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.

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.