Writer Steve Orlando is collaborating with artist Patrick Piazzalunga and colorist Carlos Lopez on a new AfterShock Comics series titled Project Patron, which mixes a popular superhero's death with a secret government conspiracy. Project Patron marks Orlando's third series at AfterShock, joining Dead Kings and Kill a Man.
"Project Patron asks a simple question -- what if the death of the world's greatest superhero was a con job?" Orlando said in a statement. "Thirty years ago, the world watched as its greatest defender, the Patron, fought for it all against Woe, a primordial creature that last popped up to kill the dinosaurs. It was the greatest superhuman fistfight the world had ever seen, and at the end, but Woe and the Patron fell dead... but soon after, the Patron rose again! Or did he? Project Patron is the answer. When the world loses its greatest hero, those in power fear what we'll do without him, so they bring him back to life the best they can and replace him with a Reploid. This is the story of the team that pilots that Reploid, the people secretly behind the Patron's continued heroism, and the incredible sacrifices they make. Piloting the Patron Reploid might be the greatest thrill in history, but it comes at a price: total anonymity, and a gig where every flight knocks a year off your life. The pressures on the team are enormous... so when a tragedy strikes at the heart of Project Patron, the world hangs in the balance as the greatest secret in modern history trembles on the brink of revelation."
The writer also listed some of his inspirations behind the creation of Project Patron. "This book is Curt Swan's Superman meets Mobile Suit Gundam, combining two iconic storytelling modes to create a new one," he added. "The inspirations clicked together for me so quickly with Project Patron -- it started with 'what if Gundam starred a Superman Robot?' And when I thought further, it grew into not just that basic idea, but with additional hints of classic works like T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents and a deconstruction of The Death of Superman, one of the best known Superman stories of all time. 'What if Superman's death was a cover-up?' Project Patron answers that, with the sacrifice, intrigue, epic battles and cascading webs of conspiracies and lies that turn our faith as a society into a perilous house of cards."
The covers and solicitation for Project Patron #1 can be found below.
PROJECT PATRON #1
- Writer: Steve Orlando
- Artist: Patrick Piazzalunga
- Colorist: Carlos Lopez
- Cover: David Talaksi
- Incentive Cover: Aaron Lopresti
- $4.99 / 32 pages / Color
- On Sale 4.07.2021
- Thirty years ago, the world watched in horror as THE PATRON, a hero sent as humanitarian aid from a different dimension, went punch for punch with WOE, a primordial beast and a perfect match for our mighty protector. In the end, hero and villain alike fell…but the Patron returned – and continues to defend us to this day!
- At least, that’s what we’ve all been told.
- The truth is, the Patron died that day along with Woe. The UN replaced the Patron with a Reploid, designed to mimic the real Patron and continue on his mission of protection.
- Today, the Patron Reploid is secretly piloted by an elite team – a team prepared for anything… except for the death of one of their own.
Project Patron #1 by Steve Orlando, Patrick Piazzalunga and Carlos Lopez goes on sale April 7 from AfterShock Comics.
Source: AfterShock Comics