Plus Ultra… no this isn’t about My Hero Academia or Ernie (the Blerd Without Fear). This is about Overground Comics’ most complete series. As much as I like Tinker and America, they were cut off. Unlike this title which avoided most of the internal drama that pretty much halts everything.
Overground Comics
Overground Comics comes from humble beginnings on DeviantArt. (Every Gen Z-er) What? In the most basic terms possible, it was the art profile network before Instagram. On this website, a number of artists get together to share their ideas. Then Jon Hughes makes the bold leap to work with anyone willing to work with him to broaden their profiles. This collaborative project lasts for a year before the most dedicated creatives stick together as Overground’s foundation. That being a superhero universe of corporate-sponsored heroes either with powers or the best gear a company can buy. The first projects would be Absent Captain and Plus Ultra. It was enough to get an investor to provide funding for the company’s launch in 2013.
Who Is Plus Ultra?
As for the title character, her story is about the struggle between being a hero and a celebrity. Kristen Kounslar was a struggling actress who went through Hero Corp’s genetic treatments. It’s basically super CRISPR in place of plastic surgery. She got the powerhouse set: super strength, invulnerability, speed, agility, and stamina. Yeah those are some of the most vanilla superpowers of all time and not even a team to flesh her out. So for readers, John Hughes has to go all out on making her story a great one.
Kristen’s initial struggles come with being marketable. The whole reason she went through the treatment was because sexier actresses got roles she wanted. So a blonde wig, heeled boots, a domino mask, and a leotard/corset with a stuffed bra helps with that. Or at least, that’s the plan, but Kristen finds that it’s not even worth the embarrassment. She’s not only uncomfortable in the costume but her reactionaries steal her spotlight.
So Kristen often has to take matters into her own hands. From redesigning the Plus Ultra costume and taking downtime for her mental health. Plus besides the superpowers she can think on her feet to handle any situation. Except for one thing, accountability. Now it’s no hot button issue like oppressing the underprivileged. To oversimplify it’s: “Do not be sorry, do better”.
A Hero We Need
In the last two-issue arc of Plus Ultra, we see the title character challenged by this very notion. Long before the new costume, Kristen’s alter-ego was already well established; well enough to get on talk shows. The kind that come with confronting some hard truths. The host always makes sure that if Plus was uncomfortable talking about it, she didn’t have to answer anything. So the host’s not chasing after 15 minutes of fame through roasting. Instead Kristen’s want for transparent fame opens her up to everything but her secret identity.
The conversation between Plus Ultra and the talk show host comes with some nice points. No struggles for idealogical dominance, boundaries are respected enough. It helps that there’s a good balance between subversion and meta-commentary. Like how Plus’ costume is just another part of the job she chooses to live with instead of a status quo. It feels like Plus’ answers are the kind shared with the creatives involved. Even though Overground Comics’ catalogue is available for free, they still gotta market it to get people to their website.
I actually relate to this in a small way. Loathe I am to admit it, my most popular pin on Pinterest is a pin-up advertising my Madame Mirage post. It comes with some uncomfortable thoughts that I’m not getting my target audience. In fact, I have a feeling some of them are fans of the artist… including who he hangs out with. But I’m not going to deny that the pin increased my visibility without controversy.
Why Being Better Doesn’t Include Others’ Forgiveness
But now for the other plot of this arc. It turns out Plus Ultra has to deal with some of the consequences of her actions. Years ago, she stopped a bank robbery but did so with karmic justice, stripping the robbers naked like they did the hostages. The cops didn’t even bother to cover the robbers to the car. But as the talk host points out, Plus didn’t have to do this; she was practically showboating in front of a camera. It seems that the humiliation the robbers went through was enough for them to stage a robbery. They were ready to humiliate Plus in front of a camera the way she did them. Only for Plus to see through the ruse and talk them down instead. She authentically apologizes and the robbers turn themselves in.
But “we’re square” doesn’t mean forgiveness between Plus and the robbers; they’re just not holding a grudge anymore. Kristen meanwhile has to shoulder the burden herself, because she’s the one who needs to be forgiven. That’s what the “be better” half means, holding yourself accountable for your part in something. Kristen appeals to the judge of the robbers’ case to make sure they stay on parole. All the while volunteering with their community service group as her civilian identity. She can still be a celebrity superhero, just not chase her next 15 minutes of fame.
Overground Needs A Real Plus Ultra
It’s a great story to go out on not just for Plus Ultra but for Overground Comics. You see some viewers might remember they were ready to include more titles like Ninja Boy. But the company ran into some troubles in 2017, both creative and financial. Joshua Flower, Overground’s art director, had some creative differences with the company’s direction. Apparently he already burned bridges with a few other publishers and eventually left Overground. This made a shift in the company along with funding running low. Not only did release schedules get screwy, Overground’s social media stopped making posts about their content.
As a result, Hughes and whoever was left of Overground had to go crowdfunding for marketing. While Plus Ultra manages to finish its run thanks to this, its sister series slows to a crawl. Absent Captain’s new art by Hughes definitely plays its part in that. Things looked good with America‘s digital graphic novel successfully funded. But the Plus Ultra collection campaign on Indiegogo… couldn’t make it. By 2020, their last campaign for a virtual comic-con and a new series couldn’t even get past 5% of its goal.
Plus Ultra Status… May Change With Time
Overground’s future is…undetermined. All of their creatives have left social media and any attempts to question the company’s status go unanswered. The website and free digital comics are still up so nobody has to miss out… for now. It is very impressive this website is running years since its last update. Most company websites don’t tend to last that long in dormancy.
In any case Plus Ultra manages to finish what it started. A story of standing out as a hero and a celebrity. It’s a constant struggle to stay in the spotlight and try to keep yours and other people’s dignity. Nobody knows that better than Jon Hughes trying to keep Overground afloat. None of the gimmicks as the big players, but all of the same drama. At the very least, this company’s premiere title ends with its head up high.
Thanks for coming to the end and as always remember to look between the panels.