Danger Club, Vol. 1 TP Review


It’s an amazingly different feel, reading the first four issues of Danger Club without the necessary gaps of time between issues.  But does it improve as a package deal or fail to impress?  Read on to find out.

The official description from Image:

Faced with the deadliest peril the universe has ever known, the world’s greatest heroes left the Earth to battle a nightmarish evil… and they never came back. Now only their teenage sidekicks remain. Will the Danger Club unite against this unknown cosmic menace, or will their struggle for dominance destroy them?

Collects DANGER CLUB #1-4 and includes a special never before seen sketchbook section.

It’s not the first time someone has taken the idea of superheroes and envisioned a world where those notions take a nasty turn.  The end result is usually a dystopia but the beauty of this series is it’s really about a planet that’s steadily transitioning their divergent cultures and societies into that bleak existence.  We have the lay of a land that seems depressing and yet exciting at the same time, as the fate of the world falls onto the shoulders of the sidekicks.  There are some truthfully mature themes at work here and despite some very light characterizations it’s the power of raw human emotions that indeed carries this tale to a rousing cliffhanger.

Landry Q. Walker offers a script for four comic books that are honestly meant to be read back to back.  It’s not just that the story between them overlaps and plot lines carry from one issue to the next, it’s the fact that each moment offered up usually sends a very specific punch to the gut.  Whether it’s the idea of a hero gone bad, a friend betraying a friend, sacrificing a sibling or coming to the realization of how dark and messed up the world really is, the impact of these scenes is powerful but together it translates to a proficient crescendo.  That’s what you’re holding in your hands here, an emotional ride through a sad rendition of the world that plays off of elements of human nature while marching toward its own destruction.  It may not be perfect but trust me when I say the end of the world reads really well.

Eric Jones simply astounds with his excellent art in this volume.  His pencil strokes yield a vibrant reality that borrows from all the classic comic book tropes associated with the superhero genre, while simultaneously blending them with this gritty and dark reality.  His rendition of Kid Vigilante comes to mind as a prominent example of his skills.  The narrative calls for a character that seems to echo the classic sidekick style usually associated with Robin but with a hint of the Punisher which makes him his own unique monster.  The talent succeeds at realizing these complicated combinations throughout the piece, so in short if you’re not blown away by the concept stay for the art.

Danger Club, Vol. 1 TP is not a perfect release but it’s an ideal way to catch on this hard-hitting series.  It won’t appeal to everyone but if you’ve found yourself to be a fan of comic book superheroes you should give this title a read.  Recommended.

4/5

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