E-Man #23

E-Man #23 was published by First Comics in 1985 as part of the revival of the character originally created by Nicola Cuti and Joe Staton in the 1970s. The series was known for its satirical, lighthearted approach to the superhero genre, featuring Alec Tronn, an energy-based being navigating human life. This issue captures the mid-1980s shift toward more experimental independent publishing, where creators often combined traditional comic book tropes with surrealist humor and meta-textual commentary.

The visual style of this era of E-Man remains rooted in Joe Staton’s clean, expressive line work, which balances classic comic aesthetics with the heightened, often absurdist tone of the character's adventures. By the time of the twenty-third issue, the series was firmly established as a cult favorite, appreciated by readers for its refusal to take the grim-and-gritty trends of the mid-80s seriously. It remains a notable example of First Comics' commitment to character-driven storytelling outside of the mainstream duopoly.