Expanding upon the world that Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum created with their comic, Minor Threats, the creators are joined by writer Matt Fraction and artist Michael Allred for Welcome to Twilight, a story about a human born with wings who becomes an actor.
Ben Bronkman starred in the hit 1980s TV show, Wing and Prayer, until his co-star died of a boat-related cocaine accident. Now, he survives by making convention appearances and signing autographs. After one such convention, Bronkman takes a woman he met in a bar to his hotel room, but he wakes up alone the next morning to a room covered in blood, bathwater, and feathers. Obsessed with the woman’s beauty, he sets off to find his mystery girl in Twilight City.
In the tradition of Ben Edlund’s The Tick and Robert Kirkman’s Invincible universes, Oswalt and Blum’s Minor Threats universe masterfully uses parody and satire to skewer and innovate the superhero genre. Matt Fraction’s noirish story about a hard-drinking, washed-up actor with wings, but no powers, makes them essentially useless in a superhero-filled world, giving our hero something to long for. Michael Allred’s rendering gives Ben’s wings a look very similar to the X-Men’s Archangel. Anyone who has read a noir story, or a Minor Threats story, knows there are very few, if any, angels to be found.
The plot structure itself isn’t too unfamiliar for fans of noir. Fraction’s first issue hits all the marks, subverting elements as needed to make it his own unique take. Allred’s art would be too cartoony for a hard-boiled crime story, but it’s perfect for the Minor Threats universe. There are only so many noir plot points and premises; switching these elements out in wacky ways is how to keep the genre alive and kicking.
Laura Allred’s colors are what bring this book alive. Her palette is another subversion of noir and a highlight of the story. What can I say about Nate Piekos’ lettering that hasn’t already been said? It’s almost the lifeblood of this book. Bronkman’s narration is subtle but also well-timed. Having someone who has literally written the book on lettering on your team ensures that you have the best in the business.
This first of four issues is fantastic, and I cannot wait to see how the rest of Welcome to Twilight unfolds.
Creative Team: Matt Fraction (writer), Patton Oswalt (writer), Jordan Blum (writer), Michael Allred (artist), Laura Allred (colorist), Nate Piekos (letterer)
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
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