Advance Review: We are The Danger #1
Black Mask Comics have been going about their business quietly, putting out a range of quality books that have, to be fair, had quite a mature perspective. That all changes with We Are Danger #1.
Have you ever been the new kid on the block be it school, college or the first day at a job. Well, for Julie, the new girl on campus, her night involves get dragged to club by a girl, saved from the dangers of the mosh pit by a guy and before you know it, she becomes the lynchpin for The Danger, and thats where all her problems start, just as things take a turn for the better.
Written and illustrated by Fabian Lelay, the book covers a range of topics, to crushes, friendship, enemies, new environments and of course power ballads. Lelay’s characters are a mix of archetypes that we have seen before, which may detract from the story for some. Indeed, this book feels like a mix between Josie and the Pussycats and Hi-fi Fight Club, with similar topics being covered. Given that there are few original ideas out in the fictional world nowadays, this book does possess a level of fun, despite the fact I am probably not the target audience. Indeed when DC tried something similar with Batgirl, I hated it. I guess it just goes to show that this style may not suit every genre. The writing is crisp and the characters do have a level of believability to them, which does generate a lot of faith in the story.
Lelay’s art, very much like a raft of similar books has a cartoony style with simple lines that belabours the great storytelling on show. With the thrust of the book being relationships of one kind or another the art needs to convey all the relevant emotions, as confusing as those can be. Lelay captures this extremely well, through the over emotive faces that have a manga type of feel. Lelay mixes his styles well, so that the art, is a greater sum of all its influences. Colorist Claudia Aguirre resists the urge to go four-color crazy, instead delivering a more subtle scheme that is quite a pleasant surprise, given the possible young adult tone.
Even though this book is not my usual style, I appreciate that Black Mask are trying to diversify their range. With that sentiment aside, this book is a solid slice of a lighter tone book that, like a lot of Black Mask’s work, goes to prove that there ae more to comic books than superheroes.
Writing – 4 Stars
Art – 4 Stars
Colors – 4 Stars
[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
Written and Art by; Fabian Lelay
Colors by; Claudia Aguirre
Published by; Black Mask Comics
Author Profile
- I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow
Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network
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