Welcome to the First Issue Bin, where I — Ethan Kaye — randomly grab one of this week's comics that’s just starting up and give you the details on whether it should get added to your collection … or remain on the comic shop shelf.
From the World of Minor Threats: Welcome To Twilight #1
Writer: Matt Fraction, with Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum
Artist: Michael Allred
Color Artist: Laura Allred
Letterer: Nate Piekos of Blambot
Editor: Daniel Chabon
If you haven't stepped a foot into Dark Horse's "From the World of Minor Threats" universe, you are a fool and we can't be friends.
Ah, just kidding. We're still friends, but you're missing out on a rapidly expanding superhero universe that's actually fun and funny and full of really unique characters. The story unfolds through multiple barely-connected miniseries, brainstormed by comedian Patton Oswalt (Ratatouille), American Dad producer Jordan Blum, and artist Scott Hepburn (Deadpool) and then executed by different writers and artists.
So far there have been five Minor Threats minis, stemming from the original 4-issue Minor Threats series in 2022 that introduced us to some of the supervillains and heroes who populate Twilight City. Each subsequent mini either furthers that story of past-their-prime villains taking on one last score, or introduces us to new facets of Twilight City — like the insectoid henchmen Shit Eater who just wants to play in a punk band, or the dysfunctional family dynamics of The Searcher and his kids that plays like a more violent Royal Tenenbaums.
It's a formula that pays off handsomely. Not only do you feel like these stories are more casual than world-ending dire, but you get to enjoy the quirks of different writers and artists playing out in short, 4-issue arcs. I think it's fair to contrast From the World of Minor Threats with Jeff Lemire's Black Hammer universe, a similar attempt at superhero world building from Dark Horse that takes itself much more seriously, drags on with long arcs, and doesn't have me looking forward to the next issue. From the World of Minor Threats is playful, created by people who have proven their comedy chops again and again, and is tapping into some amazing creative teams.
Case in point, From the World of Minor Threats: Welcome to Twilight #1, the first in a series of examinations of ancillary characters and events in the fictional metropolis of Twilight City. Issue #1 pairs writer Matt Fraction (FF, Sex Criminals) with the amazing artist duo of Michael and Laura Allred (Madman, iZombie). It's a tale of faded stardom, illicit sex, mob violence, and ultimately manipulating people into getting the ending you deserve. And it's funny. And it's gorgeous, both in art and colors.
Ben Bronkman was born with absolutely useless angel wings, but instead of trying his hand at being a superhero, he goes into acting as a TV cop, à la Miami Vice. Once his career is over, he's stuck on the ever-shrinking convention circuit, but a chance hookup with a pale-skinned mystery woman changes everything. Turns out she's the wife of a mob boss who lives as a tiny face and limbs sticking out of the face of a normal-sized man (this is, after all, a world of superheroes and villains). Things get complicated and play out fairly unexpectedly, with some great humor and super powers that, while interesting, aren't the point of the issue. It's a neo-noir stab at a redemption story, with bizarre characters playing all the parts.
Fraction hits every note expertly in his script, and the art by the Allreds is perfect for this tale. You can tell when characters are faking smiles or when they're holding information back. Everything is bright and clear, nothing is hidden in shadows — the art makes me feel like Twilight City is San Diego for some reason, although it's probably closer to Los Angeles. It's just a beautiful book that carries a sharp story along, a story that is over in 22 pages but you don't feel like you missed out on anything or something was omitted.
This stellar writer/artist combo is off the book after one issue, with future issues boasting the team-ups of Brian Michael Bendis and Soo Lee, Gail Simone and Gene Ha, and Gerry Duggan and Mark Torres. From the World of Minor Threats just keeps getting better and better, with more series packing big names and great reads. IMDb even lists a Minor Threats collaboration with Netflix coming up in the future, with Blum involved somehow.
Even though this doesn't connect to the rest of the From the World of Minor Threats books, or even the books that follow it in the Welcome to Twilight series, it's a great done-in-one read that can serve as a proper introduction to this exciting world of superheroes and villains (mostly villains) that emphasizes great characterization and plot over punches and cliffhangers.
Allreds' art: 5/5
Fraction's story: 5/5
Creepy con people: 5/5
Creepy superpeople: 2/5, only the villain is creepy
Ha ha funny stuff: 5/5
Verdict: A great place to jump into the From the World of Minor Threats universe, and a great reason to pick up the rest of the minis.
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