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.

Netflix has just unveiled the trailer for Season 4 of The Witcher and set to premiere date to be October 30, 2025. The most significant change this season is the introduction of Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia, taking over the role from Henry Cavill. The trailer gives us our first glimpse of Hemsworth in action, showcasing his portrayal of the iconic monster hunter. In the teaser, Geralt is seen battling a wraith, a classic monster from the Witcher universe, using his usual mix of swordplay and magic. The storyline for Season 4 picks up after the events of Season 3, with Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri separated by a raging war and countless enemies. As their paths diverge, they encounter unexpected allies and face new challenges that test their limits. The official synopsis hints at divided paths and the discovery of new allies, setting the stage for an epic journey. In addition to Hemsworth, the cast includes returning favorites such as Anya Chalotra as Yennefer, Freya Allan as Ciri, and Joey Batey as Jaskier. New cast members include Laurence Fishburne as Regis, a mysterious and world-wise barber-surgeon who joins Geralt on his journey. The fourth season will consist of eight episodes, all dropping on October 30. This season is also notable for being the penultimate chapter of the series, with the fifth and final season already in production. 

Conventions can be great places to get quotes on the latest movies and shows in production. Zanda Gubecka of FeatureFirst.Net used their time at the OZ Comic Con in Brisbane this year to chat up actor Con O’Neill about all things DC. While Con is a distinguished actor with a long list of credits, the two roles he may be best known for right now are Chief Mackenzie Bock in the Batman Epic Crime Saga and as Izzy Hands on Our Flag Means Death. He first spoke about David Jenkins, the creator of OFMD and who is attached as the showrunner for the upcoming Booster Gold series, praising the writer as a kind man and a creative who the world so desperately needs. O’Neill said Jenkins is the type of guy that likes writing and developing nuanced stories that understand the human experience by promoting positivity. Similar to how the actor saw the newest Superman movie, praising it for its portrayal of the titular character and the promotion of kindness. He also had a message to those who call out that portrayal as wrong, saying “There are people who think Superman shouldn’t be kind like that. F*** those people.” Then moving over to his role in The Batman and The Penguin and where he’d like to see Bock go, O’Neill joked, “I love Bock. Matt Reeves and Matt Reeves’ mind is unquestionably one of the most extraordinary places I’ve been invited into. So wherever I thought or think Bock should be, it isn’t going to be what Bock will be. So I’d just go by the genius of Matt Reeves. I mean… the man is a fucking genius. If you haven’t seen Matt Reeves’ other films… Watch them! They’re fucking awesome.” 

Eric Kripke, the creator and showrunner of the hit series "The Boys," recently shared an exciting update about the highly anticipated spin-off, "The Boys: Mexico." In a recent interview, Kripke revealed that the pilot for "The Boys: Mexico" is currently in development and described the project as "super fun" with a "totally different tone" compared to the original series. Kripke emphasized that while the new spin-off will exist within the same universe as "The Boys," it will offer a unique perspective and style. He praised the involvement of executive producers Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna, noting that they are deeply engaged with the project. The script for the pilot, penned by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, is reportedly "good," and Kripke expressed confidence in its potential. "The Boys: Mexico" was first announced in 2023, and the series is expected to film in Mexico, though specific plot details remain under wraps. Bernal and Luna, who are longtime friends and collaborators, may also appear in the series, albeit in smaller roles. This new spin-off is part of a broader expansion of "The Boys" universe, which includes other projects like "Gen V," "Vought Rising," and the animated series "The Boys Presents: Diabolical”. With "The Boys" preparing to wrap up its fifth and final season in 2026, "The Boys: Mexico" represents a significant step in continuing the franchise's legacy and exploring new narratives within its satirical superhero world. 

Sean Astin, the beloved actor known for his roles in "The Lord of the Rings," "Stranger Things," and "Rudy," has been elected as the new president of SAG-AFTRA, the union representing approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, program hosts, recording artists, and other entertainment and media professionals . Astin, who is the son of the late Academy Award-winning actress Patty Duke, succeeds Fran Drescher, who served as the union's president for four years . Astin's election marks a significant moment for the union, as he received an overwhelming 79% of the vote, defeating his opponent, Chuck Slavin . Michelle Hurd, known for her roles in "Ash vs. Evil Dead," "Blindspot," and "Star Trek: Picard," was elected as the union's secretary-treasurer . In his acceptance speech, Astin expressed his gratitude to the members for their support and emphasized the importance of optimism and creativity as the union navigates through challenging times . He also acknowledged the legacy of his mother, Patty Duke, who served as the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1985 to 1988 . Astin's election comes at a critical time for SAG-AFTRA, as the union prepares for upcoming contract negotiations with the major studios. The industry is facing numerous challenges, including the impact of artificial intelligence on performers' work, streaming residuals, and the increasing costs of healthcare . Astin's leadership and experience on various negotiating committees will be crucial in addressing these issues and advocating for the rights and interests of the union's members . With his extensive career in Hollywood and strong union ties, Astin is well-positioned to lead SAG-AFTRA into a future defined by confidence, progress, and fierce advocacy . His election is a testament to the trust and support he has garnered from the union's members, and his commitment to representing their interests and ensuring their voices are heard . 

The first three episodes of Peacemaker season two has led to a lot of speculation about the “Best Dimension Ever” as Chris Smith calls it and just what might be the big twist coming up later in the season. And while we are not getting into the spoiler game, we thought it would be helpful to explain what everyone is talking about.   So possibly spoilers if everyone is guessing right. Leave now if you don’t want to know.   Still here? Okay.   In DC Comics’ multiverse, few alternate Earths are as haunting and politically charged as Earth-X. First introduced in Justice League of America #107 (1973), Earth-X imagines a world where Nazi Germany won World War II, plunging the planet into a totalitarian nightmare. Earth-X is a parallel universe within DC’s Pre-Crisis Multiverse. Unlike Earth-One or Earth-Two, Earth-X is defined by its alternate historical trajectory: the Axis powers emerged victorious in WWII, and the Nazi regime continues to dominate global affairs well into the 20th century. Some of the unique things about the dimension is that there were no native superheroes originally existed on Earth-X. The planet’s defenders are immigrants from Earth-Two, led by the patriotic spirit Uncle Sam. The world is locked in a perpetual struggle between fascist control and scattered resistance movements. To combat the oppressive regime, Uncle Sam formed the Freedom Fighters, a ragtag team of heroes from other Earths who chose to stay and fight that includes: The Ray, Phantom Lady, Black Condor, Doll Man, Human Bomb, and Red Bee. Doll Man was mentioned in season one of Peacemaker. These characters came from DC’s acquisition of Quality Comics similar to how Peacemaker was part of DC’s acquisition of Charlton Comics. If this is the direction James Gunn is going in season two, and the clues so far do point in this general direction, this would not be the first time we’ve seen Earth X represented in live action. The Arrowverse did a crossover event called Crisis on Earth-X which introduced us to variations of characters like Green Arrow and Supergirl and brought the Ray to television screens. While this remains to be just speculation, the reality that Peacemaker is visiting does have a few oddities to it that are leading fans to this idea including how Chris along with his dad and brother are revered when Auggie was an over-the-top racist in the main DCU. And then if you look closely when Chris is in that reality you’ll notice an extreme lack of diversity among the background actors where Gunn is known for the opposite in his other projects. While this may not end up being Earth-X, it does feel like Gunn is setting up a twist that will pull the rug out from under Peacemaker.     

The first night of the 2025 Creative Arts Emmy Awards lit up the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles with a celebration of television’s behind-the-scenes brilliance and standout guest performances. While the Primetime Emmys are still a week away, this precursor event honored the artisans, designers, and guest stars who bring depth and texture to the small screen. Here’s a breakdown of the biggest winners and standout moments from Night One: 1. The Studio (Apple TV+) – 9 Wins Apple TV+’s satirical drama The Studio dominated the evening, taking home nine trophies. Among its accolades: <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Outstanding Contemporary Costumes for a Series <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Guest Actor in a Drama Series – Bryan Cranston 2. The Penguin (HBO) – 8 Wins HBO’s gritty crime drama The Penguin followed closely with eight awards, showcasing its technical prowess: <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Prosthetic Makeup <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Contemporary Costumes for a Limited Series <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Hairstyling <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Sound Editing and Mixing <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Special Visual Effects 3. Severance (Apple TV+) – 6 Wins The psychological thriller Severance continued its critical streak: <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Production Design <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Guest Actress in a Drama Series – Merritt Wever 4. Arcane (Netflix) – 4 Wins The animated series Arcane impressed with: <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Outstanding Animated Program <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Character Voice-Over Performance – Julie Andrews <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Background and Color Design Notable Guest Acting Wins <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Bryan Cranston (The Studio) – Guest Actor in a Drama Series <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Julianne Nicholson (Hacks) – Guest Actress in a Comedy Series <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Shawn Hatosy (The Pitt) – Guest Actor in a Comedy Series <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Merritt Wever (Severance) – Guest Actress in a Drama Series Craft and Design Highlights <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Bridgerton dazzled with a win for Outstanding Period Costumes <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->House of the Dragon earned recognition for Fantasy/Sci-Fi Makeup <!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Andor took home awards for Costumes, Production Design, and Picture Editing With Night Two set to continue the celebration of television’s finest in writing, casting, and editing, the Creative Arts Emmys have already set a high bar. And with The Studio, The Penguin, and Severance leading the charge, the Primetime Emmys promise a thrilling showdown.  

The DC Universe is expanding rapidly, and with James Gunn’s announcement of Man of Tomorrow—the next chapter in the Superman Saga—fans are dissecting every social media breadcrumb for clues. One of the most intriguing reactions came from Lanterns star Aaron Pierre, whose subtle comment has ignited speculation that his portrayal of John Stewart may leap from HBO Max to the big screen. James Gunn revealed Man of Tomorrow will hit theaters on July 9, 2027, featuring returning stars David Corenswet as Superman and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. Though Gunn clarified it’s not a direct sequel to Superman (2025), the film is expected to be a major ensemble piece, continuing the “Superman Saga” with a broader Justice Gang presence. Aaron Pierre, who is set to debut as John Stewart in HBO’s Lanterns next year, responded to Gunn’s Instagram post with a simple but tantalizing comment: “Yes, indeed!”. While brief, the timing and context of the comment—especially as a reply to Hawkgirl actress Isabela Merced’s “See you soon”—suggest Pierre may be hinting at his involvement in Man of Tomorrow. Fans immediately latched onto the exchange, interpreting it as a soft confirmation that Stewart will join Superman, Hawkgirl, and potentially other Justice Gang members in the upcoming film. Given Stewart’s prominence in DC lore and his longstanding partnership with Superman in animated series like Justice League Unlimited, the move would make narrative sense. Pierre’s portrayal of John Stewart is already generating buzz ahead of Lanterns, where he stars opposite Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan and Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner. Stewart is expected to be the emotional anchor of the series, and many believe he’s being positioned as the DCU’s flagship Green Lantern. Pierre’s comment joins a wave of social media teases from other cast members. Isabela Merced, Rachel Brosnahan, and Skyler Gisondo have all hinted at their return, while rumors swirl around appearances by Supergirl, Peacemaker, and even Lobo. Though Gunn has yet to confirm Pierre’s involvement, the director has stated that Man of Tomorrow will feature “a group of characters we’ve already met”—a description that fits Stewart perfectly. 

Marvel fans have been buzzing for weeks, dissecting every cryptic post and offhand comment from Ryan Reynolds in hopes of confirming Deadpool’s involvement in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Now, Reynolds has finally addressed the rumors—and in true Deadpool fashion, he’s left us with more questions than answers. It all began with a seemingly innocuous Instagram post: Reynolds shared an image of the Avengers logo spray-painted with a red “A,” igniting speculation that Deadpool would join the MCU’s biggest ensemble since Endgame. The timing was suspicious—just weeks after Marvel unveiled the Doomsday cast, notably without Reynolds’ name. During a press tour for his new documentary John Candy: I Like Me, Reynolds was asked point-blank about his involvement in Avengers: Doomsday. His response? “There’s four [John Candy Easter eggs] that I’ve got in there. Of course, I’ve written them all at home in my PJs, and nobody’s seen ’em nor have I stepped foot on set. But, yeah, that’s about as far as I’ll go on that one.” It’s a classic Reynolds dodge—playful, vague, and just enough to keep fans guessing. In a separate interview, Reynolds clarified that the red “A” logo wasn’t a tease for Doomsday, but rather a variant flag design from Deadpool & Wolverine that didn’t make the final cut. He explained: “That was just a flag. I came across it and thought, ‘Oh yeah, I loved that flag. The red and black vibe.’” Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has hinted that not all cast members have been revealed, leaving the door wide open for Reynolds to make a surprise appearance. While Reynolds remains coy, insiders suggest that even if Deadpool doesn’t appear in Doomsday, he may play a pivotal role in Avengers: Secret Wars, the Phase 6 finale. With a solo X-Men project reportedly in development, the Merc with a Mouth isn’t going anywhere. 

It’s a weird weekend at the box office as Weapons returns to first place on its fourth weekend with $12.4M for the four-day stretch. A re-release of the classic Jaws takes second with $9.8M while the two new releases Caught Stealing ($9.5M) and Roses ($8M) take third and fifth respectively. Also on it’s fourth weekend, Freakier Friday pulls in $8.3M for fourth place. The big summer superhero films are hanging on with the Fantastic Four making $6M for seventh place and Superman swooping up another $3.28M even though it has already been released on home consumption. Not quite breaking into the top ten is the Toxic Avengers finally getting a theatrical release and earning $2.2 million over the holiday weekend. 

With the new season of Peacemaker underway, DC fans have been wondering about the announced series set to focus on Amanda Waller, former head of ARGUS and Taskforce X. While on-line scoopers have called the series dead, co-head of DC Studios, James Gunn says that Viola Davis lead series is still in the works. The writer/director of Superman told People, “We’re working on it, so we’ll see what happens. Some things have moved faster than others. Waller’s not been the fastest. But I can’t wait to see Viola put on their Waller pants again.” The series was originally planned to run prior to the second season of Peacemaker, but Gunn has admitted that Waller has been a difficult series to crack and that he wrote the second season of Peacemaker quickly, which is why it came out first. The most recent update had Christal Henry from Watchmen and Doom Patrol creator Jeremy Carver on board to write the series, but those announcements were made a few years back.