Some superheroes are born with incredible powers. Others are bitten by radioactive animals, exposed to cosmic energy, or come from distant planets.
Then there is Juiceman.
Created, written, and illustrated by Scott James, Juiceman is the story of Zach O’Neill, a young man whose desperate attempt to reclaim the life he lost transforms him into one of the most unconventional superheroes in modern independent comics. Now, with Juiceman #12: Torched, Scott James is bringing the character back for another explosive chapter—and it is worth looking back at where this unusual hero came from.
Zach O’Neill begins his story as a 21-year-old paraplegic working as a laboratory intern for the Phoenix Corporation. The company is developing an experimental super-serum known as Juice that combines nanotechnology and genetic engineering.
Zach sees the experimental serum as something more than a scientific breakthrough. He sees it as a chance.
He injects himself with the serum, hoping to regain the use of his legs. Instead, the treatment transforms him into something far beyond what anyone expected. His spinal injury somehow causes the serum to affect him differently from the other test subjects, pushing his physical abilities to extraordinary levels.
Zach becomes the first Juiceman.
But becoming a superhero is only the beginning of the story.
The Phoenix Corporation realizes that Zach’s transformation could potentially be replicated and turned into something much larger. At the same time, a growing population of super-powered mutants creates a dangerous new world in which someone will have to stand on the front lines.
Juiceman becomes that hero.
One of the things that makes Juiceman different from many superhero characters is his strong connection to Chicago.
Scott James’ original online series began in December 2018 with the story “Sweet Home Chicago!” The series eventually grew to 100 episodes on Tapas, chronicling Zach’s transformation and his increasingly complicated life as a superhero.
Chicago isn’t simply a backdrop for Juiceman. It becomes part of the character’s identity.
The city provides the perfect environment for James’ combination of superhero action, humor, bizarre villains, larger-than-life personalities, and surprisingly human character drama.
Juiceman may have become enormously powerful, but Zach O’Neill remains at the center of the story.
As Juiceman’s career develops, he crosses paths with the Chicago-based superhero team known as the Super Turks.
Led by the veteran Captain Liberty, the Super Turks become allies of the new hero. Together, they take on a growing collection of villainous mutates and threats to the city.
The partnership gives Juiceman something he desperately needs: other heroes who understand what it means to live in a world where extraordinary powers have become increasingly common.
Unfortunately, the alliance doesn’t last forever.
The sinister Dark Liege orchestrates an attack that devastates the Super Turks, leaving Juiceman to deal with the consequences.
That loss becomes one of the defining moments in Juiceman’s history.
The history of Juiceman is also the story of Scott James developing a character through independent publishing.
The series began online, but James eventually brought Juiceman into print. Scott’s own blog announced in 2021 that Juiceman #3 was headed to print and would be available at C2E2.
The character continued to expand beyond his original series, eventually receiving a collected edition from Markosia.
The first Juiceman collection brought together 130 pages of Scott James’ work, introducing readers to Zach’s origin, the Phoenix Corporation, the Super Turks, and the increasingly dangerous world surrounding Chicago’s newest superhero.
And the Juiceman universe didn’t stop there.
Juiceman’s adventures have continued to introduce new heroes and villains while putting Zach through increasingly difficult challenges.
The second volume picks up following the death of Captain Liberty and the collapse of the Super Turks. Juiceman and Freedom are left facing a Chicago where the balance of power has dramatically shifted.
Among the threats are Icelander, Plasma, Dark Liege, Kill Crazy, the Sisterhood of Seduction, Mind Freak, and Kanaloa. The story also introduces the new hero M.A.N.T.I.S.S. and brings in the unpredictable Sensational She-Newt.
What started as a story about a young man trying to walk again has evolved into a much larger superhero saga.
And beneath all the action, Scott James continues to explore Zach’s history and the emotional consequences of becoming Juiceman.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of Juiceman’s history is watching the character interact with other independent comic characters and creators.
Juiceman has appeared in material connected to Savage Dragon, including the anthology Super Freaks. Image Comics described the book as a celebration of 30 years of Savage Dragon, with Scott James among the independent creators contributing to the project.
The character has also crossed over with other independent creations, including Tracht Man. In Tracht Man #12, Juiceman appears as a guest star alongside the German superhero in a story involving a gigantic gingerbread man.
More recently, the Juiceman universe crossed over with She-Newt. The crossover was significant enough that Toy Robot Comics creator material explains that the idea grew out of a sticker created as a stretch goal for an earlier Juiceman Kickstarter. What began as a joke eventually developed into an actual crossover story.
That’s one of the great things about independent comics: characters can grow organically through relationships between creators and their audiences.
Now Comes Juiceman #12: Torched
And that brings us to the reason we’re here.
Scott James is returning to Kickstarter with Juiceman #12: Torched.
For readers who have followed Zach O’Neill from his earliest days as a desperate young laboratory intern, this represents another chapter in a superhero saga that has been developing for years.
For new readers, Torched is also an invitation to discover a character with a remarkably unusual origin.
Juiceman isn’t simply another super-powered bruiser.
He’s a hero whose powers came from a desperate gamble.
He’s a man whose disability was part of the catalyst for his transformation rather than something the story simply ignores.
He’s a Chicago superhero who has experienced friendship, loss, betrayal, victory, defeat, and some truly outrageous super-powered adventures.
And he’s a character who has continued to evolve alongside the independent comics community.
From a Tapas webcomic that began in 2018 to print comics, collected editions, crossovers and appearances alongside other independent heroes, Scott James has built Juiceman one story at a time.
The character’s history is now substantial enough that Juiceman #12: Torched isn’t simply another new comic.
It is the latest chapter in a superhero’s ongoing journey.
Zach O’Neill wanted his life back.
Instead, he became Juiceman.
And apparently, Chicago isn’t finished with him yet.
You can support Scott James and Juiceman #12: Torched on Kickstarter.
Support Juiceman #12: Torched on Kickstarter
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