Read our review of Minor Threats II: The Fastest Way Down #1 from Dark Horse Comics, written by Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum with art by Scott Hepburn.
We reviewed the book on the Stack podcast. But in the interest of highlighting more about the title, here’s a summary of the conversation with our thoughts. And if you prefer the longer audio version, that’s below as well!
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Minor Threats II: The Fastest Way Down #1 Review:
In the sequel to the hit series, Playtime has taken over the underworld in Twilight City and is wasting no time making big changes. Only problem? She’s going down a very, very dark path at the same time.
“This is bloody,” said host Alex Zalben. “This is intense. This is my favorite new superhero universe in years.”
Added Pete LePage, “I do love… the gritty nature of the artwork, that does such a great job of pulling you into this world. I also like the chaos factor that this comic has, it reminds me a little bit of Happy, which Patton worked on the TV show… [With] these characters there’s this possibility of, anything can happen, nobody is safe. You’re on the edge of your seat with this comic.”
Zalben compared this series so far to The Godfather II, versus the first series Godfather, specifically because of the plot points of the heir apparent stepping up in the sequel and then having to deal with the ramifications.
“The setup here clearly is, now I’m in charge of this whole mob. What do I do?” said Zalben. “This is really creative superhero universe focusing on the soul of villains. Very, very good art from Scott Hepburn as well… Gritty, grimy, ’70s, early ’80s stuff. Great book. Definitely pick it up.”
Minor Threats II: The Fastest Way Down #1 Official Synopsis:
The hit superhero saga that’s Watchmen meets The Wire returns 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).
Frankie Follis AKA the costumed criminal Playtime has won. Twilight City’s greatest hero The Insomniac and its greatest villain The Stickman are dead, allowing Frankie to unify the super crook underworld and assert herself as the Queenpin of Redport. But Frankie is feeling the pressure from every side. Rival gangs are challenging her authority, Scalpel her consigliere is pushing her to legitimize her empire, and the act of murdering The Insomniac has broken something deep inside her. Frankie is about to learn the hard way . . . heavy is the head that wears the supervillain crown.
In the vein of Sin City, Black Hammer, and The Boys, this noir-ish superhero caper, focuses on a lower-class kind of criminal, similar to the Coen Bros most pulpy films, but set in a high concept world of heroes and villains.
