Tiger-Man #1
Recap
Welcome once again to Ancient History! This week we delve deep into an urban jungle courtesy of Atlas Seaboard, an ill fated small publisher that existed for a brief time in the mid 70s. Today we dive into the spring of 1975 with an unusual title, Tiger-Man!
Tiger-Man is the story of one man letting his lust for vengeance override his human decency. Also he has tiger powers. In the loss of his sister Tiger-Man finds a purpose. Kill every bald person at the rodeo!
Review
This book is not written well. It’s not awful but the pacing and dialogue read like something a grade schooler would write in a notebook. Writer Gabe Levy clearly didn’t care to write this, and left after this one issue. We begin the story in the wilds of Africa (TIGERS DON’T LIVE IN AFRICA DESPITE WHAT COMIC WATCH PRESS EDITORS TELL YOU) where we witness the birth of Tiger-Man, which is literally just him injecting himself with tiger blood a la Charlie Sheen. Next we meet his sister, who dies like 3 pages later for tragic origin story reasons. The death of his sister galvanizes Tiger-man to cut a bloody swath across whatever city he’s in, killing roughly 15 people in this one issue.
The art by Ernie Colon isn’t bad, perfectly serviceable for the most part in fact. He is extremely hampered by one of the worst character designs I’ve ever seen. The decision to give Tiger-man a snout alone is hysterical and provides more questions than it should, namely WHY?! The best part of the art is during a scene where Tiger-man is roaming the city looking for his sisters killers, the perspective and depth of field provided in the city is good. Otherwise the art is somewhat forgettable. But what can be expected of a book with multiple coloring mistakes on the first page?!
Interestingly the lettering by Leroy Lettering (according to the internet?] appears to be done with a typewriter in an era where hand lettering was the norm. Potentially innovative?
To my knowledge this 3 issue series has never been collected but I see plentiful copies of this issue online ranging from 2$ all the way up to 20$. All are overpriced. Keep an eye out this bad boy is quarter bin fodder at best if you want to punish yourself.
Final Thoughts
You don't find Tiger-Man, Tiger-Man finds you!
ANCIENT HISTORY #24: TIGER-MAN MAULED MY BRAIN
- Writing - 3/103/10
- Storyline - 4/104/10
- Art - 6/106/10
- Color - 5/105/10
- Cover Art - 4/104/10