Common Grounds

[MatthewSmith]

I just realized that this was the perfect place for me to start yet another thread about one of my favorite books of last year, Common Grounds.

It's written by Troy Hickman, who is writting the current arc for the City of Heroes comic. And the stories are drawn by tons of top names in the field, including George Perez.

The trade paperback is available and collects all six issues of the mini-series.

And it was nominated for two Eisner awards.

You know you need it! ;)

[EmeraldGuy32]

is there a Vol 2 planned? It was a really fun series.

[grphxkindaguy]

Originally posted by MatthewSmith
The trade paperback is available and collects all six issues of the mini-series.


I picked this up on a whim, at WW Chicago.

Great stuff, I really enjoyed it!!!

I especially loved the Big Monsters story, art by Angel Medina?

[MatthewSmith]

Originally posted by EmeraldGuy32
is there a Vol 2 planned? It was a really fun series.

God, I hope so. But I've talked to writer Troy Hickman a few times about this and here's a brief synopsis about what he had to say.

First time I asked him, he was all like blah blah maybe if it sells well enough blah not immediate plans blah blah blah.

Then, when the trade came out he was like blah blah if the trade sells well enough blah blah blah.

Then later, he was like well Top Cow says the trade is doing well blah blah blah and things are starting to look up blah blah blah but we still can't say for sure.

Then nother ever happened.

Then he nominated for those Eisners, and he was like blah blah maybe thiswill help things out blah blah, but apparently it hasn't yet because still no official word.

So what's the deal, Hickman?:mad:



;) :) :D :cool: :p

[EmeraldGuy32]

well he did get that three issue stint on City of Heros. :cool:

[Randy A]

I'd like to see a volume 2 of this come out. I got the series when topcow offered all the issues for 1 low price and enjoyed it alot.

[MatthewSmith]

Originally posted by EmeraldGuy32
well he did get that three issue stint on City of Heros. :cool:

Which is a really good read so far to tell the truth.

You a lot of the same feel as you do with Common Gournds, with a lot of introspective superhero stuff, but with more action packed into it. Good stuff.

[Moonbeam]

I've bought three copies of the trade and sent it to other people. They all loved it.

I'm hoping for a second trade.

WRITE IT, TROY!! SEND IT TO TOP COW!! DO IT NOW!! WE DEMAND IT! :D

[EmeraldGuy32]

Originally posted by MatthewSmith
Which is a really good read so far to tell the truth.

You a lot of the same feel as you do with Common Gournds, with a lot of introspective superhero stuff, but with more action packed into it. Good stuff.
I'm getting the same great Common Grounds feel too. It's really interesting comming right after a guy like Waid who's style is far more...action oriented and less character.

[holeycrullers]

Thanks to everyone for the kind words; it's so very appreciated. As for a second volume, there's talk about it, but Top Cow needs to know that it would sell if they're to commit to it (yeah, Eisner nominations are impressive, but they apparently don't sell comics on their own). So if you really enjoyed the comic, don't tell me; tell Top Cow.

And by the way, yes, it's frustrating. I've met almost no one who didn't love the comic. But I've met nine million folks who say "that sounds great, but I've never seen or heard of it!" So believe me when I say I love ya all for helping to get the word out...

Troy

[Randy A]

Got an email address we can write to Mr. Hickman?

[Moonbeam]

Hmmm... Troy may not want to go on the record telling us to flood a particular person's email in-box. I could be wrong -- just a guess.

But I took a look at the Top Cow website. It says:

General Fan Mail: fanmail@topcow.com

I'm thinking we could all email that address? Let me know if you guys agree that we should move forward with the emails there, 'cause I'll round up some troops on my website and other forums I visit!

[MatthewSmith]

Originally posted by Moonbeam
Hmmm... Troy may not want to go on the record telling us to flood a particular person's email in-box. I could be wrong -- just a guess.

But I took a look at the Top Cow website. It says:

General Fan Mail: fanmail@topcow.com

I'm thinking we could all email that address? Let me know if you guys agree that we should move forward with the emails there, 'cause I'll round up some troops on my website and other forums I visit!

Thanks for posting that, Moonbeam. I did a quick check on Top Cow's site while I was at work today, but couldn't find anything. I just got through sending a fairly long e-mail detailing how much I'd love more Common Grounds.

It's really late right now, but sometime tomorrow, I'm going to see about digging up a real address and writing some snail mails.

[Randy A]

Originally posted by Moonbeam
Hmmm... Troy may not want to go on the record telling us to flood a particular person's email in-box. I could be wrong -- just a guess.

But I took a look at the Top Cow website. It says:

General Fan Mail: fanmail@topcow.com

I'm thinking we could all email that address? Let me know if you guys agree that we should move forward with the emails there, 'cause I'll round up some troops on my website and other forums I visit!

YES! I'm going to go write them an email right now.

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by hal0
YES! I'm going to go write them an email right now.

Me too!! :D

[MatthewSmith]

Originally posted by Moonbeam
Me too!! :D

I've written twice!

And probably another some time this weekend.




And here's Top Cow's regular address if anyone's interested...

Common Grounds c/o Top Cow Productions, Inc.
10350 Santa Monica Blvd. No. 100
Los Angeles, CA 90025

[EmeraldGuy32]

Originally posted by Moonbeam
Me too!! :D
me three:D

[MatthewSmith]

BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Neuromancer]

Common Grounds: uncommonly good miniseries, add me to the support for a Volume 2. :)

[EmeraldGuy32]

Originally posted by MatthewSmith
I've written twice!

And probably another some time this weekend.




And here's Top Cow's regular address if anyone's interested...

Common Grounds c/o Top Cow Productions, Inc.
10350 Santa Monica Blvd. No. 100
Los Angeles, CA 90025 I did end up writing them. Yeah, I actually did something instead of just bitching.

[MatthewSmith]

Originally posted by EmeraldGuy32
I did end up writing them. Yeah, I actually did something instead of just bitching.

I typed one up a while back, never mailed it, and now I have no idea where it is. If this were a perfect world or a movie or something, the letter would be on some epic journey to find its way into the hands of its recipients. But chances are, since this is the real world, my wife threw it out.

So I guess its back to just bitching for me.

[Moonbeam]

Common Ground fans -- thought you'd be interested in the fact that Troy Hickman is going to be at Alter Ego Comics in Muncie, Ind., on April 8th along with Sean McKeever and Jeremy Dale.

Check out the front page article (http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=64781) on the signing.

I plan to be there. :)

[Royal Nonesuch]

Originally posted by Moonbeam
Common Ground fans -- thought you'd be interested in the fact that Troy Hickman is going to be at Alter Ego Comics in Muncie, Ind., on April 8th along with Sean McKeever and Jeremy Dale.

Check out the front page article (http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=64781) on the signing.

I plan to be there. :)

Hey Moonbeam,

This is off topic, but since you've reminded me of Alter Ego, I figured I'd ask you if there are anymore Alter Ego updates planned, or if they were only meant to cover the first year.

That was you that conducted those interviews, right? Or am I just drunk again?

[MatthewSmith]

Common Grounds rules and everyone should buy six copies.

That is all.

[Varrus]

Never heard of this. What's it about?

[MatthewSmith]

Originally posted by Varrus
Never heard of this. What's it about?

Well, you see, there's this guy named Troy Hickman and he used to do this little independent mini-comic that he called "Holey Crullers." The folks at Top Cow ran across some copies, picked the book up and reprinted it using some of the best artists in the industry, and called it "Common Grounds."

Essentially, its set in a world filled with superheroes, but its got this chain of donut shops called "Common Grounds." At these donut shops, both heroes and villains are allowed in and interact with each other without coming to blows like they do if they come into contact outside the shops.

Hickman uses this premise to create some incredibly interesting stories.

There's one where a hero and villain are speaking to each other in the bathroom as they happen to be using stalls right next to each other. There's another where a Flash-type character named Speeding Bullet gives an interview where he highlights the pains of having super speed. There's one about an overweight group of superheroes, and another one that features a bunch of Kirby-like monsters that was actually nominated for an Eisner.

Every issues contains two of these stories, and each story is drawn by greats like George Perez, Dan Jurgens, Ethan Van Scriver, and man others.

It's high quality stuff.

If you have any other questions, the writer Troy Hickman posts on the boards occassionally and would probably be glad to answer them.

I hope you give it a try. :)

[Varrus]

Interesting concept! I might have to look for this...

[MatthewSmith]

Originally posted by Varrus
Interesting concept! I might have to look for this...

Only ten bucks on Amazon. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1582404364/sr=8-1/qid=1143843108/ref=sr_1_1/103-1126125-5810212?%5Fencoding=UTF8)

And if you'd rather have singles, you can probably find them pretty easily on eBay.