DF Interview: Patrick Kindlon brings readers a fast-paced, sort-of sequel to ‘Frontiersman’ in new ongoing ‘Antioch’

By Byron Brewer

A king from a lost continent enters the world of man with a purpose: to stop us from killing the planet. But when he finds himself in a superhuman prison, his title is useless and his powers only matter if they help him survive!

Frontiersman creators writer Patrick Kindlon and artist Marco Ferrari pick up where that series left off with an all-new ongoing series in Antioch! Having been there at the beginning of Frontiersman, I jumped on this train quickly and chatted with scribe Patrick Kindlon.


Byron Brewer: Patrick, how does it feel to be teamed again with artist Marco Ferrari and on a direct continuation of a story began in your fan-fave book, Frontiersman?



Patrick Kindlon: Feels right. Marco and I are perfectly in sync. He's always been highly intuitive and really capable of pulling the most from any page, but I feel like he's operating on a new level with this series. I tend to judge books on how locked-in to their own rhythm a creative team is, and I give us high marks on Antioch! I know some readers don't like a cocky creator, and I get it. But I'd just be lying if I tried to downplay how strong this book is. Pick up anything superhero-related on the shelves and do a side-by-side. I'm feeling confident we'll come out on top.



Byron: For the uninitiated, can you bring us up to speed on what went on in Frontiersman. For the “new” readers, is it necessary to have read Frontiersman to enjoy Antioch?



Patrick Kindlon: Sure. So Frontiersman saw the title character lured out of retirement for what he thought would be a low-impact bit of protest against a logging company. It had been years since he did anything heroic and this felt right. But having his location known to the world brought out friends, lovers, and enemies from his past. So he's stuck, 150 feet up a tree, with what feels like the world coming to beat the snot out of him. But, as it turns out, he missed exactly that feeling!

New readers can enter Antioch without penalty. We try hard to make single issues full reading experiences, so you can be sure that any series we do can stand alone. I'd say Frontiersman is a bit more thoughtful, pulling a lot from Concrete and the Grell-era Green Arrow. While Antioch is action-heavy and big on set pieces. So pick your poison, but I think anyone who enjoys one will enjoy the other.


Byron: Tell us about this world you continue to build with Marco.



Patrick Kindlon: Ever read something or watch something and say, "I think I could do a better job"? After decades of reading superhero comics, I started to feel that way. No disrespect to anyone, but I just couldn't shake the idea that superhero books had gone in a direction that wasn't fulfilling. Maybe that's a natural byproduct of the two major purveyors of the genre being corporate-owned. It's difficult to pivot and impossible to take risks when you're 'too big to fail.' So the question became, "what would we do differently?" We're agile, don't have the baggage, and aren't weighed down by any agenda.

Marco and I decided the only course of action was to express ourselves fully and let the chips land where they may. Our books have a lot of Marco's love of manga in them, which means pages read fast and there's never a boring angle. They also tend to have a lot of my 80s comics love in the mix. So characters tend to express the themes of the book during action sequences. My favorite comics are ones where a debate is taking place by virtue of the action on the page.


Byron: Introduce us to Antioch, apparently a solicit-described “anti-hero with a chip on his broad shoulders.” Tell us what you can about his life: where’s he been, where’s he going (in a hurry!). I know there is a reference in some articles about Antioch to anime OVAs but to me #1’s main cover screams 1990s Marvel Comics (later Image).



Patrick Kindlon: Antioch calls himself the 'Son of Pompeii' which is a bit of a tease on his origins. In some ways, he's the stereotypical headstrong and dismissive royal. Believes himself uniquely qualified to solve some of the planet's problems, though not for the benefit of mankind! The balance we have to strike is just how 'anti' is this anti-hero? Will he dip into villainy? Only time will tell!

We're not afraid of 90s comparisons. When you've got muscled-up heroes punching concrete into rubble, it's inevitable! But we're borrowing more from Japan than the U.S. creators this time around. Something the 90s did well both in the east and west was reaching maximum cool with every panel and shot. We're proudly 90s in that respect!


Byron: What other important characters may be in the book we need to know about? Can you spotlight a few here? Is there a particular big-bad or behind-the-scenes group involved in this tale?



Patrick Kindlon: I love a superhero-goes-to-prison story. As a kid, I think it was the Vault in Marvel Comics. I don't know why, but the details of life inside for superhumans is just compelling as hell for me. You take a guy who could melt steel or whatever and make him harmless. What a blow to the ego! Who are you when what makes you special has been stripped from you?

Nobody did superheroes in prison better than Brubaker and Lark with their Daredevil run. I'm borrowing liberally from their smart assertion that there's the 'big bad' inside, and then there's the BIG BAD that orchestrates your miseries from afar! In Antioch, we've got the immediate dangers in the shape of other inmates, but then there's the forces that make big decisions about how your life goes…


Byron: Can you give us an overview of the story, a spoiler-free summary?



Patrick Kindlon: Antioch wages war on an oil company he blames for polluting the oceans. And he does a pretty good job of kicking their butts. But he's losing in the public eye. Everyone thinks he's a madman and a terrorist. So he allows himself to be taken to jail in the hope of making his case in the courts. But first, he's got to survive his time incarcerated. And that oil company has long arms to reach him with and deep pockets to pay others to hurt him. He's locked up with Frontiersman, a hero of his. But there's some question on if Frontiersman returns that admiration or sees Antioch as most others do. Maybe going to jail wasn't a smart move after all!



Byron: Talk about the pulse-pounding art of Marco Ferrari and what he brings to the table here.



Patrick Kindlon: Marco is a beast. I know every writer is obliged to talk up their creative partners, but I sincerely believe Marco is one of the best in comics right now. He's always looking to maximize a page's potential and he's never cutting corners. He dies on every page and it pushes me to be a better writer. The action scenes in Antioch are getting compared to Ottley and I can see how readers would pull that. It's high-impact and every punch has weight. I'm also just impressed as hell by his cartooning in this series. He's really selling characters in a way I don't see very often in superhero comics. BIG personalities brought to life.



Byron: Patrick, tell readers about any upcoming projects you have that you may be allowed to mention.



Patrick Kindlon: Maurizo Rosenzweig and I are working in the Frontiersman universe in the pages of IMAGE! 30th ANNIVERSARY ANTHOLOGY, which is currently on shelves. Fantastic cartooning in that series! Eight-page chapters that kick you in the face every time.

I haven't revealed this yet, but there's a backup in Frontiersman that I'm over the moon about. Marco and I are trying to make our comics complete works. Total value for your money. No corners cut. So we've got a fantastic artist bringing a supporting character to life, four pages at a time. More on that soon!
Al Gofa and I recently completed a Kickstarter that I'm very excited to bring to life. It's a talking animal book that borrows equally from Dashiell Hammet and Total Recall. How's that for a pitch?
I was just asked to expand on an old project and take it in an... adult... direction. I'm pretty excited about that because I think the 'mature' comics label is misunderstood by many readers. People forget how much history there is there and how influential adult comics have been on the medium. Really excited to put my mark on that genre!


Dynamic Forces would like to thank Patrick Kindlon for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions. Antioch #1 from Image Comics is slated to be on sale September 7th!



For more news and up-to-date announcements, join us here at Dynamic Forces, www.dynamicforces.com/htmlfiles/, “LIKE” us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/dynamicforcesinc, and follow us on Twitter, www.twitter.com/dynamicforces.

Though we have yet to see season two of the Percy Jackson series, season three is adding Kate McKinnon, known for her energetic performances and comedic brilliance on “Saturday Night Live,” as the goddess Aphrodite. McKinnon brings her unique charm and wit to the role, promising an exciting new take on the goddess of love and beauty. Aphrodite is one of the most famous figures from Greek mythology. She is the goddess of love, beauty, desire, and passion. Ancient Greeks believed Aphrodite had the power to inspire love and attraction in gods and mortals alike. According to myth, she was born from the sea foam and emerged fully grown, captivating all who saw her. Aphrodite’s stories often involve her relationships with gods like Ares and mortal heroes, and she played a key role in the legendary events leading up to the Trojan War, most notably by awarding the golden apple to Paris. With Kate McKinnon stepping into the role, viewers can expect a fresh, humorous, and dynamic portrayal of Aphrodite. Besides her time on SNL, McKinnon has been in various movies including the 2016 reboot of Ghostbusters and the 2023 mega-hit Barbie. 

In an interesting turn of events, someone posted an image of the wrap gift for the upcoming Lanterns series, showing a baseball hat with the Green Lantern symbol and in the center of that symbol, a series of concentric circles. That person then commented that the modified logo could be indicating an involvement of The Centre, the main antagonist in Darwyn Cooke’s celebrated DC: The New Frontier series. That post was then removed by Warner Bros… In completely unrelated coincidence, have you read The New Frontier? Let me tell you about The Centre, a metaphysical, almost Lovecraftian presence, embodying existential dread and posing a challenge unlike any other faced by the world’s greatest superheroes. The Centre made its debut in "DC: The New Frontier" (2004), a miniseries that bridges the gap between the Golden Age and Silver Age of superheroes. In this alternate history, The Centre is portrayed as an ancient, primordial being that predates humanity itself. It is described as the very source of life on Earth, a sentient landmass that witnessed the rise and fall of prehistoric creatures and eventually grew to despise humanity, whom it perceives as a threat to the planet’s balance. The Centre is not a conventional villain. It is a massive, floating island with psychic and reality-altering abilities. Its consciousness spans across its entire form, making it nearly impossible to attack or reason with in any traditional sense. The Centre’s powers include: <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Telepathy: The Centre can communicate with and manipulate the minds of others, sending visions, inducing madness, or telepathically broadcasting its intentions. <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Physical Invulnerability: Its immense size and composition make it resistant to most forms of attack, even those from the world’s strongest superheroes. <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Creation of Monsters: The Centre spawns various mutated and monstrous creatures to defend itself and attack humanity. <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Levitation and Flight: It can float above the Earth, moving with intention and purpose. In "DC: The New Frontier," The Centre’s appearance catalyzes the unification of the DC universe’s heroes, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and The Flash. Realizing that The Centre’s power is too great for any single hero to face alone, they join forces, combining their unique abilities and intellects in a coordinated assault. This is basically the precursor for the Justice League and would be an interesting story to loosely adapt if you were, say, building a new cohesive universe. 

Rian Johnson, the acclaimed writer-director behind the “Knives Out” franchise, has made headlines with his latest entry, “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.” Johnson has openly described this third film as the closest the series has come to emulating the classic structure of an Agatha Christie novel—a deliberate shift from the subversive approaches of “Knives Out” and “Glass Onion.” At the Deadline Contenders London event, Johnson explained that “Wake Up Dead Man” adopts a “more traditional murder mystery structure,” echoing the formula Christie perfected. In his words: “This is how most Agatha Christie books work, where in the first act you meet all the suspects, you meet the protagonist, who’s not the detective. Then the murder happens, and the detective shows up.” This marks a departure from the previous films, which played with audience expectations—solving the murder early in “Knives Out,” and presenting a deceptively simple case in “Glass Onion.” In “Wake Up Dead Man,” Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc returns to tackle a darker, more gothic mystery, set in a remote stone church and featuring religious intrigue. The film’s protagonist, played by Josh O’Connor, is a priest who becomes Blanc’s sidekick, further grounding the story in classic whodunnit territory. Johnson also cited inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe, aiming for a “grounded, gothic tone” that predates Christie’s work. With the release of “Wake Up Dead Man,” Johnson completes his two-film deal with Netflix. So, what’s next? Johnson has confirmed that he will be taking a break from the “Knives Out” series to focus on an original project. “I’m writing right now, [but] it’s not one of these [Knives Out] films. It’s just something completely different, an original thing. I actually feel very energized after making this one [Wake Up Dead Man], but this is three in a row. It’s probably healthy to see other people.” He hasn’t revealed details about this new project or whether it will be with Netflix, but he’s made it clear that he wants to explore a different genre. Johnson’s creative philosophy is to “empty the well and then start from scratch,” ensuring each new film is a fresh challenge. Despite the break, Johnson remains enthusiastic about returning to the world of Benoit Blanc. He’s stated that as long as Daniel Craig is interested and audiences are engaged, he’d be happy to keep making “Knives Out” mysteries for life. Producer Ram Bergman echoed this, saying future installments are possible, but for now, the focus is on Johnson’s original script.

The Season 2 finale of Peacemaker has left fans with mixed feelings and a lot of speculation for the future. Known for its irreverent humor, brutal action, and surprising depth, the closing episode focused more on wrapping up emotional drama but also planted significant seeds for the future of the DC Universe (DCU). This was done through the introduction of Checkmate and Salvation, signaling the long-term direction for the first phase of the new universe. Checkmate, for those unfamiliar with DC Comics lore, is a covert intelligence agency known for operating in the shadows, often handling threats that are too dangerous or politically sensitive for public superhero teams. They first appeared in Action Comics #598, created by Paul Kupperberg and Steve Erwin. While in the comics, the organization is created by Amanda Waller, in the HBO Max series, it is founded by Amanda’s daughter, Leota Adebayo and the rest of the 11th Street Kids using the drug money that Vigilante had been saving. Their arrival marks a significant turning point, suggesting that future seasons—and perhaps other DCU projects—will explore the complex world of espionage, betrayal, and secret wars within the superhero community. Salvation in the comics is a prison planet where Waller and Rick Flag started sending metahumans too powerful to be held in regular prisons. This was introduced in the Salvation Run comic series, originally pitched by George R.R. Martin, written by Bill Willingham and Lilah Sturges and drawn by a variety of artists including Sean Chen and Joe Bennet. This lead into the Final Crisis event which had Darkseid coming to Earth. In the series, Salvation is an alternate reality discovered through the Quantum Unfolding Chamber that appears to be Earth-like and ideal for Flag and Lex Luthor’s plan for a place to send Metahumans. The season ends with Chris Smith aka Peacemaker, forced into Salvation by Argus and left to fend for himself. These introductions show that James Gunn overall plan for Gods & Monsters, the first phase of the DCU, is going to loosely adapt Salvation Run and may lead us to a version of Final Crisis. Even though there is a cliffhanger ending, Gunn has said that there are no immediate plans for a third season of Peacemaker, but he’s promised that these characters will be seen again soon, and the existence of Salvation will playout over all of the DCU including the upcoming Lanterns series and the 2027 film Man of Tomorrow. Reaction to the finale has been mixed with some fans disappointed with the lack of action nor any big cameo that many had speculated. Other fans though appreciated the emotional catharsis achieved by the characters and the new direction which included a few members of Argus, specifically Sasha Bordeaux, Langston Feury and Judo Master, becoming members of Checkmate along with the 11th Street Kids. Where and how we’ll see this story continue has yet to be announced.    

One of the more controversial things in this summer’s Superman film was the appearance of Kara Zor-El aka Supegirl played by House of the Dragon’s Milly Alcock. The character has been on screen before, first played by Helen Slater and then Melissa Benoist and in both interpretations the character came across in a lot of ways as a female version of her cousin, Kal-El. This didn’t make sense to writer Ana Nogueira who DC Studios asked to take a swing at writing a new feature for. Nogueira, a former actor turned writer, told Variety, “She watched Krypton completely be destroyed. I was always like, ‘I can’t get my head around the version of the character that is so sunny.’” And then she came across Tom King’s Woman of Tomorrow series with a rougher, grittier, edgier and funnier Supergirl. “When I read it, I was like, ‘There she is,’” Nogueira says. Fueled by this different take on the character, Nogueira crafted a script that not only won over DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, but earned her two more assignments, Wonder Woman and Teen Titans. Supergirl, directed by Craig Gillespie, will hit theaters in June of 2026. 

While appearing at the Hamptons International Film Festival to promote her new film Eternity, Elizabeth Olsen was asked about a possible return to the MCU. “It is something that I love, and it’s something I always want to return to. I think the thing that’s been so special about the last five years is I’ve gotten to do so much with the character that I never thought I would. There are still character through lines that have happened in the comics that I’d love to do that I think fans also want to. I mean, these movies aren’t for critics, these movies are for fans.” Olsen first appeared as Wanda Maximoff in a brief cameo at the end of Captain America: The Winter Soldier in 2014 and reprised the roles in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: End Game (2019) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) as well as lead a spinoff Disney+ series, WandaVision in 2021. And while her character has died, that doesn’t necessarily mean the end when it comes to comic=book-based movies. And while she’s not been announced for any new Scarlet Witch projects, she remains very positive towards the whole thing. “It’s really fruitful, and the stories have only gotten better for me, my character. I really enjoyed it. Some people have ongoing television series that they get to return to. Very few, I feel like, get to be a part of franchises that, I know we might culturally get a little bit exhausted by, but there is something about them that becomes very familial. There’s nothing else really like it, and I don’t know that I’ll have [that] again unless it’s for an ongoing show. I do like that kind of consistency. It feels good. I mean, job security feels nice — I think we can all agree on that.” 

If you're a fan of Peacemaker, you may have recognized the familiar face of Keith Smith as David Denman, a seasoned actor whose career spans television, film, and even stage performances. Denman is perhaps best known for his role as Roy Anderson on the beloved NBC sitcom The Office. He played Pam Beesly’s fiancé during the first few seasons, making frequent appearances and creating memorable moments in the show's iconic Scranton branch setting. Where I first saw him was as Brian Murphy, one of the football players in the sports comedy The Replacements, starring alongside Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman. His portrayal of the tough yet endearing deaf tight end made him a standout in this memorable ensemble cast. He also starred alongside John Krasinski in 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, portraying a member of the security team. Denman worked with James Gunn previously in the horror film Brightburn, playing the adoptive father to the film’s central character. Denman’s television career includes appearances in shows like Parenthood, Outcast, and Mare of Easttown. His ability to slip into a variety of characters has made him a familiar face to audiences across genres, from comedy and drama to horror and action. In addition to his main roles, Denman has also shown up in guest spots on popular series such as Grey’s Anatomy, True Detective, and The X-Files. His versatility and range have made him a reliable presence in Hollywood for over two decades. So, if you’re watching Peacemaker and wondering where you’ve seen David Denman before, chances are it’s been in one of these standout projects. His extensive resume ensures that he’s a familiar face to fans of both television and film. 

After several seasons of quirky humor and heartwarming family moments, Fox has officially canceled the animated series The Great North. The series premiered on Fox as part of the network’s Sunday night animation lineup, joining the ranks of beloved shows like Bob’s Burgers and The Simpsons. Created by Wendy Molyneux, Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin, and Minty Lewis, the show focused on the Tobin family living in the wilds of Alaska. Its cast featured the voices of Nick Offerman, Jenny Slate, Will Forte, and Dulcé Sloan, who brought the unique and eccentric characters to life. Fox did not cite a specific reason for the cancellation. Despite positive critical reception and a loyal audience, The Great North struggled to achieve the same mainstream popularity as some of its animated peers. This likely contributed to the network’s decision to end the series. 

If you are enjoying season 2 of Peacemaker and are wondering if there is going to be a season 3… well, sort of. According to writer/director James Gunn, the eight and final episode of the season will set up what’s next, “Some of these characters will continue, but also, it’s not exactly Peacemaker 3. I’m not ruling it out. You’ll see (episode) 8 and maybe you’ll find out a little bit more.” There is speculation that this might be tied into the planned Amanda Waller series with Viola Davis, which has been progressing slowly since the initial Gunn/Peter Safran announcement. One interesting thing, it seems this week’s scene between Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) and Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) had been in the works even before the Earth X plot for the season had been settled on. “When I pitched to DCU what the basic stories were throughout the TV shows and movies, this was a part of that.” The Belle Reve scene and the Justice Gang auditions were filmed on consecutive Saturdays during the filming of the Superman movie. There is also one more Superman character crossover to come in episode 8.  

Tom Holland is on the mend after an incident on the set of Spider-Man: Brand New Day which left the actor with a concussion and a week off as production halted. Holland was well enough to attend a recent gala for his parents’ nonprofit The Brothers Trust alongside his fiancée and co-star Zendaya. He posted to Instagram, “What a night! Another huge success. The Brothers Trust means more to me than I could possibly say and I have to say a huge thank you to my Mum and her wonderful friends for putting on another incredible night. Raising money for fantastic causes and having fun doing it! I’m sorry I had to leave early but I’m feeling better and on the mend. A huge thanks to my Dad for taking over after I left. The show got considerably funnier.” Holland received the mild concussion during a stunt gone wrong and was taken to the hospital immediately but not admitted. The film is being shot in Scotland and even with the delay should still be able to make it’s July 31st, 2026 release date.