics

SGT. FLAG MEETS TOMORROW GIRL No. 1, June 2024

Potentially viewed by some as just a straightforward, tongue-in-cheek romp “across the Indieverse” which highlights the super-heroic rosters of several other self-publishing authors, Rik Offenberger’s narrative for Issue One of “Sgt. Flag Meets Tomorrow Girl” is arguably so much more, largely thanks to the comic’s insights into the likes of Christopher Lewis Squires and Mummy Girl. Indeed, the Federal Bureau of Investigation operative and his four thousand-year-old comrade-in-arms debatably steal this book’s show, with the perplexing pair sticking together through ‘thick and thin’, even after they’re seemingly stranded for all eternity in the Superverse.

Much of this attraction is undoubtedly due to the strong sense of loyalty displayed by Agent Squires, and the heavily-bandaged undead Egyptian’s willingness to sacrifice her supernatural life essence so as to get their profoundly fatiguing joint mission completed. Coupled with some enjoyable, cheeky banter between the duo towards the periodical’s end, and this mutual respect for one another’s strong sense of professionalism and honour quite literally leaps off the printed page.

Rivalling this ‘double act’ though are the titular characters, who provide both a brisk, whistlestop tour of “G-Man Comics” more enigmatic and mythical realms, as well as some genuinely laugh-out-loud one-liners; “Leave me the %@!£*$ alone! I gotta job to do!” The ever foul-mouthed Rob McFarlane proves especially grumpy during the twosome’s furious, headlong chase to capture the fiendishly fast Cockroach, and few bibliophiles will surely fail to take a modicum of pleasure from Sgt. Flag rather satisfyingly winding the criminal teleporter with a brutal blow to the belly, when he finally catches him up.

Probably this publication’s biggest draw however, may well lie within José Henrique Pereira’s marvellous layouts. Richly coloured by Teo Pinheiro, Hique’s prodigious pencilling appears to incorporate as many elaborately attired caped crime-fighters as the Brazilian can muster within each individual panel, and resultantly generates a vibrant, heavily-pigmented feast for the audience’s eyes. In addition, the merging of Tomorrow Girl’s Manga-looking world with the much more traditional sketched style of McFarlane’s universe is achieved with plenty of panache and aplomb, making neither protagonist jarringly stand out whilst residing within the other crusader for justice’s respective dimension.

Written by Rik Offenberger, with Jim Burrows & Eric N. Bennett contributing

Sgt. Flag #2 - G-Man Comics

SGT. FLAG No. 2, May 2023

In many ways a straightforward no-holds barred scrap between the titular character and Pteranodon-like super-villain Omicronbie, Rik Offenberger’s script for Issue Two of “Sgt. Flag” still manages to provide the ex-sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps with some enjoyable development. In fact, “Virus” seems to show a genuinely remorseful aspect to the ordinarily arrogant special agent’s personality, whether it be his sorrow at seeing the grotesque, crucified corpse of a dead comrade-in-arms, or slightly tongue-in-cheek acknowledgement as to Christopher Squires’ comprehensive clean-up operation following the hero’s most recent mission; “Sorry, didn’t know you were so touchy about the kid.”

Equally as intriguing as Rob McFarlane’s growth though, is the brief insight into the sadly short-lived career of Mister Mystery and the mask-wearing operative’s decidedly deadly first encounter with his eventual murderer. Looking somewhat like an amalgamation of the Green Lantern and Riddler, the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) operative’s special abilities are surprisingly never shown on the printed page. However, even in this comic's fleeting flashback, the predominantly jade-coloured character should still create a few exciting possibilities as to his crime-fighting capabilities in the mind of the more imaginative bibliophile.

Ultimately however, Offenberger’s “love to letter to my favourite Nineties’ comics, with all the macho action that made them famous” succeeds thanks to its breathtakingly frantic finale in which Flag appears to be repeatedly cornered by his would-be-killer, only to snatch up yet another well-placed firearm or grenade. This chase sequence, claustrophobically contained within the gung-ho G-Man’s rental home is absolutely captivating, and will surely force any reader encountering it to hold their breath quite literally until McFarlane has smashed through the building’s upper-floor window and subsequently blown it sky high with a spectacularly 'loud' splash-page explosion.

Of course, adding much of the dynamism to these marvellous moments is Gilbert Monsanto, whose phenomenal pencilling really adds a dangerous raw edge to both Rob’s attitude and belligerent behaviour. The former chief instructor for Whilce Portacio’s comic creation school in Manila makes it crystal clear with his sketching that a foul-mouthed Sgt. Flag is purely out for revenge, and cares little for the chaotic collateral damage his hot-headed plan will cause – except perhaps the non-return of his security deposit.

The regular cover art of "SGT. FLAG" #2 by Mike Gustovich

Sgt. Flag #1 - G-Man Comics

SGT. FLAG No. 1, April 2022

Impressively funded in just eleven minutes as part of the publisher’s 2022 “Rise of the G-Men” Kickstarter, this comic certainly places its audience up to their necks in adrenalin-fuelled violence and some utterly insane firefights. Indeed, as opening issues go, this first instalment of “Sgt. Flag” definitely must have left a lasting impression upon any bibliophile lucky enough to purchase a copy, with Rik Offenberger’s two stories showing just how versatile, and down-right deadly, the smart-mouthed FBI operative can be when it comes to gunning down either a gang of gun-toting gangsters or a deadly super-villain.

First up is arguably the more intriguing (origin) tale “Semper Fi!”, which does a great job in depicting the pulse-pounding pandemonium surrounding Rob McFarlane’s reassignment to President Trump’s recently reactivated Caped Agent Program from an undisclosed modern-day battlefield. Energetically sketched by Gilbert Monsanto, this twenty-page plot hooks the reader straight from the start, and simply doesn’t let them go until The Agent’s latest recruit smashes his way out of an exploding building with the battered banker he was sent to rescue; “Oof! You here to help me or hurt me?!”

Somewhat more leisurely paced, at least at the beginning, is “Two Of A Kind!”, which is co-authored by Gregg Whitmore. This much shorter adventure, confined to the interior of the Beaumont Building, has a distinct “Die Hard” feel to it as the titular character and Wildcard blast through a veritable army of armed hoodlums to reach the skyrise building’s ground floor. Such relentless gunplay, even when prodigiously pencilled by Bobby Ragland, could potentially become a little tiresome after a while. But the outnumbered pair’s ‘back and forth’ banter manages to keep everything entertaining.

Perhaps therefore this publication’s sole quibble lies in the portrayal of McFarlane himself, who seemingly swears at everyone and everything throughout his action-packed exploits. True, no actual expletives are on show. But coupled with the marine’s evident overbearing arrogance and chauvinism, this almost relentless assault upon the sensibilities for the entire duration of the comic could potentially cause some readers to dislike Offenberger's colourfully-costumed creation – especially when so much of the chaos being caused is seemingly due to Sgt. Flag’s poor judgement in the first place.

The regular cover art of "SGT. FLAG" #1 by Gilbert Monsanto