After a brief hiatus, I’m back with another comic book review. This week I’ll be looking into Minor Threats, a series published by Dark Horse. This miniseries consists of two sets of four issues with the first arc titled “A Quick End To A Long Beginning.” The story is written by Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum featuring artwork from Scott Hepburn. The story takes place in Twilight City, home to many super-powered heroes and villains.

However, like most Indie books, Minor Threats seeks to deliver a fresh new angle to the superhero genre. Our major characters are not the heroes but instead villains. Not just any villains, however, but the absolute bottom-of-the-barrel villains. After the shocking murder of a notable sidekick upsets the delicate status quo between the heroes and villains, an unlikely band of misfits takes it upon themselves to dispense justice.

Minor Threats certainly leans heavily into the dirtier side of the superhero genre. Taking inspiration from stories like Watchmen and The Boys, the heroes of Twilight City are far from paragons of morality. When mixed with the flawed but somewhat endearing qualities of our villainous protagonists, you end up with a world that feels more akin to reality. However, there are certainly still many elements firmly rooted in the fantastical. Twilight City is filled with unique neighborhoods, anomalies, and denizens that are brought to life with Scott Hepburn’s exceptional artwork and the bright colors of Ian Herring.

I enjoyed how each issue takes a close look at each of our colorful protagonists, taking time to outline their past and analyze how this affects their actions in the present day. Now this has been done in books, such as Suicide Squad, before but here I found the characters to be more likable and charming. This might have something to do with the more comedic tone which favors elements of dark humor.

Oswalt and Blum strike a great balance here weaving comedy into the narrative in a way that feels natural. Both Oswalt and Blum worked to create Hulu’s stop motion show M.O.D.O.K, with Oswalt himself voicing the character. They have tried to capture some of that essence within Minor Threats. Characters such as Brain Tease, essentially act as Oswalt and Blum’s homage to Marvel’s super genius. Others such as Playtime and Scalpel feel a little fresher, while still capturing elements of golden-age characters that provide the series with it’s identity.

Another positive for this work is the pacing. Issues move along at just the right pace with a constant stream of action to keep your eyes engaged.

On the other hand, I did have a few complaints with the plot. For one thing it’s relatively predictable with the outcome being clearly defined by the first initial setup issue. Now this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I would have enjoyed if the murder investigation was played up slightly more. It’s clear who’s responsible from the start and that removes some potential tension from the story, especially when the final confrontation reveals nothing new in terms of motivations. It’s disappointing a story all about antagonists falls flat with it’s own major villain who simply comes across as a knockoff Joker stand-in.

Nevertheless, Minor Threats is still quite an entertaining read. The story ends with a satisfying conclusion that does leave the opportunity open for future works. Though I would like to see more from the universe, I do think the next story arc should move on to other characters; maybe focusing more on the heroes next while the protagonists here take on their traditional roles. It could serve to help deepen the underlying themes surrounding the cycle of violence. Here’s hoping the second half can stick the landing.

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Minor Threats: A Quick End To A Long Beginning

$19.99

7.5

Score

7.5/10

Pros

• Colorful world and characters
• Humor is welcome
• Excellent Pacing

Cons

• Weak major antagonist
• Mystery/noir elements underused