Athletes are used to saving the day.
Whether it’s sacking the quarterback, hitting a last-second shot or producing a clutch performance, they’re already at hero status for the most part.
Former Bears lineman Israel Idonije took that concept to the next level in 2013 when he launched “The Protectors,” a comic book series featuring fictional athletes from a variety of sports who discover they have superpowers. And as of this week, fans can immerse themselves into the world he and his team at Athlitacomics, the Chicago-based company he founded, have created.
“There’s this whole universe that’s been created from this idea, and I’m just excited to hopefully not only tell the story but ultimately inspire people,” said Idonije, who played for the Bears from 2004-12. “If you’re out there and you have an idea and you want to do something, just do it.”
On Wednesday, “The Protectors” will debut as motion books on Apple TV and the Madefire app. The first season of the comic, which encompasses issues 1 through 5, will be rolled out as 15 weekly episodes from Dec. 16 through March 23.
Now, if only the Protectors could save the Bears’ 5-8 season.
“I think what’s most disappointing is that these guys have had the opportunities to win these games and for one reason or another they left the opportunities and have not been able to finish and capitalize,” Idonije said. “I think the good that we can look to is we have a great coaching staff.”
Idonije chatted with RedEye about what the comic series represents, his favorite villains and a strange, bacon-centric idea his former teammate proposed.
Comics often are a reflection of the real world. Are there any stories you plan to adapt in “The Protectors”?
I don’t know if there’s any direct stories we’re looking to kind of retell in our story. I think it’s more about life principles. In the story, all these athletes, what makes them such great athletes is truly a by-product of a greater gift that they were all given, which was ultimately given to them to save the human race from this evil force that controls our world today through politics, media and religion. In our [comics’] real world, those three platforms are controlled by the Dissenters when they’re in disguise. In our real world, I believe at the end of the day not just athletes but all of us as human beings, we all have amazing gifts and we all have amazing abilities and we all must make a choice day in and day out. What will I do with the gift I’ve been given, and will I make the decision to do more with it and impact our world in a better way?
How will the Madefire and Apple TV platforms enhance the reader experience?
I think it’s about being able to get the story to more people. The Madefire platform is incredible. We’re a part of the Just Read campaign, so we’re really big advocates of reading and reading comprehension. And for me as a kid that’s what comics really did. I did not love reading, but I loved to read my comic books, and the images drew me in and invited me to now read more so knew what was going on. To now be a part of Madefire and this Apple TV platform on this motion book rollout with our Season 1, we’re looking to hopefully engage young readers.
How many seasons of “The Protectors” have been planned so far?
We started laying out Season 2. We want to still be diligent and prepare for our entire second story arc, which is issues 6 through 10, and then we will hopefully have some exciting news following about how we’re going to be bringing Season 2 to our fans and our readers.
One of the athlete heroes in the series, Isaac Chike, clearly seems like you in comic-book form. Will anyone else from your football career make an appearance?
In “The Protectors,” we will have a few cameos of friends of mine. There’s a scene in Chicago that’s at an event and some of the guys that we’re fortunate are in the comic. Isaac Chike, who plays for the Chicago Blaze, he’s getting introduced to some of the people at the event.
Any plans to make “The Protectors” into a cartoon or movie?
We’re mostly looking to let the opportunities happen organically. We have been approached by a number of opportunities that are interested in this as a movie. We’re not there yet. We think there’s something to be said for creating the universe first and building everything out and telling the story over a number of seasons before you even enter any of those discussions.
Do your friends or former teammates ask you to be in your other comics series, “Sports Heroes,” or in “The Protectors”?
Definitely some guys want to be made as comic characters, which we’ll do. That’s the beauty of having the artist team in place, the guys that we know that have great stories, one, we want to tell their stories. We have plans to do 32-page comics of players based on their lives and stories and their message. Guys who have been through some pretty interesting things and have a great message to share with people.
Has anyone suggested storylines to you?
The funniest one is former Bear Anthony Adams. He wanted me to make a character and do a whole comic series around him called Bacon Blaze. He’s himself, but when there’s trouble in Chicago and in the world, he changes into this character, Bacon Blaze, and his power is he shoots like a bacon laser at the opponent and turns them into bacon and he eats them. [Laughs.] We might do it because it’d be so funny.
Has anyone volunteered to be the villain in the “Protectors” books?
You know what, no. No one really looks to be the villainous character. Everybody always wants to play the hero or a part of the good in the story. Which is a good thing. If one of my friends was like, “Hey, I want to be the evil, destructive force,” I’d be like, “Man, I’m worried about you.” [Laughs.]
You have said one of your favorite heroes is Black Panther, who will be featured in next year’s film “Captain America: Civil War.” What about his story makes him so compelling to you?
I didn’t start reading a lot of Black Panther until later. The first comics I got were actually the Green Hornet comics. Then when I started reading the Black Panther comics, the whole universe of Wakanda and the story and how they laid out this whole universe was incredible, and I had a real appreciation. Really just for how they did it, the ability to create and connect these characters and these stories was absolutely amazing, and he was one of them.
What about his story can you not wait to see on screen?
For the most part when I watch adaptations of the comics to the big screen I’m not one of those fans that ultimately is like, “Oh, they missed [this] or did [this].” I want to be able to say “What a great story” and have fun with it. I wasn’t sure how they were going to cast him, but I think they did a great job. When I watched the trailer [for “Captain America: Civil War”] it looks absolutely sick. It’s gonna be pretty exciting. What I’m going to be looking for when they roll out his movie … is what Wakanda looks like. Really the story that’s set in the country and what it’s like. There’s a lot of people that don’t know that aspect of the [Marvel] universe. I think I would like them to go back a little further into T’Chaka [the Black Panther’s father] … and tell the story before T’Challa [the Black Panther’s given name].
How frustrating are the Bears for you right now?
At the end of the day when you’re not winning, it’s tough. … There’s lots of work to do. I think at this point with the remaining games in the season it’s like really about finding out who can be part of the solution for next year.
Can the Bears win a Super Bowl with Jay Cutler?
I do think they can win with Jay. He has the ability and he has the talent to win a lot of football games or to be a part of the reason that the Bears win a lot of football games. I’m a Jay Cutler guy. At the end of the day the defense hasn’t been amazing [in 2015]. Your quarterback play has to be better in terms of not turning the ball over or making those mistakes in those close, critical situations.
Then you look at the kicking game, the Robbie Gould we’ve seen as of late, we’ve never seen that from Robbie. Robbie is one of those guys where I don’t care what else is going on, you can count on Robbie’s foot to get you where you need to be. Even in my 10 years there, we won a ton of games with Robbie. It’s been one of those years where those wins have been tough to come by. You get through this season, regroup and next year you’ve got to be prepared to put a better product on the field in all three phases.
ALL ABOUT THE MATCHUPS
As a former defensive lineman, Idonije is well-versed in powerhouse matchups. Here’s how he sees a few Marvel vs. DC clashes playing out if they ever materialize.
Thor vs. Superman
“I’d say Superman. They’re both gods ultimately, but as a Superman fan that’s who I’d be rooting for.”
Captain America vs. Batman
“I think I would go with Captain America. Batman, he’s a [normal] man. He’s just so intellectually advanced in his tech and his strategy, and that’s his advantage. If it was a situation where it’s just Captain America physically versus Batman, I’d probably lean toward Captain America.”
Scarlet Witch vs. Wonder Woman
“Wonder Woman. I think she has the edge as far as her strength and her ability in what she does.”
“I was asked at Detroit comic con who would win: Iron Man vs. Batman. It ended up being this big debate because this guy [said Iron Man] would go first but then Batman would do X. It ended up being Iron Man took him out of this atmosphere [to suffocate Batman]. The story could go anywhere, but it was fun. [Laughs.]”
EVERY HERO NEEDS A VILLAIN
We asked Idonije to give us his top three comic-book villains.
Magneto: “He isn’t a villain in his mind. [He believes] his cause is just. I think his powers are absolutely amazing.”
The Joker: “He’s the most diabolical, just purely evil.”
Juggernaut: “I read so much about him. He’s a villain I liked [growing up].”
Chris Sosa is RedEye’s sports editor. @redeyesportschi
