Common Grounds

Six issue comic book limited series

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 and around a chain of coffee shops called Common Grounds. Common Grounds received two Eisner Award nominations in 2005, for "Best Short Story" and "Best Anthology."

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.

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".

Issue Titles Major Character(s) Cover Artist(s) Penciller(s) Inker(s) Colorist(s) Release Date 1 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 February 2004 2 A: "Roles"B: "Elsewhere" A: Jenny Saunders, "John"B: Analog Kid, Digital Man Rodolfo Migliari A: Ethan Van SciverB: Dan Jurgens A: Jon Holdredge, Roland Paris, Norm RapmundB: Al Vey A: Brian BuccellatoB: Guy Major March 2004 3 A: "Sanctuary"B: "Heir of Truth" A: Deb U Ton, The Acidic JewB: Strangeness, Charm Rodolfo Migliari A: Chris BachaloB: Dan Jurgens A: Aaron Sowd, Tom Bar OrB: Al Vey A: Brian Buccellato, Sonia ObackB: Guy Major April 2004 4 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 Rodolfo Migliari2 A: Carlos PachecoB: Dan JurgensC: George Pérez A: Jesus MerinoB: Al VeyC: Mike Perkins A & B: Guy MajorC: Tom Smith May 2004 5 A: "Where Monsters Dine"B: "Lovelife" A: Larry, Grondar, Crittorr, Kkrapp, Wang Dang DoodleB: The Eternal Flame Rodolfo Migliari A: Angel MedinaB: Dan Jurgens A: Jon HoldredgeB: Al Vey A: John Starr, Beth SoteloB: Guy Major June 2004 6 A: "This'll Be the Day"B: "Loose Ends" A: American Pi, ZhangB: Stevie Parsons, Michael O'Brien Rodolfo Migliari A: Sam KiethB: Dan Jurgens A: Sam KiethB: Al Vey A & B: Guy Major July 2004

1 Rodolfo Migliari made the alternate cover for Issue #1.2 Issue #4's cover art was inspired by Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks" painting.