RISE Returns in a Race to the Climax
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 25th, 2025 (New London, CT) — Pocket Watch Press is excited to announce the continuation of their bold new take on the superhero genre! NOW LIVE!
Created and written by Trevor Fernandes-Lenkiewicz (AREA 51: THE HELIX PROJECT, MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT) with art & colors by Ryan Best, colors by Fabi Marques (issue #1), and Letters by Mathias Zanetti! (2025)
Pocket Watch Press presents RISE, following Jonathan A. Prufrock as he comes face to face with the perils of the male ego while attempting to be super. The first four issues of this premium print comic combine for a whopping 160 pages and explores the performative nature of masculinity through the elevated life of a superhero attempting to navigate the pressures of what it really means to be a good man. Further, we ask, what does it take for one person to feel themselves deserving of love?
In an industry saturated with superheroes, what makes this one RISE above the rest?
The deconstruction of the superhero has been done at the highest level, by the best creative minds our industry has to offer. RISE subverts The Hero’s Journey to deconstruct man, a re-contextualization really.. The “Superman” is the iconic vessel to explore the ways in which the male ego is often dependent upon someone’s ability to fulfill for others, and the damning ways in which that mentality might make a man dangerously fragile.
"Trevor has a Passion (with a capital P) for creating comics and it shows in every aspect of what he creates.“
~Jimmy Gaspero (Comic Book Yeti)
“Trevor and Ryan are two of the most interesting and passionate creators in comics, and together they make magic. You can expect a thoughtful story and creative art with top notch character acting.”
~Pat Shand (DESTINY, NY; SMOKE WEED, SEE THE FUTURE; CHEEKY)
"RISE makes you questions the merits of heroism in all the best ways.“
~BJ Kicks (Comics Are Dope)
Issue #4 Covers: A by interior artist, Ryan Best | B by Thaddeus Robeck | C by Samuel Iwunze | D (wraparound) by interior artist, Ryan Best.
“For nearly three years, I’ve been asked one question, and despite its various forms, they’ve all led the same answer. ‘Trevor, when will you work on a superhero comic?’ And for nearly as much time as that has been asked of me, the answer was unanimously, ‘No.’” said Trevor Fernandes-Lenkiewicz (He/Him). “What could I do that hasn’t been done already? Alan Moore exists. Scott Snyder, Geoff Johns, Kurt Busiek, Grant Morrison, Frank Miller exists. Peter David, Walt & Louise Simonson, Mark Waid, Jonathan Hickman, John Byrne, Jason Aaron, Jeff Lemire, Rick Remender, Kieron Gillen all exist.
These people have pulled apart the core of the superhero and reformed it in dozens of different ways. How can I possibly stand out against that?
This story is about the man underneath the cape. RISE sets out to confront one man's relationship with his own masculinity, the burdens of guilt, questioning his responsibility to the world around him and the role that he plays within it. Jon's powers scale with the dopamine in his bloodstream, which means his ability to do the things only he can do are limited by his capacity to feel good--which aren't always inherently good themselves. What makes a man feel powerful? How might some of those proclivities be detrimental? The strongest man on the planet is faced with the weight of decision every single waking second of his life and has to perform the role of being a ‘Superman’ to perfection. His ability to make the right judgement call means life or death for everyone around him. All of that, compounded with the fact that he has to feel good to do good. Unfortunately, that’s not always how life works. More often than not, being the best man, and ultimately the best person you can be requires that you do what you can even when you’re at your worst.”
A taste of what you’ll find inside…
About Pocket Watch Press:
Your home for thought provoking entertainment. Striving to put everything on the page, from original comic book titles to work for hire writing and editorial services Pocket Watch Press collaborates with a host of globally diverse talent to reflect a wider perspective in their storytelling landscape.