Kid Maroon: Christopher Cantwell, Victor Santos Launch Metafictional Mystery at Vault Comics

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As a seasoned reader with a penchant for gritty mysteries and unconventional protagonists, I find myself thoroughly enthralled by the upcoming Vault Comics series, “Kid Maroon.” This metafictional tale of a boy detective outgrowing his idyllic roots to tackle the dark underbelly of the city resonates with my own experiences.

Get ready to dive into a captivating meta-fictional whodunit in “Kid Maroon,” an intriguing new Vault Comics series penned by Christopher Cantwell (known for his work on shows like “Halt and Catch Fire” and comic books such as “Iron Man” and “Doctor Doom”). Artwork is handled by Victor Santos, renowned for his work on titles like “Polar” and “Violent Love,” while colorist Mattia Iacono brings his talents from comics like “Kid Venom” and “The Dead Lucky.” Andworld Design contributes their lettering skills from “The Many Deaths of Laila Starr,” and Adam Cahoon is the designer.

According to Vault’s press release, the daily “Kid Maroon” comic strip followed a boy detective named Kid Maroon who tackled gruesome crimes in his town, Crimeville. The series sparked considerable controversy due to Shepard’s dark perspective, fondness for violence, and fixation on bathtub laudanum. The negative response towards the series, along with the growing influence of the Comics Code, resulted in its cancellation after only 216 episodes. This event left Shepard deeply disillusioned with the comic book industry. He allegedly buried all his original artwork somewhere in South Dakota, though the exact location remains unknown. Despite its rocky history, “Kid Maroon” has become a cult classic that continues to influence independent and underground comics today.

In the press release, Cantwell expresses that he’s long desired to create a Kid Maroon story, as he identifies with the character. He recalls feeling impatient to grow up as a child himself, often wishing he could return to those days. Interestingly, Kid Maroon faces a similar dilemma in our book – though his world is filled with rough gangsters and killers, he remains essentially a child at heart. This theme was also present in the original Kid Maroon comic strips by Pep Shepard. Although Pep occasionally had Kid challenge characters like Captain Pinko or pen criticisms against Sales Tax, the strongest stories revolved around a boy navigating two worlds, with his innocence constantly on the brink of being lost. This essence permeates our book entirely.

Santos mentions, “I must admit that I wasn’t familiar with the character Kid Maroon initially, but once I began exploring, it was like love at first sight. That rugged lad reminded me of a combination of The Spirit, Dick Tracy, and numerous other pre-code pulp heroes. Yet, he also embodied everything I longed to be as a mischievous youngster, secretly peeking into my uncle’s room to read his crime comics, which were deemed too violent for kids. I was eager to breathe life into this fantastic character and create new thrilling escapades for him.”

In November, the extended edition of “Kid Maroon” #1 will be released. Below, you’ll find the complete plot summary for this issue, along with a sneak peek spanning over five pages:

75 years since its last print appearance, the iconic hard-boiled boy detective, Kid Maroon, makes a comeback in a special double-issue #1. This incredible reintroduction is brought to you by the talented minds of Christopher Cantwell (Iron Man, Doctor Doom, The Blue Flame, Halt and Catch Fire) and Victor Santos (Polar, Violent Love).

Two years have passed since Walden Maroon found himself longing for escape from his hometown, his affectionate family, and the trivial mysteries surrounding lost butterflies and pilfered cookies. Ever since, he has been immersed in the grimy underbelly of Crimeville, a city notorious for its murders, vices, and rampant corruption. However, at just 12 years old, Kid is growing tired. With a spate of gruesome killings and arsons plaguing the streets, will he be able to solve the case with his sharp intellect and makeshift weapon? Or could it be that beneath the tough exterior of Kid Maroon lies a deep-seated desire for something he has never experienced… the simple joy of being a child?

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2024-08-23 19:10