Common Grounds

    (Image, 2004)
™ and ©2003 Top Cow Productions

For years, Troy Hickman has toiled tirelessly behind his Artists Alley table at Wizard World Chicago, hawking a self-published mini-comic called Holey Crullers! But the poorly drawn interiors, coupled with the absence of any real promotion, resulted in his efforts being seen only by a few—and purchased by even fewer.

Well, among those few apparently were some of the editors at Image’s Top Cow Studios. They recognized the buried potential in Hickman’s often-funny, often-emotional comic book about a doughnut shop for super-heroes. Taking the skeleton of the original Holey Crullers! stories and giving them a high-budget makeover, Hickman’s stories have now been polished to a shine. Worthy of comparison to such titles as Kurt Busiek’s Astro City, the refined scripts by an older, wiser Hickman and superb art by some of the industry’s best talent finally put Hickman in the mainstream spotlight, where he deserves to be.

The guy’s got talent, not to mention other mini-comics that show off his humor and wit. Any publishers interested in dusting off Yoyo, the Dieting Clown?

— Jim Johnson
Jump to issue:
  NotesWriterArtist
Common Grounds #1 Variation A

February, 2004
Cover Price: $2.99
4 copies available from $4.50 		Troy HickmanDan Jurgens, Michael Avon Oeming
Common Grounds #1 Variation B

February, 2004
Cover Price: $2.99
3 copies available from $0.96 		Troy HickmanDan Jurgens, Michael Avon Oeming
Common Grounds #2

February, 2004
Cover Price: $2.99
4 copies available from $1.99 		Troy HickmanEthan Van Sciver, Michael Avon Oeming
Common Grounds #3

April, 2004
Cover Price: $2.99
3 copies available from $1.28 		Troy HickmanChris Bachalo, Dan Jurgens
Common Grounds #4

May, 2004
Cover Price: $2.99
6 copies available from $2.75 		Troy HickmanCarlos Pacheco, Dan Jurgens, George Pérez
Common Grounds #5

June, 2004
Cover Price: $2.99
4 copies available from $1.75 		Troy HickmanAngel Medina, Dan Jurgens
Common Grounds #6

July, 2004
Cover Price: $2.99
5 copies available from $2.75 		Troy HickmanSam Kieth, Dan Jurgens
Common Grounds Book #1

December, 2004
Cover Price: $19.99
3 copies available from $9.00 		Troy HickmanDan Jurgens, Michael Avon Oeming, J. Scott Campbell, Ethan Van Sciver, Chris Bachalo, Carlos Pacheco, George Pérez, Angel Medina, Al Vey, Sam Kieth, Rodolfo Migliari