Common Grounds
Encyclopedia
Common Grounds is a six-issue comic book
limited series
created by writer Troy Hickman and published by Top Cow Productions
in 2004
. The series examined the life of superheroes and villains in and around a chain of coffee shops called Common Grounds.
Common Grounds received two Eisner Award
nominations in 2005, for "Best Short Story" and "Best Anthology."
Then, serendipitously, in 2003, Wizard editor Jim McLauchlin became editor-in-chief of Top Cow Productions
, and quickly contacted Hickman about getting the rights to the Holey Crullers scripts. By the beginning of 2004, Common Grounds had been launched as a six-issue series, featuring Hickman's stories and new artwork by comics superstars such as Dan Jurgens
, George Pérez
, Mike Oeming, Chris Bachalo
, Sam Kieth
, Angel Medina
, Carlos Pacheco
, and Ethan Van Sciver
. Jurgens was the regular artist, providing art for one short-story every issue, while one of the guest artists provided the art for the other(s).
The series received a great deal of critical acclaim and garnered an even larger cult following, and in November 2007, a trade paperback was published collecting all six issues. The series' fame continued to grow even after publication had ceased, and in the summer of 2005, it received two Eisner Award
nominations (Best Anthology and Best Short Story for "Where Monsters Dine," drawn by Angel Medina).
shops named "Holey Crullers". The name was a clever word-play on the fact that a doughnut is a type of cruller
, a deep-fried cake pastry, with a hole in the center and also paid homage to the regular humorous outbursts of Robin
in the 1960s era Batman (TV series)
.
Hickman reported that the decision was made to update the central concept from a chain of doughnut shops to coffee shops and change the name to Common Grounds in an attempt to be timely and more relevant to the coffee culture
in the US in the last 1990s and early 2000s. Just as with the previous title, the name "Common Grounds" includes some double entendre
in that it simultaneously brings to mind a safe, neutral haven where those of differing viewpoints can find some agreement ("common ground") and also recalls an important aspect of coffee, namely the "grounds". It was an absolute rule that no superheroes or villains were allowed to fight within any Common Grounds outlet, under penalty of not being served again.
The series includes an in-story reference to the name change in issue six when the company founder explains to an interviewer that he originally wanted to call his chain "Holey Crullers", but received a letter from the lawyers of the "old 60s superhero tv show" in which the sidekick always says "Holy This" and "Holy That" (see Holy cow (expression)
), so he opted for Common Grounds instead.
Hickman addressed a number of themes in the series which some may consider uncommon in the mainstream comics industry, including aging, obesity, differing moral codes on good vs evil, second chances, patriotism, religious faith, guilt and regret, hope, suicide, self-doubt, responsibility for one's own life and choices, redemption, and a number of touching issues regarding familial relations. He accomplished this by de-mystifying his superheroes and villains and exploring their humanity in a way that normal people could relate to them.
Ironically, Hickman also poked a little fun at the growing cynicism and rise in popularity of the gritty, scowling, heavy-handed anti-heroes who became so ubiquitous in the main-stream American comic industry from the late 1980s through the mid 2000s, but his "big break" came from a publisher primarily known for producing just such comics.
1 Rodolfo Migliari
made the alternate cover for Issue #1.
2 Issue #4's cover art was inspired by Edward Hopper
's "Nighthawks
" painting.
that includes:
1 Includes Issue #1's alternate cover by Rodolfo Migliari
and a pinup by James Raiz, Roland Paris and Sonia Oback depicting various superheroes battling Crittorr and Wang Dang Doodle.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
created by writer Troy Hickman and published by Top Cow Productions
Top Cow Productions
Top Cow Productions is an American comics publisher, a partner studio of Image Comics founded by Marc Silvestri in 1992.-History:...
in 2004
2004 in comics
-February:*February 6: Marvel Enterprises and Electronic Arts announce a multi-year agreement in which EA will develop a new generation of fighting video games pitting Marvel superheroes against a new, original set of EA heroes....
. The series examined the life of superheroes and villains in and around a chain of coffee shops called Common Grounds.
Common Grounds received two Eisner Award
Eisner Award
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, and sometimes referred to as the Oscar Awards of the Comics Industry, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books. The Eisner Awards were first conferred in 1988, created in response to the...
nominations in 2005, for "Best Short Story" and "Best Anthology."
Overview
The series began in 1994 as the black-and-white mini-comic, Holey Crullers, written by Hickman and drawn by Jerry Smith, and was circulated through mail order and direct sales at comic book conventions (resulting in very few copies of Crullers being in existence today). In 1997, Wizard magazine became aware of the cult comic, and devoted a four-page article to it (a first for a photocopied, black-and-white mini-comic).Then, serendipitously, in 2003, Wizard editor Jim McLauchlin became editor-in-chief of Top Cow Productions
Top Cow Productions
Top Cow Productions is an American comics publisher, a partner studio of Image Comics founded by Marc Silvestri in 1992.-History:...
, and quickly contacted Hickman about getting the rights to the Holey Crullers scripts. By the beginning of 2004, Common Grounds had been launched as a six-issue series, featuring Hickman's stories and new artwork by comics superstars such as Dan Jurgens
Dan Jurgens
Dan Jurgens is an American comic book writer and artist. He is best known for creating the superhero Booster Gold, and for his lengthy runs on the Superman titles Adventures of Superman and Superman , particularly during The Death of Superman storyline...
, George Pérez
George Pérez
George Pérez is a Puerto Rican-American writer and illustrator of comic books, known for his work on various titles, including Avengers, Teen Titans and Wonder Woman.-Biography:...
, Mike Oeming, Chris Bachalo
Chris Bachalo
Chris Bachalo is an American comic book illustrator known for his quirky, cartoon-like style. He became well known for stints on DC Comics’ Shade, the Changing Man and Neil Gaiman's two Death series...
, Sam Kieth
Sam Kieth
Sam Kieth is a New York Times best-selling American comic book writer and illustrator, best known as the creator of The Maxx and Zero Girl.-Comics career:...
, Angel Medina
Angel Medina (artist)
Angel Medina is a comic book artist known for his work for various comic book companies, including Megaton Comics, First Comics, Marvel Comics, and Image Comics.-Career:...
, Carlos Pacheco
Carlos Pacheco
Carlos Pacheco is a Spanish comic book artist and penciller. Pacheco was born in San Roque, Cádiz. He is best known in the United States for his work on titles such as Avengers Forever, X-Men and Green Lantern...
, and Ethan Van Sciver
Ethan Van Sciver
Ethan Daniel Van Sciver is an American comic book artist, best known for illustrating a number of titles including Green Lantern, Superman/Batman, New X-Men, and The Flash: Rebirth...
. Jurgens was the regular artist, providing art for one short-story every issue, while one of the guest artists provided the art for the other(s).
The series received a great deal of critical acclaim and garnered an even larger cult following, and in November 2007, a trade paperback was published collecting all six issues. The series' fame continued to grow even after publication had ceased, and in the summer of 2005, it received two Eisner Award
Eisner Award
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, and sometimes referred to as the Oscar Awards of the Comics Industry, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books. The Eisner Awards were first conferred in 1988, created in response to the...
nominations (Best Anthology and Best Short Story for "Where Monsters Dine," drawn by Angel Medina).
Title
The original 1990s comic series, Holey Crullers, centered around a chain of doughnutDoughnut
A doughnut or donut is a fried dough food and is popular in many countries and prepared in various forms as a sweet snack that can be homemade or purchased in bakeries, supermarkets, food stalls, and franchised specialty outlets...
shops named "Holey Crullers". The name was a clever word-play on the fact that a doughnut is a type of cruller
Cruller
A cruller, or twister, is a twisted and usually ring-shaped fried pastry. It is traditionally made of dough somewhat like that of a cake doughnut, often topped with plain powdered sugar; powdered sugar mixed with cinnamon; or icing...
, a deep-fried cake pastry, with a hole in the center and also paid homage to the regular humorous outbursts of Robin
Robin (comics)
Robin is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman...
in the 1960s era Batman (TV series)
Batman (TV series)
Batman is an American television series, based on the DC comic book character of the same name. It stars Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin — two crime-fighting heroes who defend Gotham City. It aired on the American Broadcasting Company network for three seasons from January 12, 1966 to...
.
Hickman reported that the decision was made to update the central concept from a chain of doughnut shops to coffee shops and change the name to Common Grounds in an attempt to be timely and more relevant to the coffee culture
Coffee culture
Coffee culture describes a social atmosphere or series of associated social behaviors that depends heavily upon coffee, particularly as a social lubricant. The term also refers to the diffusion and adoption of coffee as a widely consumed stimulant by a culture...
in the US in the last 1990s and early 2000s. Just as with the previous title, the name "Common Grounds" includes some double entendre
Double entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
in that it simultaneously brings to mind a safe, neutral haven where those of differing viewpoints can find some agreement ("common ground") and also recalls an important aspect of coffee, namely the "grounds". It was an absolute rule that no superheroes or villains were allowed to fight within any Common Grounds outlet, under penalty of not being served again.
The series includes an in-story reference to the name change in issue six when the company founder explains to an interviewer that he originally wanted to call his chain "Holey Crullers", but received a letter from the lawyers of the "old 60s superhero tv show" in which the sidekick always says "Holy This" and "Holy That" (see Holy cow (expression)
Holy cow (expression)
"Holy cow!" is an exclamation of surprise used mostly in American and Canadian English.From the Dictionary of American Slang :...
), so he opted for Common Grounds instead.
Themes
The first volume of Common Grounds consists of thirteen self-contained stories (though there is a thread of continuity) in six issues featuring numerous superheroes and villains, including Speeding Bullet, Man-Witch, Mental Midget, Flammabelle, Digital Man & Analog Kid, the Acidic Jew, Deb-U-Ton, Strangeness & Charm, Blackwatch, the Liberty Balance, Eternal Flame, Big Money, and American Pi.Hickman addressed a number of themes in the series which some may consider uncommon in the mainstream comics industry, including aging, obesity, differing moral codes on good vs evil, second chances, patriotism, religious faith, guilt and regret, hope, suicide, self-doubt, responsibility for one's own life and choices, redemption, and a number of touching issues regarding familial relations. He accomplished this by de-mystifying his superheroes and villains and exploring their humanity in a way that normal people could relate to them.
Ironically, Hickman also poked a little fun at the growing cynicism and rise in popularity of the gritty, scowling, heavy-handed anti-heroes who became so ubiquitous in the main-stream American comic industry from the late 1980s through the mid 2000s, but his "big break" came from a publisher primarily known for producing just such comics.
Characters
- Ed Franklin
- Gerald Smith, a.k.a. Speeding Bullet
- Gabriel "Gabe" Alexander, a.k.a. Mental Midget
- Robert Louis Dupree, a.k.a. Man-Witch
- Jenny Saunders
- "John" the serial rapist
- Tim Lesley, a.k.a. Analog Kid
- Chris Lesley, a.k.a. Digital Man
- Patricia Van Buren, a.k.a. Deb-U-Ton
- Moshe Chomsky, a.k.a. The Acidic Jew
- Sam Henderson, a.k.a. Strangeness
- Clarise Henderson, a.k.a. Charm
- "Thorny" Thorndyke
- Benjamin Bellott, a.k.a. Commander Power
- James McLain, a.k.a. Blackwatch
- The Superheavyweights
- Susan LaBelle, a.k.a. Knockout
- Red Fox II
- Miniaturian
- Coldspell
- Hi-Tec
- The Liberty Balance
- Earl Lumley, a.k.a. Lift-Off
- Gail Milgrim, a.k.a. Belle-Air
- The Flaming Follicle
- Mach Master
- Magna-Woman
- Captain Gallant
- The Eternal Flame
- Lea Anne Lyster, a.k.a. Kittycat
- Jeff Bailey, a.k.a. Big Money II
- Larry the delivery guy
- Grondar
- Crittorr
- Kkrapp
- Wang Dang Doodle
- Claire Grant, a.k.a. American Pi
- Zhang
- Stevie Parsons
- Michael O'Brien, a.k.a. Big Money
Stories
| Issue | Titles | Major Character(s) | Cover Artist(s) | Penciller(s) | Inker(s) | Colorist(s) | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
A: "Beyond the Speed of Life" B: "Head Games" |
A: Ed Franklin, Speeding Bullet B: Mental Midget, Man-Witch |
J. Scott Campbell J. Scott Campbell Jeffrey Scott Campbell is an American comic book artist. He has had several pen names, including "Jeff Scott", but is best known as J. Scott Campbell... , Matt Milla Rodolfo Migliari Rodolfo Migliari Rodolfo Migliari is an Argentine comic book cover artist and painter. He is best known for creating the painted portrait of the Justice Society of America that appears in the Smallville episode Absolute Justice... 1 |
A: Dan Jurgens Dan Jurgens Dan Jurgens is an American comic book writer and artist. He is best known for creating the superhero Booster Gold, and for his lengthy runs on the Superman titles Adventures of Superman and Superman , particularly during The Death of Superman storyline... B: Michael Avon Oeming Michael Avon Oeming Michael Avon Oeming is an American comic book creator, both as an artist and writer. He is known for using a stark art style to tell stories with sophisticated and mature subject matter.-Career:... |
A: Al Vey B: Michael Avon Oeming |
A: Guy Major B: Peter Pantazis |
|
| |
A: "Roles" B: "Elsewhere" |
A: Jenny Saunders, "John" B: Analog Kid, Digital Man |
Rodolfo Migliari Rodolfo Migliari is an Argentine comic book cover artist and painter. He is best known for creating the painted portrait of the Justice Society of America that appears in the Smallville episode Absolute Justice... |
A: Ethan Van Sciver Ethan Van Sciver Ethan Daniel Van Sciver is an American comic book artist, best known for illustrating a number of titles including Green Lantern, Superman/Batman, New X-Men, and The Flash: Rebirth... B: Dan Jurgens |
A: Jon Holdredge, Roland Paris, Norm Rapmund Norm Rapmund -Image Comics and Marvel:Rapmund's career began with Image Comics' Brigade #1 in 1992. He worked on the series concurrently with Image titles Bloodstrike and Team Youngblood until 1994, when he moved from Brigade to Supreme... B: Al Vey |
A: Brian Buccellato B: Guy Major |
|
| |
A: "Sanctuary" B: "Heir of Truth" |
A: Deb-U-Ton, The Acidic Jew B: Strangeness, Charm |
Rodolfo Migliari Rodolfo Migliari is an Argentine comic book cover artist and painter. He is best known for creating the painted portrait of the Justice Society of America that appears in the Smallville episode Absolute Justice... |
A: Chris Bachalo Chris Bachalo Chris Bachalo is an American comic book illustrator known for his quirky, cartoon-like style. He became well known for stints on DC Comics’ Shade, the Changing Man and Neil Gaiman's two Death series... B: Dan Jurgens |
A: Aaron Sowd Aaron Sowd Aaron Sowd is an American comic book creator, writer and artist. Sowd began his comic book career as an inker for Top Cow, Marvel Comics, and DC Comics. He currently works as an illustrator and storyboard artist.-Biography:... , Tom Bar-Or B: Al Vey |
A: Brian Buccellato, Sonia Oback Sonia Oback Sonia Oback is an American comic book colorist who is best known for her work on the Top Cow Productions series Witchblade.-Career:Oback started on Witchblade with issue #75, in a back-up story assisting Brian Buccellato, after having won a Top Cow Wizard Intern Contest... B: Guy Major |
|
| |
A: "Time of Their Lives" B: "Fat Chance" C: "Glory Days" |
A: Commander Power, Blackwatch B: Knockout, Red Fox II, Miniaturian, Coldspell, Hi-Tec C: Lift-Off, Belle-Air, the Flaming Follicle, Mach Master, Magna-Woman, Captain Gallant |
Rodolfo Migliari Rodolfo Migliari is an Argentine comic book cover artist and painter. He is best known for creating the painted portrait of the Justice Society of America that appears in the Smallville episode Absolute Justice... 2 |
A: Carlos Pacheco Carlos Pacheco Carlos Pacheco is a Spanish comic book artist and penciller. Pacheco was born in San Roque, Cádiz. He is best known in the United States for his work on titles such as Avengers Forever, X-Men and Green Lantern... B: Dan Jurgens C: George Pérez George Pérez George Pérez is a Puerto Rican-American writer and illustrator of comic books, known for his work on various titles, including Avengers, Teen Titans and Wonder Woman.-Biography:... |
A: Jesus Merino Jesus Merino Jesús Merino is a Spanish comic book artist, best known in the American comic industry for his collaborations with penciller Carlos Pacheco.Merino himself raised from the Línea Laberinto of Planeta-DeAgostini Spanish publisher, where he drew three mini-series: Aníbal Gris , Jaque Mate and Triada... B: Al Vey C: Mike Perkins Mike Perkins Mike Perkins is a British comic book artist known for both his inking work and full art duties on comic books such as Captain America, Ruse and Stephen King's The Stand.-Career:Mike Perkins began drawing at a very early age... |
A & B: Guy Major C: Tom Smith |
|
| |
A: "Where Monsters Dine" B: "Lovelife" |
A: Larry, Grondar, Crittorr, Kkrapp, Wang Dang Doodle B: The Eternal Flame |
Rodolfo Migliari Rodolfo Migliari is an Argentine comic book cover artist and painter. He is best known for creating the painted portrait of the Justice Society of America that appears in the Smallville episode Absolute Justice... |
A: Angel Medina Angel Medina (artist) Angel Medina is a comic book artist known for his work for various comic book companies, including Megaton Comics, First Comics, Marvel Comics, and Image Comics.-Career:... B: Dan Jurgens |
A: Jon Holdredge B: Al Vey |
A: John Starr, Beth Sotelo B: Guy Major |
|
| |
A: "This'll Be the Day" B: "Loose Ends" |
A: American Pi, Zhang B: Stevie Parsons, Michael O'Brien |
Rodolfo Migliari Rodolfo Migliari is an Argentine comic book cover artist and painter. He is best known for creating the painted portrait of the Justice Society of America that appears in the Smallville episode Absolute Justice... |
A: Sam Kieth Sam Kieth Sam Kieth is a New York Times best-selling American comic book writer and illustrator, best known as the creator of The Maxx and Zero Girl.-Comics career:... B: Dan Jurgens |
A: Sam Kieth B: Al Vey |
A & B: Guy Major | |
1 Rodolfo Migliari
Rodolfo Migliari
Rodolfo Migliari is an Argentine comic book cover artist and painter. He is best known for creating the painted portrait of the Justice Society of America that appears in the Smallville episode Absolute Justice...
made the alternate cover for Issue #1.
2 Issue #4's cover art was inspired by Edward Hopper
Edward Hopper
Edward Hopper was a prominent American realist painter and printmaker. While most popularly known for his oil paintings, he was equally proficient as a watercolorist and printmaker in etching...
's "Nighthawks
Nighthawks
Nighthawks is a 1942 painting by Edward Hopper that portrays people sitting in a downtown diner late at night. It is considered Hopper's most famous painting, as well as one of the most recognizable in American art...
" painting.
Collected Editions
The series has been collected in a trade paperbackTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
that includes:
- Cover and Pinup Gallery1
- Common Grounds Timeline
- Holey Crullers Bonus Material
- Liberty Balance Pinup by George Pérez, Mike Perkins and Tom Smith
1 Includes Issue #1's alternate cover by Rodolfo Migliari
Rodolfo Migliari
Rodolfo Migliari is an Argentine comic book cover artist and painter. He is best known for creating the painted portrait of the Justice Society of America that appears in the Smallville episode Absolute Justice...
and a pinup by James Raiz, Roland Paris and Sonia Oback depicting various superheroes battling Crittorr and Wang Dang Doodle.
External Links
- TopCow.com - Top Cow Productions, Inc. website
- TheTopCowStore.com - Top Cow Productions, Inc. store