Review: Company Man
“A mysterious corporation subjects minority children to an experimental serum disguised as a common Flu inoculation, granting them superhuman abilities. Meet Nicholas Reyes, the latest unwilling “participant” and follow him as he discovers his new found abilities and who he is as a person while facing dangerous situations around the world. The corporation has a plan, but are they trying to save the world or control it?“
Created by: Pete Hernandez III
The tagline for Company Man above does well to highlight the three main aspects of Hernandez creation: super powers, intrigue and representation. Marvel’s X-Men is often painted as a metaphor for the LGBT community but Company Man focuses on the representation of ethnic minorities. Comics and the media and general are very sparing of it’s use of people and characters that don’t fit a particular image and when minorities are portrayed they pander to stereotypes or are paraded out to make the audience feel better for being so accepting.
I’m jumping the gun here and before Hernandez’s comic is a powerhouse for social change, it is at first a comic.
*may contain some mild spoilers*
After being subjected to a flu shot at a young age, Nicholas Reyes develops untold powers and now the people that provided the faux-vaccine want him back and in their control. Possessing the ability to manipulate molecules Reyes was not only an investment, he was a powerful weapon for Daltrix Industries and the company force him to hone his abilities before setting him loose on the world as a DSA (Daltrix Super Agent). It’s in the field that Reyes encounters former DSA Gant and after several skirmishes in which Nick almost lost his life, their final battle leaves Nick injured but free from the control of Daltrix and his search for answers and a chance to bring down the company that started it all begins and along the way Nick will find others like himself to help and hinder.
I’ll stop here because it wouldn’t be right to give it all away!
The first thing that jumps out about Company Man is the use of colour across the pages, the artwork is simple but expressive. What’s missing from a technical aspect is more than made up for by Hernandez’ ability to bring the pages and his characters to life through their reactions and the colours. I’m not an artist by any means so it’s difficult to draw comparisons or for me to take the work apart but what I do know and what I feel less guilty about talking about is the writing.
The comic is probably one of the best paced series I’ve ever picked up, information comes at you rapidly on each page but at no point does it feel like it’s too much or are you left trying to pull pieces together. The story of a group of people, normal or powered up isn’t new but Company Man’s approach is refreshing and it becomes all too clear that Hernandez is passionate about the representation of minorities on his pages. Heroes and villains hail from latin, african, asian and aboriginal backgrounds and their presence on the pages only helps enhance the meaning behind the story that the creator is trying to drive home – representation and exploitation.
Throughout his life the hero, Nick Reyes has been exploited, his family and community are preyed upon because of their financial situation, taking advantage of poorer communities Daltrix grows a platoon of agents for free on the back of illegal experiments. After his powers come to fruition he is ripped from his old life, a commodity for the company to do with as they see fit and even after he escapes their control he is still plagued by his past and presence of Daltrix.
Nick isn’t alone though and the resistance are all made up of former DSAs each with their own abilities, stories and lives and Hernandez excels at trying to tell the stories of people often overlooked.
Company Man is the result of a creator’s passion and experience and from the very first page to the latest issue it’s clear that this is a project and story close to the creator’s heart. Self-published titles are often the labour of love, lost in a fickle and shallow industry but if you need to read something new and are looking for something that stands out proudly then you have to pick this up!
Company Man is available to buy online here! You can also keep up to date to with the official Facebook group here!
Editor-in-Chief, part-time super villain and hoarder of cats. If you can’t find me writing, I’m probably in the kitchen!
