DF Interview: Joe Kelly yanks on readers’ heartstrings in ‘Immortal Sergeant’

By Byron Brewer

On the eve of his unwelcome retirement, Jim Sargent (aka "Sarge"), a grizzled, old-school detective, catches a break on a murder case that's haunted him for decades. Unfortunately, Sarge must drag his anxiety-riddled adult son, Michael, along for the ride or risk losing the lead forever. Can this dysfunctional duo overcome their own hang-ups, blind spots, and secrets to catch a killer?

Award-winning I Kill Giants storytellers Joe Kelly (Deadpool, Savage Spider-Man) and Ken Niimura (Eisner Award-winning Umami) return to yank on your heartstrings with Immortal Sergeant! I had the honor of sitting down with legendary scribe Joe Kelly to see what this latest limited series is all about.


Byron Brewer: Joe, before we get to Immortal Sergeant proper, how does it feel to be reunited with your I Kill Giants artist, Ken Niimura? How did this reteaming come about and why did it take 15 years?



Joe Kelly: It is always a pleasure working with Ken – and luckily for me we have worked together since I Kill Giants was published! We’ve done some Marvel work as well as a BlackJack story in Japan, not to mention our thrilling cameos in the I Kill Giants film. (Blink and you’ll miss us!) Despite these smaller pieces, it’s amazing to be back in a long form story like Sarge.

Ken and I have always wanted to do more graphic novels together and plan to do more post-Immortal Sergeant. But the best laid plans of mice and comics professionals often go awry. Sometimes it’s scheduling, sometimes it’s financial issues – there are a ton of things that can get in the way of moving forward on a project.
I will take the lion’s share of the blame this time, though, as Ken is a machine who’s always working and it took me a long time to find the words for Sarge. I knew that this was my next book with him, but it was a challenge to write.


Byron: I understand this story is very personal for you. What can you tell readers about the inspiration for this new limited series?



Joe Kelly: To put it bluntly, Immortal Sergeant is almost entirely inspired by my father and our relationship. That’s what made this one a challenge to write, even though it had been a decade since my father’s passing that I finally started the script.

My dad was a complicated figure in my life, as many fathers are. Even though we had a good relationship, especially in the latter years of his life, there were some rocky parts. I loved him and miss him, but growing up was tough. We didn’t exactly gel. I learned some family secrets in my teens that explained a lot, but there is a big difference between understanding a thing in your mind as opposed to in your heart.
So Immortal Sergeant was a way to process a lot of that, but it took time. Even the title of the book came from him – It was his email address, though he spelled “Immortal” incorrectly, which was kind of perfect.


Byron: Tell us a little about the world, the canvas Ken and you are building in this book.



Joe Kelly: The story takes place now, on a road trip that begins in suburban Long Island, New York and ends in suburban Atlanta, Georgia. As usual, Ken went to great lengths to research the route our father and son would take and does a beautiful job painting a portrait of this span of the East Coast.

It's a world of cops, criminals, and the relationships between them and their families. It’s a very human story, again, challenging to write because of the times we live in, but Ken and I went through great pains with our editor, Joe Illidge, to make sure we were telling a layered story that touches on many societal issues while keeping everyone’s humanity in sight.


Byron: Introduce readers to Jim Sargent aka Sarge. Give us your take on this character.



Joe Kelly: Sarge is a pain in the ass. He’s a career cop who has stayed on the force well beyond the time any sane person would. The sort of guy who tells stories about crime scenes at dinner in front of his kid/grandchildren because he thinks that’s a normal thing to do. He’s a detective with no aspirations other than putting “bad guys” in jail. The world is pretty black and white for him, which is his biggest flaw. Nuance isn’t his thing. Sarge doesn’t do subtle.

That said, even though it’s hidden away behind layers of sarcasm, gruffness, and emotional armor, Sarge does have a heart. Trying to find it is a huge part of his story.
As he relates to my Dad, some of Sarge’s character is plucked right from reality. The rest is the distilled, espresso version of who my dad might have been. My father was a policeman in Nassau County, and while he never had to draw his gun he saw a lot of pain and inhumanity. It affected him in many ways, the least of which was an anger issue that took a long time to fade. He was also incredibly fearful and raised me to be “aware of my surroundings” which was code for “bad sh*t is going to happen wherever you are, so be ready.”
And yes, he did tell us tales of murders over dinner when we were young.


Byron: Without spoilers, clue us into the relationship between Sarge and his son Michael. What else can you tell us about the Sargent offspring?



Joe Kelly: So if Sarge is a dramatized version of my dad, Michael is a dramatized version of me – actually it’s me and Ken as we both put a lot of ourselves into the book. (Daddy issues abound!) Michael’s creative mind is a breeding ground for anxiety, especially as a kid of a cop who taught him that there was danger around every corner. So he’s afraid of the world at large, afraid of his father…

And now he’s Sarge’s “partner” on a murder investigation. Perfect storm of hell for that poor guy.


Byron: Can you give us an overall summary of Immortal Sergeant, of the new mini readers will be picking up come the new year?



Joe Kelly: When Michael and his family visit Sarge on the eve of his reluctant retirement from the police force, Sarge gets a break on a decades old cold case. Sarge must make a split-second decision to follow his lead or let the case that’s haunted him for years remain unclosed. So Sarge follows the trail of a killer with his maladjusted, confrontation averse, anxiety riddled adult son from Long Island to Atlanta where truths are told, secrets are exposed, and their relationship is put to the ultimate test.



Byron: Talk more on the awesome art of Ken Niimura, what he brings to the table here.



Joe Kelly: It’s hard to compliment Ken without embarrassing him – he’s a humble master of his craft. Ken is an exceptional storyteller and character designer and graphic designer and a writer – he can do it all! I am lucky that he doesn’t have a huge ego and allows me to drop into his life from time to time and write for him, because anything he touches, he just makes better.

One of the things I love most about Ken’s work is the magical way he can keep a light, open style with cartoony elements while delivering stories with emotional heft and punch. Very few people can ride that line, but Ken is always pushing his art in subtle ways to convey more emotion and subtext with fewer lines – he’s a true wizard.
And for Sarge, he had to learn to love drawing cars, because Sarge’s ride – The Beast – is a character in its own right. Sometimes I think Ken believes I write these things just to torture him, but I like to think I’m helping him evolve. (smiles)


Byron: Joe, I know your talent covers multiple media. So tell readers what you can about projects involving you coming up, inside or outside comics.



Joe Kelly: Ken and I are already talking about the next book, since I have not made him sick of me yet. As I continue my run as luckiest guy in comics, I have a two-issue arc on Amazing Spider-Man happening at the top of the year, illustrated by Terry Dodson. It’s the first time we’ve ever worked together and I’m pumped – also Spidey is my fave. In a completely different corner of my brain, there’s kids animation! Sonic:Prime airs on Netflix in December, courtesy of Man of Action and Wildbrain. We have been working on that for a long time, so I’m excited for it to finally be out in the world. There’s plenty of other work that I hope will be announceable soon, but you know the NDA game. And lastly, even though I don’t do it as often as I would like to, I continue to post videos on YouTube about creativity, writing, and comics on my channel @ThatJoeKelly.



Dynamic Forces would like to thank Joe Kelly for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions. Immortal Sergeant #1 from Image Comics is slated to be on sale January 18th, 2023!



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.

Jennifer Lopez is the savior of the future in the Brad Peyton-directed sci-fi Netflix film, Atlas–and a full trailer has dropped for the film. Written by Leo Sardarian and Aron Eli Coleite, Lopez stars alongside Sterling K. Brown, Simu Liu, Gregory James Cohan, Abraham Popoola, Lana Parrilla, and Mark Strong. The film follows Atlas Shepherd (Lopez), a brilliant but misanthropic data analyst with a deep distrust of artificial intelligence, joins a mission to capture a renegade robot with whom she shares a mysterious past. But when plans go awry, her only hope of saving the future of humanity from AI is to trust it. Atlas debuts on Netflix May 24. (via Deadline)

Trailer: https://youtu.be/Jokpt_LJpbw

The Bluey-mania continues.The series’ first special, titled “The Sign,” made its Disney+ debut on April 14. After seven days of viewing, the episode drove 10.4M views globally, according to the streamer.In fact, the company says that’s the largest seven-day premiere audience for any Disney Junior episode — and any episode of Bluey — ever on Disney+.Disney+ rarely releases viewership figures, and this is the first time the streamer has done so for Bluey. However, the company did reveal Monday that it is consistently among the top five series on Disney+ by monthly views. (via Deadline)

The bickering duo of Marvel are at it again: The trailer for Deadpool and Wolverine dropped today, and finds Ryan Reynolds‘ Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine doing what they do best. “Hi peanut,” Deadpool says to a drowning-his-sorrows Wolverine. “I’m going to need you to come with me right now.” The trailer contains enough quips, fights, insults and R-rated verbiage to satisfy a universe, Marvel or otherwise. It's alll set to the tune of Madonna’s “Like A Prayer.” (via Deadline)

Trailer: https://youtu.be/cen0rBKLuYE

Dynamite and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products invite fans to pounce into the big new companion comic book series for the smash-hit ThunderCats mythos, as Cheetara rockets into her own title led by the stellar Soo Lee (Carmilla: The First Vampire).

In a historic first for the franchise, the fierce feline warrior famous for her lightning-fast speed is being showcased in a multi-issue story of her own. Writer/artist Soo Lee is joined by rising artist Domenico Carbone on ThunderCats: Cheetara, with the first issue releasing this July!

Before the founding of Third Earth, before the destruction of Thundera, Cheetara was a young woman with secrets. Now, for the first time, these secrets will be revealed. Wrapped in a stifling life of Thunderian nobility, she seeks to find her place in an unsure universe, and to understand why she's experiencing alarming visions of both the ancient past and the near future...

"There are some very cool things about Cheetara that have been overlooked in the original cartoon, things that I really want to make the center of her story," said writer Soo Lee. "She's also iconic and very strong, it makes sense she gets her own series. It's a look into one of the most important supporting characters.





The new era of ThunderCats comics have been blazing up the charts, with fans hotly anticipating each new issue in the flagship series by Declan Shalvey and Drew Moss. For the new series spotlighting Cheetara, Soo Lee has been following the title and collaborating with Shalvey, alongside some binging of the original show and fandom resources to guide her own tales. All that said, this is a separate series that fans can jump right into and not worry about tight chronology with the preceding ongoing.

Lee also contributes a stunning cover to the series in her style. She's joined by superstar Sozomaika, Lesley "Leirix" Li, Rebeca Puebla, and Edwin Galmon.

No matter how fast Cheetara can run, she can never outrun her own past!



THUNDERCATS: CHEETARA #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ May 2024 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in July 2024. Comic book fans are encouraged to preorder copies of the book with their local comic book retailers. It will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, ComicsPlus, and more!

Dynamite and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products are excited to announce sugar, spice, and everything nice! Three of the most powerful superheroes are back together for new comic stories starting this summer from a team of superstar creators in Kelly Thompson and Paulina Ganucheau!

Professor Utonium added a little extra to that famous recipe, when some Chemical X was thrown into the concoction. And lo, The Powerpuff Girls were born! Since that day, Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup have dedicated their lives to fighting evil in all its forms. Their awesome powers and teamwork tirelessly defend their idyllic city from the likes of petty criminals, marauding monsters, and diabolical super-villains alike.

They're sweet, they're petite, and they can't be beat! Eisner Award-winner Kelly Thompson is one of the biggest names in comics and she's the perfect match for this trio of fearless heroes. She is known for DC's critically acclaimed Birds of Prey, acclaimed runs on Captain Marvel, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Deadpool, and contributions to both Spider-Man and X-Men. Thompson has also knocked it out of the park on other franchises from television and animation like Jem and the Holograms and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

Taking the reins on artwork, Paulina Ganucheau is acclaimed for her brilliant "Adventures of Young Diana" feature in issues of DC's Wonder Woman. She's also contributed to titles like My Little Pony, Zodiac Starforce, and Rainbow Brite. The duo's shared grasp on superheroics and balancing their storytelling for diverse ages fits the Powerpuff Girls to a tee — topped off only by their passions for the franchise!

"I have to say, I am a very big fan of The Powerpuff Girls," said writer Kelly Thompson. "So much so that when I was young — just out of art school — I even wrote a few short stories and began to storyboard them in hopes I could get a job on the show! So this just feels… exactly right. I was over the moon to get the offer."

Artist Paulina Ganucheau added, "I grew up obsessed with them. Had my own PPG OC and everything. I was on a Powerpuff Girls oekaki board way back in the day where all we did was draw in that style. I remember calling into Cartoon Network for PPG merch giveaways even. So yeah, safe to say: very exciting!"

Editor Nate Cosby added, "I was like, y’know who’d write an unbelievably awesome Powerpuff Girls story? Probably Kelly “Eisner-Freaking-Award-Winner” Thompson. And then I was like, y’know what artist’d blow people’s minds drawing The Powerpuff Girls? Probably Paulina “Eventually-Will-Be-An-Eisner-Winner-Too” Ganucheau. And after seeing what KT/PG have cooked up, I can confirm that my “probably’s” have turned into “definitely’s.""

In talking about the series, Thompson made sure to emphasize that just like the show, this comic is aimed at both younger and older audiences. The comic is aiming to capture a magic mix of heart and fun, with clever self-awareness that makes it rewarding for everyone. While artistically, the show's iconic designs and popping colors translate perfectly to the comics page. Uniquely rare today in comics, stories will be done in one so fans can pick up any issue and enjoy!

Fans can of course look forward to seeing plenty of the titular super-trio, as well as their father Professor Utonium, the Mayor of Townsville, Miss Keane, and iconic villains like Mojo Jojo, HIM, Fuzzy Lumpkins, Sedusa, the Rowdyruff Boys, and perhaps even more as the series goes on!

Ganucheau delivers the lead cover, an eye-catching vision of the girls taking on several of their infamous foes. Thompson's Birds of Prey and Hawkeye collaborator Leonardo Romero contributes a cover. Two more from Karen S. Darboe and Nicoletta Baldari round out the colorful classics on the first issue.

Dynamite has even more surprises in store for this series that fans will not want to miss!



POWERPUFF GIRLS #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ May 2024 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in July 2024. Comic book fans are encouraged to preorder copies of the book with their local comic book retailers. It will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, ComicsPlus, and more!

One of my favorite scenes in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and yes, I liked the film, was when Hank Pym showed up with his ant friends to save the day. I’ve been a Hank Pym fan since I was a kid, never really happy with what comics did to him later on, but really liking Michael Douglas’ performance as the character. That was Hank’s hero moment, and I was all there for it. Douglas has since said that he would only return to the character if he was going to be killed off. Turns out, Douglas wanted that to happen in Quantumania. He was on The View promoting his new series Franklin and said: “[Getting killed off] actually was my request for the third one. I said I’d like to have a serious [death], with all these great special effects. There’s got to be some fantastic way where I can shrink to an ant size and explode, whatever it is. I want to use all those effects. But, that was on the last one. Now, I don’t think I’m going to show up [for a fourth].” It’s unclear what the future of the Ant-Man franchise will be with the poor performance of the most recent film, but Kevin Feige never forgets about characters, and you never know just where he might show up again if Douglas is willing.   

Skybound Entertainment is getting ahead of a potential scandal. The studio created by Robert Kirkman and home of titles like The Walking Dead and Invincible put out a statement this morning addressing concerns that they might be working with a North Korean company. They explain that there is an unconfirmed report of a cloud storage server connected to a North Korean IP address and that it contains an Invincible animation sketch. It was followed by an official statement that reads: “We do not work with North Korean companies, or any affiliated entities, and have no knowledge of any North Korean companies working on our animation. Our policies strictly prohibit any subcontracting to any third-party without our express prior written consent, which, in this case, was neither sought nor granted. We also mandate that all our service providers fully comply with all applicable rules and regulations and prohibit disclosures of materials by our service providers to third parties. Skybound Entertainment takes these allegations seriously and has initiated a thorough internal review to verify and rectify any potential issues. We have also notified the proper authorities and are cooperating with all appropriate bodies.” The sanctions on North Korea would prohibit Skybound from using animation studios based in North Korea, hence the company wanting to nip these rumors in the bud. 

This morning James Gunn posted a simple image to Threads and of course multiple articles were written about it. What did the writer/director of the upcoming Superman movie post to get this quick a reaction? The original Superman logo, the simple red “S” on the yellow badge that Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster first put on the early sketches of the character in 1936. It appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938 but would change to a triangle shape with red borders quickly that same year. The logo changed a lot in the first few years and wouldn’t settle on the most recognized version until 1944. We already know that the logo for his Superman is going to be similar to the one created by Alex Ross for Kingdom Come but with yellow instead of black. Many of the articles posted try to figure out what Gunn is trying to say by the post. There’s no text with it, he just posted the first logo. It’s possible that Gunn isn’t trying to send a message with this anymore than he was with the picture he shared of his cat the day before. The people who follow these films and the websites that cover them are always looking for clues and Easter Eggs and that’s mainly because the people that produce these films love teasing their fans… but sometimes what Sigmund Freud said is true, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.