The Story of The Middleman!


The Middleman began as a pilot written by Javier "Javi" Grillo-Marxuach way back in 1998, while he was a co-producer on the hit WB series Charmed. 

Although the original script bears very little difference to what eventually became Volume One of the graphic novel series - and was shot almost word-for-word in 2007 as "The Pilot Episode Sanction" - the initial response to the material was less than auspicatory. 


Unable to sell anyone - much less a television network - on the material, The Middleman went into hibernation in the cold, dark void of Javi's hard drive for what would seem like an eternity.  
In 2004, while working on  Lost, Javi had the good fortune to meet Paul Dini - whose name should be known to lovers of good comics everywhere. 


Dini was generous enough to share with Javi his insights into the world of independent comics publishing. 

Armed with a wealth of newfound wisdom, Javi set out to find an artist and publisher to bring The Middleman to life! 
Soon thereafter, Javi had the great luck of finding Les McClaine, whose book Highway 13 he adored. 


Les signed up quickly, and within a short span of time, character designs and a pitch for a series of graphic novels were on the table... now all they needed was a publisher. 
While trolling the small press aisles of the 2004 San Diego Comic Con, Javi made the acquaintance of Jessie Garza and the rest of the Viper Comics crew. 

Aided by their good taste (they also published Josh Howard's amazing Dead@17) and impeccable design sense, The Middleman was soon crowding the shelves of fine comic book stores everywhere! Between 2005 and 2007, Javi and Les produced three full-length Middleman graphic novels.


The world of television was sure to take notice... right?

In the fall of 2007, the ABC Family television network optioned The Middleman!

With the pilot script already written and the comic standing as a handy visual proof of concept, The Middleman quickly moved into production with Matt Keeslar in the titular role and Natalie Morales as Wendy Watson. 

The show was picked up to series in early 2008 with a thirteen episode order for that summer!
Though acclaimed by critics and loved by a small but loyal audience, The Middleman TV series did not exactly make a splash in the Neilsens and shut down production after only twelve episodes. 


The lost series-ending thirteenth episode was subsequently produced as a graphic novel with art by Armando Zanker and was the subject of a live reading at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con!
Today - thanks to you, the Middlefan community - The Middleman lives on. 


After a successful crowd-funding campaign in 2013, our titles are all in print in new large-format remastered editions (thanks to a loving restoration designed by Lee Thompson) including the latest, The Middleman: Volume 5 - The Pan Universal Parental Reconciliation with art by Les McClaine and Armando Zanker!

The continued existence of The Middleman is a credit to fans worldwide, who have generously provided for it through crowd funding, and their ongoing support of this site - to all of you, we here at O2STK are infinitely grateful!