Backchannel (webcomic)
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| Backchannel | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Stan Lee, Tome Akel, Andie Tong |
| Website | https://www.webtoons.com/en/super-hero/backchannel/list?title_no=1456 |
| Current status/schedule | Unfinished; last episode released April 23, 2019 |
| Launch date | 2018 |
| Publisher(s) | WEBTOON |
| Genre(s) | Superhero |
| Rating(s) | 9.66 Stars on WEBTOON |
Search Backchannel (webcomic) on Amazon.Backchannel is a superhero webcomic created by Stan Lee, Tom Akel, and Andie Tong. The comic is a superhero origin story following the life of Tom Tanner, a meta-human and engineering prodigy capable of hacking with his mind. It began publishing weekly on the platform Webtoon in 2018. The comic is currently unfinished but Tom Akel has stated that it will return in 2021.[1]
Publication[edit]
Publication of Backchannel began in 2018 on the webtoon publishing portal Webtoon.[2][3][4][5] The series went on hiatus after the death of Stan Lee in 2018, and then again after its 11th episode in April 2019.[6][7] A collection of Backchannel Volume 1 was funded on Kickstarter in 2021, promising the inclusion of unreleased chapters that finish the story. [8]
Plot and themes[edit]
Backchannel is superhero origin story set in modern-day California about the high school student Tom Tanner as he navigates school life and being a hacktivist for the controversial group Backchannel.[9] He is a meta-human capable of hacking with his mind and uses his power to help fight against an oppressive and corrupt society.[6] The story centers around Tom and his police detective father, Martin, as their relationship begins to fracture because of a dark secret from Martin's past.[6] The series often deals with themes of corruption, technology, grief, and family dynamics.[9]
The plot begins with Tom Tanner assisting Backchannel in a prison break guided by a mysterious AI that seems to be in Tom's head. As the activities of Backchannel begin to ramp up considerably, Tom's life gets more and more complicated as he is dragged further into the activist group's plans. His work causes him to stumble upon his widowed father's past, and as a result he uncovers a dark secret that threatens to destroy the relationship they've built.[9]
Major characters[edit]
The following characters are central to plot lines in the comic and make regular appearances:
- Tom Tanner is the protagonist of the story and an engineering prodigy with meta-human abilities that allow him to hack technology with his mind. He is a high school student playing on the lacrosse team and is attempting to balance his newfound activism with his normal life. He is a bit unfocused and lost in life, but assisting Backchannel in targeting prisons has given him a noble goal to work toward. He is portrayed as kind, shy, committed to helping others, and too smart for his own good.[8]
- Sally Burnett is a talented and ambitious actress and Tom's best friend since childhood. She is a source of support for him in high school as he struggles to cope with his responsibilities and newfound perceptions of his father. She is portrayed as outgoing, empathetic, and driven. [8]
- Martin Tanner is Tom's father and a police detective. Tom and him have an excellent relationship and he has raised Tom as a single parent since his mother died in childbirth. Although Martin is a loving father, he harbors dark secrets that would destroy the relationship he has with his son.[8]
- Alex Masterson is another engineering prodigy and a similar meta-human to Tom. He is at the center of the Backchannel organization and is using their connections to help him achieve some unknown end. [8]
- Pete Bryan is Tom's best friend and the only person he's completely open with. Pete is popular because of his carefree attitude and wit.[8]
- Nick Korbin is the classic all American athlete. He's hard-headed and explosive, but seems to genuinely care about Sally. [8]
Reception[edit]
During its run from 2018 to 2019, Backchannel amassed a subscriber count of about 150 thousand.[10] It was the first work published by POW! Entertainment after Stan Lee's death.[6] Backchannel is often considered Stan Lee's last work before his death. [8][11][12]
References[edit]
- ↑ MacDonald, Heidi (2021-01-04). "The Beat's 2021 Creator Survey Part 1: We Survived 2020". The Beat. Retrieved 2021-07-20. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Johnston, Rich (2018-08-31). "Stan Lee's New Webcomic Backchannel Publishes in a Month's Time". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 2021-07-20. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Terror, Jude (2016-12-15). "Stan Lee To Publish New High School Comic "Backchannel" With Artist Andie Tong From LINE Webtoon". Bleeding Cool News. Retrieved 2021-07-20. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Salkowitz, Rob. "Stan Lee, Warren Ellis, Fabian Nicieza Highlight New Webtoon Series Launches This Fall". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
- ↑ Kim, Matt. "Stan Lee Debuts Original Comic, 'Backchannel,' on LINE Webtoons". Inverse. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 McMillan, Graeme; McMillan, Graeme (2019-04-08). "Stan Lee's 'Backchannel' Relaunching as Creator's First Posthumous Project". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2021-07-20. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Oller, Jacob (2019-04-09). "Stan Lee webcomic Backchannel relaunching after Marvel legend's death: Exclusive look". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 "Stan Lee's Backchannel Backstory Makes it Perfect for Kickstarter". comicyears.com. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "The Comic Source Podcast Episode 413 - Webtoons with Tom Akel". LRM. 2018-07-18. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
- ↑ "Backchannel". www.webtoons.com. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
- ↑ Fontones, Ashley. "Nerds assemble: Welcome to the world of webcomics". poconorecord.com. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
- ↑ "Western Webtoons: How Indie Publishers Embrace Digital Comics". Monkeys Fighting Robots. 2020-11-21. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
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