Common Grounds is a six-issue comic book limited series created by writer Troy Hickman and published by Top Cow Productions in 2004. The series examined the life of superheroes and villains in relation to a chain of coffee shops called Common Grounds.
Common Grounds was nominated for two Eisner Awards in 2005, for "Best Short Story" and "Best Anthology."
Overview The series began in 1994 as the black-and-white mini-comic, Holey Crullers, written by Hickman and drawn by Jerry Smith. It was circulated through mail order and direct sales at comic book conventions with small print runs. In 1997, Wizard magazine covered it in a four-page article.
In 2003, Wizard editor Jim McLauchlin became editor-in-chief of Top Cow Productions. He contacted Hickman about getting the rights to the Holey Crullers scripts. In early 2004, Common Grounds was launched as a six-issue limited series featuring Hickman's stories and new artwork by Dan Jurgens, George Pérez, Mike Oeming, Chris Bachalo, Sam Kieth, Angel Medina, Carlos Pacheco, and Ethan Van Sciver. Jurgens was the regular artist, providing art for one short story every issue, while one of the guest artists provided the art for additional stories.
The series received critical acclaim. In November 2007, a trade paperback was published collecting all six issues. In 2005, it was nominated for Eisner Awards in the categories "Best Anthology" and "Best Short Story" for Where Monsters Dine.
Title The original 1990s comic series, Holey Crullers, centered on a chain of doughnut shops named "Holey Crullers". The name was a word-play on a type of doughnut, a cruller with a hole in the center, that paid homage to the regular outbursts of Robin in the 1960s era Batman.
The decision to update the doughnut shops to coffee shops and change the name to Common Grounds was an attempt to be more relevant to the coffee culture in the US in the late 1990s and early 2000s. As with the previous title, the name "Common Grounds" includes some word play by referencing a safe, neutral haven for opposing viewpoints and an important aspect of coffee.
The series includes an in-story reference to the name change in issue six. The company founder explains that he wanted to call his chain "Holey Crullers", but received a letter from the lawyers of the "old 60s superhero tv show" in which the sidekick always says "Holy This" and "Holy That".
Characters Ed Franklin Gerald Smith, a.k.a. Speeding Bullet Gabriel "Gabe" Alexander, a.k.a. Mental Midget Robert Louis Dupree, a.k.a. Man-Witch Jenny Saunders "John" the serial rapist Tim Lesley, a.k.a. Analog Kid Chris Lesley, a.k.a. Digital Man Patricia Van Buren, a.k.a. Deb-U-Ton Moshe Chomsky, a.k.a. The Acidic Jew Sam Henderson, a.k.a. Strangeness Clarise Henderson, a.k.a. Charm "Thorny" Thorndyke Benjamin Bellott, a.k.a. Commander Power James McLain, a.k.a. Blackwatch The Superheavyweights Susan LaBelle, a.k.a. Knockout Red Fox II Miniaturian Coldspell Hi-Tec The Liberty Balance Earl Lumley, a.k.a. Lift-Off Gail Milgrim, a.k.a. Belle-Air The Flaming Follicle Mach Master Magna-Woman Captain Gallant The Eternal Flame Lea Anne Lyster, a.k.a. Kittycat Jeff Bailey, a.k.a. Big Money II Larry the delivery guy Grondar Crittorr Kkrapp Wang Dang Doodle Claire Grant, a.k.a. American Pi Zhang Stevie Parsons Michael O'Brien, a.k.a. Big Money
Stories Issue Titles Major Character(s) Cover Artist(s) Penciller(s) Inker(s) Colorist(s) Release date A: "Beyond the Speed of Life"B: "Head Games" A: Ed Franklin, Speeding BulletB: Mental Midget, Man-Witch J. Scott Campbell, Matt MillaRodolfo Migliari1 A: Dan JurgensB: Michael Avon Oeming A: Al VeyB: Michael Avon Oeming A: Guy MajorB: Peter Pantazis A: "Roles"B: "Elsewhere" A: Jenny Saunders, "John"B: Analog Kid, Digital Man A: Ethan Van SciverB: Dan Jurgens A: Jon Holdredge, Roland Paris, Norm RapmundB: Al Vey A: Brian BuccellatoB: Guy Major A: "Sanctuary"B: "Heir of Truth" A: Deb-U-Ton, The Acidic JewB: Strangeness, Charm A: Chris BachaloB: Dan Jurgens A: Aaron Sowd, Tom Bar-OrB: Al Vey A: Brian Buccellato, Sonia ObackB: Guy Major A: "Time of Their Lives"B: "Fat Chance"C: "Glory Days" A: Commander Power, BlackwatchB: Knockout, Red Fox II, Miniaturian, Coldspell, Hi-TecC: Lift-Off, Belle-Air, the Flaming Follicle, Mach Master, Magna-Woman, Captain Gallant A: Carlos PachecoB: Dan JurgensC: George Pérez A: Jesus MerinoB: Al VeyC: Mike Perkins A & B: Guy MajorC: Tom Smith A: "Where Monsters Dine"B: "Lovelife" A: Larry, Grondar, Crittorr, Kkrapp, Wang Dang DoodleB: The Eternal Flame A: Angel MedinaB: Dan Jurgens A: Jon HoldredgeB: Al Vey A: John Starr, Beth SoteloB: Guy Major A: "This'll Be the Day"B: "Loose Ends" A: American Pi, ZhangB: Stevie Parsons, Michael O'Brien A: Sam KiethB: Dan Jurgens A: Sam KiethB: Al Vey A & B: Guy Major Troy Hickman, Common Grounds trade paperback, November 2007, Table of Contents, pg. 3Troy Hickman, Common Grounds trade paperback, November 2007, Cover and Pinup Gallery, pg. 131
1 Rodolfo Migliari made the alternate cover for Issue #1.Troy Hickman, Common Grounds trade paperback, November 2007, Cover and Pinup Gallery, pg. 131Troy Hickman, Common Grounds trade paperback, November 2007, Issue #1 Cover B, pg. 1332 Issue #4's cover art was inspired by Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks" painting.Troy Hickman, Common Grounds trade paperback, November 2007, Cover and Pinup Gallery, pg. 131Troy Hickman, Common Grounds trade paperback, November 2007, Issue #4 Cover, pg. 136
Collected Editions The series has been collected in a trade paperback that includes: Cover and Pinup Gallery1 Common Grounds Timeline Holey Crullers Bonus Material Liberty Balance Pinup by George Pérez, Mike Perkins and Tom Smith Notes 1 Includes Issue #1's alternate cover by Rodolfo Migliari and a pinup by James Raiz, Roland Paris and Sonia Oback depicting various superheroes battling Crittorr and Wang Dang Doodle.
References
External links TopCow.com - Top Cow Productions, Inc. website TheTopCowStore.com - Top Cow Productions, Inc. store