By chris
Artist Gary Frank and writer Geoff Johns are taking their first creator-owned comic book series to Image Comics. Frank and Johns were the creative team behind some of DC Comic’s most successful projects, including Doomsday Clock. Leaving the DC Universe to bring their creator-owned project to Image Comics came as a surprise to many fans, but expectations are high since both men rank at the top of their fields in the comic industry.
Series Premise
The post-apocalyptic series, set outside Las Vegas, Nevada, shows a slice of the world years after a nuclear event called the Unknown War almost destroyed the earth. The doomsday world is a dangerous wasteland, but it is also unique and colorful in its own way. In the midst of the radioactive chaos left behind, a cast of bizarre characters, scavengers, and outlaws battle for power.
The series centers around a man named Geiger who is trying to protect his family while they are locked inside a fallout shelter. He was altered from the nuclear attack and cannot get into the shelter, so he remains stuck outside in the virtually uninhabitable radioactive wasteland. While he waits to reunite with his family someday, Geiger’s only goal is to protect his family from outlaws who want to break into the shelter.
Throughout the series, Geiger has two personas. On the outside, he is a powerful monster filled with radioactive energy. The energy gives him special powers and allows him to live outside without a protective suit.
However, it’s his other persona that allows readers to connect with him. Underneath the exterior shell of a monster is a father and husband who is willing to protect his family at all costs. This goal of guarding his family is the only thing that matters to Geiger. As a result, the rest of his life has become a series of repetitious actions aimed at surviving so that he can continue to watch out for his family. Carrying this responsibility for years has clearly been difficult, and you can see how this struggle weighs him down.
At its core, the show focuses on the heart and emotional spirit of the main character. Readers are left wondering where Geiger’s true power comes from. Does it come from the radioactive energy that he has been exposed to in this post-apocalyptic world, or does it stem from his immense love for his family and his desire to protect them?
Inside Scoop
According to the creators, the series was influenced by two genres of films. Specifically, Westerns such as True Grit, as well as early Science Fiction films shows like Mad Max and The Warriors, were both used as inspiration.
Johns does a fantastic job with the storyline and brings a real sense of humanity to Geiger in this post-apocalyptic world. Frank is credited with bringing more emotional connection to the story with his artwork. Readers can see the pain, struggle, and fortitude on Geiger’s face, and as a result, you see his humanity and feel a connection.
Geiger promises to be one of the most exciting and anticipated new series of the year. With so many successful collaborations behind them, Johns and Frank are sure to impress with this new creator-owned project.
