REDCOAT #12, by Image Comics on 5/21/25, teams up Simon Pure with the Northerner to stop the Cobbler – a mysterious man bent on altering the course of history.
Credits:
- Writer: Geoff Johns
- Artist: Bryan Hitch
- Colorist: Brad Anderson
- Letterer: Rob Leigh
- Cover Artist: Bryan Hitch, Brad Anderson (cover A)
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: May 21, 2025
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 36
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of REDCOAT #12:
Recap:
When we last left Simon Pure in Redcoat #11, he met the Northerner – a Union soldier with modern bits of apparel and a bag full of modern weapons. When the Northerner crossed paths with a little girl hunted by Confederate soldiers, he swore to look after her while he completed his mission – to stop the Confederates from winning the war and to help Simon Pure realize he needed to get his immortal butt in gear.
Plot Analysis:
Redcoat #12 pulls Simon Pure into a mission for the Society for Historical Preservation. We begin in the middle of the last issue’s cliffhanger as Simon is accosted by the man he will later come to know as the Northerner. The man refuses to give his real name, but he eventually explains that he comes from a future where the Confederacy won the Civil War. Why? Somebody is feeding intelligence to the Confederate Generals about Union movements for the days and weeks to come. In other words, somebody is fooling with the outcome of historical events.
Why should Simon get involved? The Northerner explains Simon’s immortality is tied to America’s. If the Confederacy wins, America comes undone and so does Simon. Unmoved, Simon is willing to turn over the plans meant for General Hood in exchange for cash. The Northerner agrees and offers more if Simon will take him to the man who supplied the plans – the Cobbler. Money talks, so Simon agrees again.
The trio of travelers visit the barkeep who owns the tavern where Simon met the Cobbler, and persuaded him to offer information as to the Cobbler’s whereabouts. The issue ends when the travelers find the Cobbler’s home, but Simon isn’t prepared for the explosive gunfight he’s about to witness.
First Impressions:
After a succession of one-shot stories, Geoff Johns brings Simon Pure back to a larger narrative that presents several intriguing tidbits about the world Simon inhabits. From time cops to time thieves, things just got a lot more interesting.
Artwork and Presentation:
Ghost Machine’s reputation for comics with the best artists around remains intact. Bryan Hitch’s cinematically detailed pencils/inks present characters and a world that looks like it was photographed from a Hollywood movie set. Every detail is designed to draw you in and make you believe Simon’s world is real.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
Geoff John’s premise is the absolute highlight of this issue when we get little hints and teases that greater forces are at work around Simon, pulling him to participate in making things right, whether he likes it or not. The tidbits are small, so you’ll miss them if you’re not paying attention. For example, we know the Cobbler and the Northerner are connected to the Society for Historical Preservation, a Society with the capacity for Time Travel. I want to know more about that and what part Simon plays in a history that needs to be restored and protected.
The Negatives:
Time travel stories can be tricky, especially if the story breaks its own rules about time. Here, Johns doesn’t set up a rigid sense of rules, but the story seems to contradict itself in one or two spots, specifically the circumstances regarding when and where the Northerner and Simon will first meet. It’s not a big problem, but time travel requires abstract thinking on the readers’ part, so frustration abounds if the rules are ignored.
Big Picture:
Series Continuity:
Redcoat #12 is the first issue where the Unknown War is mentioned by name and referenced as something that’s coming for Simon Pure and the other Ghost Machine characters who live in the past and present. The Northerner’s throwaway comment isn’t confirmation of an Unknown War event, but it could be an early signal.
Final Thoughts:
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REDCOAT #12 makes Simon Pure’s alt-history life a whole lot bigger when he crosses paths with the Northerner on a mission to save history. Geoff John’s tale drops a plethora of nuggets and tidbits, suggesting that greater forces are at work and a crisis is imminent for a thoroughly intriguing issue. Plus, Bryan Hitch’s artwork is spectacular.
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