Written by Jordan Blum and Patton Oswalt, Minor Threats: Quick End to a Long Beginning takes a unique approach to the superhero vs. supervillain narrative. With a dark and twisted storyline, this comic book explores the lives of those who are often overshadowed in superhero stories – the minor villains. So sit back, hold tight, and get ready – it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Minor Threats takes place in Twilight City, where Stickman has just committed an unforgettable crime – the murder of Kid Dusk, the sidekick to the city’s main hero, The Insomniac. The death of Kid Dusk has sent The Continuum into a frenzy, turning the city into a police state. The Continuum is in search of Stickman and wants to stop Insomniac from crossing the final line, which could bring him over to the dark side. This leaves the minor villains in a precarious situation. They find it impossible to pull off crimes or even walk down the street without harassment from the heroes.
Enter Playtime, a former villain who wants to take matters into her own hands. She puts together a team of equally disgruntled supervillains to take down Stickman and kill him themselves. This decision leads her on a dark journey into the criminal underbelly she’s tried so hard to escape. This is where the story takes a dark turn. We see Playtime use her skills to gather her team and plan the assassination of Stickman. The storyline is very different from traditional superhero tales where the supervillains are defeated easily. Here, the story concentrates on the lesser-known villains and explores their motives and struggles.
Scott Hepburn‘s art style perfectly captures the grit and grime of Twilight City and its inhabitants. The use of color by Ian Herring perfectly sets the tone for the story. The change in color and art style between the past and present day add an extra layer to the narrative, making it more impactful.
Minor Threats not only subverts the superhero genre, but also explores themes of redemption, morality, and the gray area between right and wrong. The story sheds light on the struggles of the characters who are often overshadowed by the heroes. The creative storyline and unique perspective make for a riveting read that leaves a lasting impact.
It’s not just a story about the battle between good and evil, but also about redemption, morality, and the gray area between the two. Minor Threats Vol. 1: Quick End to a Long Beginning hits local comic shops on June 21, 2023 and bookstores everywhere on July 11.
Minor Threats is the first creator-owned comic series from Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum, showrunners of Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K on Hulu, and superstar artist Scott Hepburn (Tom Morello’s Orchid).
