Tech Jacket #2

Tech Jacket #2 was published in December 2002 as the second installment of a miniseries created by writer Robert Kirkman and artist E.J. Su for Image Comics. The series was developed during a period when Kirkman was rapidly establishing himself in the independent comic scene, focusing on the story of Zack Thompson, a teenager who finds an alien suit that grants him superpowers. It served as a quintessential example of the early 2000s trend of revitalizing the 'teen hero' archetype with a grounded, character-driven approach.

The visual design of the series, spearheaded by E.J. Su, aimed to blend traditional superhero aesthetics with a distinct, streamlined sci-fi sensibility. The suit itself was conceived as a piece of sentient technology, setting it apart from the magic or mutation-based origins common at the time. Upon its release, the series was received as a promising entry in the Image Comics catalog, eventually leading to Zack Thompson’s integration into the broader Invincible universe, which solidified the character's legacy among long-term readers of Kirkman's work.