Last year, M.O.D.O.K. showrunners Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum launched Minor Threats, a creator-owned series about a team of b-list supervillains published by Dark Horse. Today the publisher announced that Oswalt and Blum are returning to the world of Minor Threats with a followup 4-issue miniseries, The Alternates. The twist this time however is that the new series will explore ” b-list superheroes who struggle to reclaim their mediocre lives in a support group.”
Joining Oswalt and Blum along for the ride as a co-writer is Tim Seeley. The creative team also includes artists Christopher Mitten and Tess Fowler (Kid Lobotomy) with colors by Ian Herring and lettering by Nate Piekos.
Here’s how Dark Horse describes The Alternates:
Mary the Multi-Monster! The Tripper! Crab Louie! Kid Curious! Persona! Formerly the offbeat b-list superheroes, The Alternates, who seemingly sacrificed themselves to stop an invasion from another dimension. Instead, they were transported to a mirror reality where they lived complex lives in a more four-dimensional existence–expanding both their powers and consciousness. Five years later, they’ve returned to Twilight City, struggling to reacclimate to their old lives in a traditional two-dimensional superhero world–in withdrawal from the vivid ones they left behind. When elements from this alternate reality turn up as a dangerous new street drug, some of the heroes band together to destroy it, while others succumb to its temptation.
Patton Oswalt expressed great enthusiasm expanding the world of Minor Threats and bringing in other creators like Seeley, Mitten, and Fowler:
“Tim Seeley has LONG been one of our fave writer/artists. So, it was a thrill when we heard that our first run of MINOR THREATS sparked his imagination to further expand the world of Twilight City. If MINOR THREATS was a love letter to the moment where the Silver Age 70s gave way to the grim ‘n’ gritty 80s, then Seeley’s THE ALTERNATES is our collective mash note or the entire universe of 90s alt-comics. The fantastic inks by Christopher Mitten and lush paintings by Tess Fowler make an already amazing comic even better!”
Blum added:
“If the first MINOR THREATS series was a love letter to the c-list working class supervillains, then THE ALTERNATES is one for the early Vertigo comics of the 90s like Doom Patrol, Swamp Thing and Animal Man. Forgotten goofy heroes pulled into a suddenly ‘mature’ existence that both humanizes and alienates them. Tim is such a master and historian of comics, we were so thrilled with the new sandbox he built for us all to play in — once again offering a fresh and unique point of view we hadn’t yet seen explored in superhero comics. This story of existence, addiction, recovery and monster smashing was beautifully rendered thanks to the art of Christopher Mitten and paintings by Tess Fowler. “
Tim Seeley like professed his great admiration for the previous series:
“I love the first MINOR THREATS series so much that I couldn’t help but imagine another team of lovable losers in their world–this time, a squad of forgotten superheroes who got rebooted, and now crave their old lives so bad it borders on addiction. Jordan and Patton not only liked the idea, they added their creativity to make something that fits their universe perfectly!”
In addition to the main cover (which will also feature a foil variant) by Scott Hepburn there will also be variant covers by Tim Seeley, Fabio Moon, Martin Simmonds, and more.
Check out the variant covers below and look for Minor Threats #1 to arrive in stores on Wednesday September 13, 2023.
