Twilight City is a place of many secrets. Some come to light. Others never do.
In the case of David O’Halloran, his job is to make certain cases disappear without a trace. It’s a messy job but O’Halloran thrives in this area. He is THE CLEANER.
When a new client reaches out, O’Halloran finds himself wrapped up in a mystery that he can’t make disappear that easily.
MINOR THREATS: THE CLEANER #1 by Gerry Duggan (with Patton Oswalt & Jordan Blum) Mark Torres & Nate Piekos (of Blambot) brings readers into a dark corner of Twilight City.
Let’s see what transpires in this latest Minor Threats spin-off.
MINOR THREATS: THE CLEANER #1 by Gerry Duggan (with Patton Oswalt & Jordan Blum) Mark Torres & Nate Piekos (of Blambot) - DARK HORSE COMICS
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Duggan ushers in the latest character in the MT universe with a gritty welcome shrouded in mystery. The opening segment is very calm as O’Halloran assess his latest case. Covering up a gang murder leads to more underbelly hijinks that Twilight City is known for. The writing paints O’Halloran as a jaded soul whose had his fair share of personal mistakes and loss. Watching his flashbacks commences cements the pain behind his work. This becomes temporary as a new player walks into his life.
The banter between Clara Fortunato and O’Halloran shows how fast events can turn. Readers watch as the calm poise O’Halloran shows in his work fades into a high school crush. Focus is reclaimed quickly as a new job comes his way. The tone swings fast into a more problematic feel as a vested party is looking for O’Halloran. Their talk reflects the heavy weight involved with this party’s demands and lengths to get what they want. Complicating matters more is the closing act. Another issue arises that adds more pressure to O’Halloran’s life. It is a steady build with stakes never ending in their impact. A solid lead-in for what can only be a complex look at life in Twilight City.
MORE MINOR THREATS!
Torres’ style is a natural fit for this vision of Twilight City. The opening two page spread is a wild scenario unfolding with the rival gangs at work. It’s aftermath brings in O’Halloran via use of shadows on panels. The look gives him an ominous feel as he assess the scene. This plays off his current client’s more devilish smile to cover their own tracks. Both keep their true intentions close to the vest. The story switches fast to some flashback panels to feature O’Halloran as a flawed person. Using black and white coloring makes the panels pop while pivoting to a new conversation.
Fortunato and O’Halloran meet in an awkward half panel. The reactions on display cover much ground as it builds a small bridge for a longer talk down the road. Once this concludes, the art bring son some slight action as the new job starts. A wild car chase spirals into a chilling encounter. O’Halloran’s latest meeting is presented with an excellent half panel. This is followed by a mesmerizing full image that details the latest proposal. This vision allows for a nice lead-in for the more grounded final act. Panel structure teases a greater threat on the horizon. It caps off with O’Halloran giving a unique look as his world becomes more complicated by the minute.
OVERALL GRADE: 8.7
David O’Halloran’s dual life is anything but ordinary as the latest Minor Threats spin-off spins a very intriguing web. Duggan constructs a tale with many moving parts. Torres delivers on key elements while establishing the dangers rising all around. Another eye-catching visit to Twilight City is about to begin & fans won’t want to miss it!
Let me know your thoughts on MINOR THREATS: THE CLEANER #1 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
