MINOR THREATS: THE LAST DEVIL LEFT STANDING #1 / Script by PATTON OSWALT & JORDAN BLUM / Art by SCOTT HEPBURN / Colors by IAN HERRING / Letters by NATE PIEKOS OF BLAMBOT / Published by DARK HORSE COMICS

Somehow, I lost track of the Minor Threats universe.

In truth, I’ve been having trouble finding time to read everything that has been offered to me or to write about it. (A fact that may have been apparent to regular readers this month and one for which I apologize. And I thank those of you polite enough to inquire as to if everything was alright.) Yet I was glad to get a chance to revisit the city of Redport. And I was relieved to find that catching up was easy enough.

For those who missed the original Minor Threats miniseries, a summary. The series centers around the D-list of the superhero community. The has-beens and never-were. The henchmen and the support staff. Most of the series has centered around Playtime – an inventive supervillain who abandoned reformation in favor of becoming the secret queen of Redport’s underworld. Unfortunately, that plan fell apart after she was betrayed by her lover and most trusted associate; the surgeon supervillain Scalpel.

Three years have passed and Playtime has been in hiding. Scalpel has taken over her empire and partnered with a land developer to start gentrifying Redport. Unfortunately, Scalpel’s treachery has finally caught up with her and the only one that can save her may be the lover she betrayed!

Oswalt and Blum are clearly superhero comic fans and they continue to play off the cliches of the genre beautifully. Despite the humor, however, there is depth and a truly touching (if twisted) character drama. That depth is perfectly realized by the artwork of Scott Hepburn. The colors of Ian Herring and the letters of Nate Piekos provide the perfect finish to the production.

The only thing that stops me from recommending Minor Threats: The Last Devil Left Standing #1 without reservation is the fact that it is best appreciated by established fans. So if you haven’t read it, go pick up the first trade. Start at the beginning. Savor it all as you build up to this point. It is something I shall do as I try to catch up on the Minor Threats miniseries I’ve missed. Luckily, Welcome To Twilight just got collected…

Minor Threats: The Last Devil Left Standing #1 arrives in stores on October 1, 2025.