The first of three issues of DC Comics' "Green Arrow"-written by a Mid-Ohio Valley man- was released Wednesday and fans were able to snatch up copies of the book and get the author's autograph at Asylum Comics in Marietta.
James Patrick, of Vienna, W.V.a, whose comic book writing career took off in 2005 after a small publisher picked up his comic book "Death Comes to Dillinger," is the writer of the "Green Arrow" books set to be released this summer.
Issue 13 was released Wednesday and issues 14 and 15 will be released July 27 and Aug. 24, respectively.
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ASHLEY RITTENHOUSE The Marietta Times
Vienna comic book writer James Patrick signs a copy of issue 13 of DC Comics’ “Green Arrow” at Asylum Comics Wednesday. He also wrote issues 14 and 15 of “Green Arrow,” which will be released in July and August.
"In September, DC is renumbering all their titles at once and they're revamping everything," Patrick explained. "I got the last three issues of 'Green Arrow' - 13, 14 and 15 - before the revamp and there were a lot of changes overall to the company, so I came in and wrote those three issues."
Patrick has a history with DC Comics, having written Batman Confidential #49 and an issue of "Harley Quinn," who is known in the comic book world as the girlfriend of The Joker, Batman's archenemy.
"I've been published through DC (and) this will be my sixth or seventh time," he said. "This script was a pretty quick turnaround, so we were going back and forth with it but it was a couple weeks from construction to finished product."
Fact Box
The James
Patrick file
Lives in Vienna, W.Va.
Has had 40 comic books published
Wrote issues 13, 14 and 15 of DC Comics' "Green Arrow." Issue 13 was released Wednesday and issues 14 and 15 will be released in July and August, respectively
"With Green Arrow, some of his best stories are based in real world politics," Patrick added. "In the 70s, Green Arrow dealt with racism and some other social views, so I try to keep him grounded when I write him."
Patrick pointed out that since DC Comics owns the character, they have a lot of say about what the character can and can't do. Therefore, before writing the book, Patrick pitched his story idea to those at DC, who told him what changes they'd like to see. He then submitted an outline, which was eventually approved by the company.
He said that's the primary difference between creating comics under a work-for-hire agreement and creating his own book, such as "Death Comes to Dillinger."
"I can't do anything I want because it's their character," he said.
Patrick said in total, he has had 40 comic books published. Lower Salem resident Jeremy Mendenhall, 35, who picked up a copy of "Green Arrow" at Asylum Comics Wednesday, said he has every one of Patrick's books, including his very first one, "Crackurz," released about 10 years ago.
"His create-your-own stuff - I love the characters because each one brings something different to the table and he has a great grasp on Batman and Harley Quinn and I can't wait to read 'Green Arrow,'" Mendenhall said.
Patrick said while he has made a name for himself nationally, he has quite a following locally, thanks in part to shops like Asylum Comics that sell his books.
"He's excellent - he deserves all this acclaim he's starting to get," said Jordan Lowe, owner of Asylum Comics. "I've seen him progress and each issue is better than the one before."
