It’s true, comic book fans: you really can’t keep a good miniseries down. And there’s no better proof of that than today’s release of The Formidables #1—the superhero series that I was involved with as editor in 2021, which is back on comic shop shelves, courtesy of indie publishing company Advent Comics.
Created and originally published by writer/artist Chris Malgrain (Stan Lee’s Alexa, Sideral: The Last Earthman) through his Oniric Comics company, the Formidables are a quintet of superheroes battling evil and bigotry in 1950s America, with their first challenge coming in the form of a Communist super-villain…who’s disguised as a white supremacist!
It’s a unique take on the genre, with Chris examining topics like race relations and sexual identity in a Cold War setting, with an appropriate amount of punching and explosions mixed in, of course—we are talking superhero comics, after all!
The Formidables’ epic 8-issue storyline involves Commie villains, an alien invasion force vs. an army of superheroes, shocking revelations, and an appearance by…God?! Overall, it’s Chris’s ode to Bronze Age comics, his writing tinged with a hint of classic Stan Lee, and his illustrations a reflection of his two biggest artistic influences: Jack “King” Kirby and John Byrne. Hell, I even got into the action beyond editing, as I stepped in as scripter for issue 5!
The Formidables #1 is on sale right now, so visit your local comic shop and pick up a copy. And then get ready for some Bronze Age–style superhero action!
As Stan the Man used to say, if there’s only one comic you’re going to buy this month, make it this one!
