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Minor Threats #2
- Writer:
- Patton Oswalt, Jordan Blum
- Artist:
- Scott Hepburn
- Letterer:
- Nate Piekos of Blambot
- Cover Artist:
- Scott Hepburn, Ian Herring
- Publisher:
- Dark Horse Comics
- Price:
- $4.99
- Release Date:
- 2022-10-05
- Colorist:
- Ian Herring
It's good to be bad and vice versa in Dark Horse Comics' fresh superhero series that subverts expectations. In Minor Threats #2 -- by writers Jordan Blum and Patton Oswalt, artist Scott Hepburn, colorist Ian Herring, and letterer Nate Piekos -- it's up to the rogues to put an end to the chaos in their city. Time will tell, however, if they have what it takes to do so or if they will be flattened by The Insomniac, who lacks both sleep and sanity, by the looks of it.
After The Stickman wipes Kid Dusk off the board, every villain is terrified, as are the heroes of Twilight City. The heroes have turned the city into a police state, trying to find The Stickman before the raging Insomniac does. Frankie and her band of motley criminals are also on The Stickman's tail, trying to get to him before anyone else does, and events escalate even further.
Just when the audience thinks they've figured out Minor Threats, Blum and Oswalt change the rules of the game. There's definitely an air of Silver Age Batman to this story, especially considering the presence of Brain Tease, who is a tribute to the Riddler, and The Insomniac's rage. As the writers explained in a spoiler-filled interview about the first issue, every issue focuses on a flashback of a different villain -- and it's time for Brain Tease to shine here. Like before, Blum and Oswalt create multidimensional characters, choosing to show how layered and complex people can be rather than being labeled good or evil. While they might be villains who have done despicable things in the past, there's more to them than meets the eye.
Carrying on the excellent work from the first issue, Hepburn, Herring, and Piekos continue to craft the next chapter in their love letter to the superhero genre. The fun level has also been amped up to 11 for Minor Threats #2, as it's clear the art team is having a good time with these situations and characters. There are more than a few subtle tributes to other series and famous comic books lurking in the panels. All the moments with the aptly named Killpig, for example, are side-splittingly hilarious and likely to result in many readers asking for the spinoff title where this all-action wild boar gets the spotlight. Additionally, the treatment of The Insomniac is spot-on, as he's undoubtedly a Batman-gone-wild spoof.
Two issues in, it's safe to say Minor Threats #2 is an early contender for the best new comic book series of the year. While it could have easily been nothing more than a shallow parody of the superhero genre, it does something else and comes across as deeper than many of the deliberately serious comic books out there. It also proves that redemption can exist if the person is truly committed to change.