One of my favorite comics of 2021 has been the new Image Comics series, Frontiersman, by writer Patrick Kindlon. But how did he find the time to write it?

Frontiersman

Frontiersman follows an aging superhero who is coaxed out of retirement by an environmentalist group, only to discover that being a spokesperson makes him a target for some old and new enemies. The comic has been favorably compared to Mike Grell-era Green Arrow, but there’s a lot more going on that relates to a fresh take on current social issues and morality.

What really makes this series stand out is the incredible art by Marco Ferrari, who previously worked with Kindlon on Patience! Conviction! Revenge! The attention to detail and landscape really caught my eye, but he also has a great style for action. 

Visually stunning would be a more concise way to state it. Let’s just let this frame speak for itself.

Through the Wild Frontier

What makes Frontiersman all the more interesting is writer Patrick Kindlon’s journey to get to this point. I was first aware of Kindlon with his band, End of a Year (circa 2009). At the time, I was a young punk and thought to myself, “ah a band named after one of my favorite Embrace songs, interesting.”

A little while after that point, End of a Year changed a few members, which led them to transition their name to End of Year Self Defense Family and then eventually they settled into Self Defense Family. 

The main thing I noticed at the time was how prolific this project became, and still is to this day. Since their inception around 2010 in the Albany, New York area, the band has released more than 50 releases across several full-lengths and an endless sea of EPs. The band operates more as a collective, with a revolving cast of collaborators. Kindlon is often the only constant, though sometimes that is not the case, as some releases feature vocalist Caroline Corrigan. All of this illustrates the ever-evolving nature of the group.

Around 2011, Patrick Kindlon also joined the Albany band, Drug Church. The band has released three full-length albums, with another album, “Hygiene,” coming in 2022. 

A Patrick of All Trades

He’s juggled singing in both bands full-time and also somehow finding the time to write comics and host three podcasts; Worst Possible Timeline, Axe to Grind, and the often sporadic, I Don’t Care If This Ruins My Life.

You can find his comics through Black Mask Studios, Z2 Comics, Marvel, Aftershock, and most recently, Image Comics. Keep in mind this was the most abridged version of around 15 years of work, but here we are. I’m looking forward to seeing where he goes next.