Over the years, Geoff Johns has become such a prominent name in the comic industry that he can practically do whatever he wants. When he moved from DC to Image comics for his fantastic Geiger series, it intrigued many people. What would he bring to the table this time? After its success, he is unveiling a new comic, The Redcoat, in the same universe. Here’s what you have to know about this book.
The Redcoat is a New and Fascinating Character
In the almost aggressively competitive comic world, it’s understandable that Johns has kept his lips shut about The Redcoat before its debut. It’s true that he sketched a basic Unnamed Universe timeline, one that explored each of its characters and a few of the most important events. After this unveiling, one entry intrigued fans more than others: the 1776 listing for a character named The Redcoat.
On that date, this character was said to have “become immortal.” That’s about all we know about the character, beyond a very nice Bryan Hitch sketch showing the character as a dashing and skilled gunslinger. What we do know is The Redcoat was a Revolutionary War soldier who has lived over the last 300 years, fighting in wars and taking an uncertain part in the Unnamed War.
From what industry experts are saying, The Redcoat is likely to be a world-weary and cynical warrior, one who has seen many different sides in war. His survival through the Unnamed War, when so many others died, is a clear sign that he is powerful and truly immortal. However, there’s often a common problem with immortal characters: how do you bring excitement into their story arcs?
Could the Redcoat Catch On?
This concern is something that Johns is certainly prepared to handle. After all, if a character is immortal or even invincible, how do you build drama around their life? Just look at the difficulties inherent in writing Superman. Kryptonite is only usable in so many dramatic scenarios, leading to Superman suffering from many other strange problems, including crippling fright and other mental health issues.
However, fans may be intrigued by The Redcoat’s history itself, which stretches across all of American existence and into the future. He could be seen as a weary and wise soldier, one who can discuss real historical events with accuracy and insight. In some ways, he could be a stabilizing element in a wild world, though he’ll likely bring his own drama and intrigue to the series as well.
What to Expect
While it’s hard to predict too much about The Redcoat now, we know that the comic world is excited to see what comes next. Johns’ unique creator-owned concept is a fascinating realm for comics and could be a fundamental change. The idea of a creator fully owning their characters is a powerful one. And, besides that, The Redcoat may bring even more interesting philosophical and action elements to an already intriguing series.