Broken Frontier

Pier-C Comics are delighted to announce the release of the latest issue of the cult smallpress comic SGT MIKE BATTLE: THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO!

To celebrate the publication of issue #14, which features the long-awaited wedding between British Secret Agent Roger Knightly and the All-American girl Shapely Charms, writer /artist Graham Pearce is giving away “a free tissue with every issue”. But before anyone jumps to the wrong conclusion about the content of the comic, Pearce is quick to defend the wholesome nature of SGT MIKE BATTLE: THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO!

“Readers are meant to use the tissue to wipe away their tears as they read the story” explains Pearce. “Whilst I’m clearly using the free tissue as a catchy marketing gimmick, it also ties in nicely with the plot. I don’t want to reveal anything about the story’s ending but I will say that the tissue could be used to wipe away tears of joy, or tears of sadness. You have to read the comic to find out”

Pearce is well known for subverting genre clichés in SGT MIKE BATTLE: THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO! but knew what fans would be expecting with the wedding of Roger Knightly and Shapely Charms. “I think it’s the law that bad guys have to attack every superhero/comic-book wedding because it’s always disappointing when they don’t. There are some comic-book clichés that shouldn’t be messed with so in issue #14 I have tonnes of villains attacking the church and this time the fate of the world is at stake”

Issue #14 presented Pearce with a creative challenge unlike any he had faced before, namely character development: “Sgt Mike Battle is a straight-forward character that never changes or develops. Part of the joke is that he stays exactly the same even as the world around him keeps changing. I find it quite easy to make readers laugh but the challenge with issue #14 was to play with other emotions. When I originally conceived the Roger Knightly/Shapely Charms storyline, I wanted to write something that would create an emotional connection with the reader. The story is about love, betrayal and forgiveness and it only works if you like the characters of Roger & Shapely and genuinely care about them.”

Pearce explains the others challenges he faced in #14. “The whole book is pretty much a 28 page fight scene and it’s really hard to keep things interesting. I had to be careful with the tone of the book. Too many jokes and it takes away from the emotional side of things and too few and it becomes too depressing. In the end I think I struck the right balance! 

Of issue #14, Comics Bulletin says “This Roger Knightly story has been the best arc so far in a title which is constantly improving and outshining many professional efforts. Sgt. Mike Battle: The Greatest American Hero is now easily one of my favourite reads, a creation which has transcended its spoof origins to become an exemplar of pitch perfect action adventure comics.”
http://www.comicsbulletin.com/reviews/125717317431723.htm

Forbidden Planet Blog said “Pearce’s work from issues 1-14 is perfect evidence of taking an interesting, fun and funny idea, developing it, and simultaneously developing the craft of making comics, refining the writing, refining the art with every page.” http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/2009/beware-enemies-of-america-sgt-mike-battle-is-here-to-save-the-day/

SGT. MIKE BATTLE: THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO! #ISSUE 14, 36 PAGES, Colour cover, b/w interiors, £1.50, available now from www.sgtmikebattle.co.uk or grahampearce8@netscape.net