The Middleman may be the best thing ABC Family has ever shown…so naturally they cut it off an episode short of the first season. I wish I could get the DVD set but my current situation isn’t going to allow for that. Luckily I found out about the comic it was based on, both created by Javier Grillo-Marxuach. I picked up the omnibus seen above (and reviewed here) as well as the adaptation of the unfilmed script (also reviewed), But while the DVD is still available the comics are out of print.
Mr. Grillo-Marxuach wants to change that by bringing the comic back and continuing from the final storyline, and he’s using Indiegogo to do it.
Spoilers for the end of the comic!: At the end of the third volume graphic novel, “The Third Volume Inescapability“, the Middleman dies and Wendy, not yet ready to step out of the rookie boots, meets the new Middleman, hinted to be her father. So that explains the title, The Pan-Universal Parental Reconciliation! Also, one of the goals of the Indiegogo is bringing the TV cast together for a live-reading of the comic, with actress Amber Benson playing “comic book Wendy”. Curious to see how that fits into the story.
But that’s not all. He also plans to restore and reprint the original Middleman comic books through print-on-demand. And if you haven’t read the comics, you really should. Go read my review, linked to in the first paragraph. Also catch the TV series because it’s also really fun. (The DVD link will lead to an Amazon affiliate link, so if you buy through there I get a bit of kickback. I don’t expect to get much from using these but every little bit helps right about now.)
I can’t support the crowd-funding because I have no funds but fans seem to be ready to bring the Middleman, Wendy, and all their friends back. I’m writing this on a Tuesday afternoon, and at last check it’s up to $13, 145 (and a couple perks are sold out). It may be higher as you read this on Wednesday night. Both the comic and TV versions of The Middleman are love letters to the Silver Age with numerous geek nods thrown in (artist Les McClaine, who will be doing some exclusive art for the books, threw in more Easter Eggs than I’ve ever seen in a comic), great characters, odd villains, and not taking itself too seriously. Check out this review from Into The Idiot Box of the show and realize the comic is even better.
I really want to see this one succeed and maybe I’ll even have a job by the time the comic comes out so I can get a copy. Fans have been waiting a long time for this reunion.
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