The Composite Man

Read previews of two new comics from me out this week

I wrote a comic in EC's Catacomb of Torment #6 out this week called "The Composite Man" about a woman who is repeatedly attacked over the course of several months, seemingly by a different man every time. It's something new from me—a straight thriller—with art by the exceptional Claire Roe and colorist extraordinaire Jordie Bellaire.

It’s something old from me as well. The idea behind “The Composite Man” was first entered into my notebook 23 years ago when I lived in Pittsburgh, working in restaurants and taking life drawing classes. Back then, I was beginning to draw weekly political cartoons but the exact direction of my career had yet to take hold. My notebooks were filled with ideas for comic books, strips, short stories, and graphic novels. As each one filled, I’d transfer my list of unused ideas to the next one, and keep writing.

The hook for this story stayed alive an unusually long time, but as the years passed I rarely thought of it. Then, last year, EC Comics was resurrected and I had a story accepted. Combing through all my ideas for more pitches (now a large multi-folder cloud document) I came across what had become my oldest unused idea and, blowing the dust off, knew that I could finally find a home for it.

You can read four pages of the story below, followed by five pages of Toxic Crusaders #3, which drops Wednesday. This issue focuses on Junkyard, a homeless woman merged with her dog by toxic waste, and the police who try to evict the Crusaders from their home.

Working with Tristan Wright has been another highlight of the year. He has rounded out our Toxic Avenger line perfectly with his incredible layouts and attention to the goopy, horrid details.

This Wednesday, Toxic Crusaders #3 hits shelves with an issue titled “The Three Little Pigs.” We focus on Junkyard, a homeless woman in Tromaville who was merged with her dog. Or a dog merged with her owner, depending on how you look at things.

We have our big bad wolf in Junkyard, but it’s the three little pigs who will be doing the huffing and puffing. They are disgraced New Jersey cops, mutated by the alien Mr. K and enlisted to forcibly evict the Crusaders from their home. Not by the hairs of their chinny chin chin!

I feel the need to show off the pigs.

There’s Jim Ramparts, fired over multiple excessive force lawsuits. Katie McKelley was dismissed from the Camden PD after stealing drugs from the evidence room and improperly seizing assets from victims. Then there is Gerold Hugget, who accidentally shot himself three times during a no-knock raid, resulting in severe nerve damage and being ruled unfit to serve.

Repulsive beings well before they are doused in chemical waste. Get a look at the before and after below.