This is a rad week for comics. Between all the Hannah Barbera/DC specials, Judge Dredd, Blackwood and more; there’s tons to read this week. One book from Black Mask Studios deserves a place on your pull lists, We Are The Danger is one of if not the only accurate representation of the ethos of punk rock. At the very least it’s better than anything Hollywood or that assclown Matthew Lillard ever did.

We Are The Danger #1

 

 

Art & Story: Fabian Lelay

Colors: Claudia Aguirre

Letters: Taylor Esposito

Published by: Black Mask Studio

 

In my record collection you’ll find The Last, Black Flag, The Vandals, Tiger Army, H2O, Minor Threat, The Cars, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bouncing Souls, and of course Descendents. But in truth, I’d never label myself a punker. Not because I lack a mohawk, piercings, and ripped shirts; but because those things are just a surface misunderstood by society. You can’t call a style of dress “a fight for change” it’s a way to live. We Are The Danger is a comic that gets what a story about rebellion and music should be. I’d never heard of its creator Fabian Lelay before or even knew what this book was about but by the time I flipped the last page of this issue, I’d been won over.

We Are The Danger’s opening focuses on two young music enthusiasts. Julie is Filipina going through the fish out of water motions in a new school. We’re introduced to her as she attends a gig she was invited to by the only person to not avoid her on a rough first day, a free spirit named Tabitha. Julie’s impressed to find out Tabitha is the badass drummer of the band she’s gone to see and the two form an instant bond over love of music. As Tabitha finds herself on the outs with her current group’s superficial egotistical leader, she and Julie put themselves on a path to form something new.

Fictional stories in film, TV, or comics about music are typically awful (rare exceptions apply). Often the stories are filled with pandering stereotypes of guys in eyeliner, depression, drugs, and worst of all in comics where you see cliche musical notes everywhere like I’m in some Happy Days sock hop nightmare. Luckily, there isn’t one musical note drawn on these pages. Only a vivid cast of characters expressing themselves through their actions and the music. At its core the book is two girls who don’t feel like they fit in their world, rebelling against a popularity queen by forming a band. Punk is more than a T-shirt or a tattoo, it’s not something you can market; it’s changing your situation when the forces around you don’t want you to. It’s the rock n’ roll soul that We Are The Danger nails.

Alongside the Supersons/Dynomutt crossover, We Are The Danger is the most fun release of the week. Its vibrant pages blend music and comics in a way that doesn’t read like a name game cash grab from other publishers. If quirky stories about friendship and not fitting in are your thing, do yourself a favor and pick up We Are The Danger.

Here’s the rest of this week’s #1’s (from Diamond)

KONG OF SKULL ISLAND 2018 SPECIAL #1 (BOOM!)
(W) Paul Allor (A) Carlos Magno (CA) Dan McDaid
When an early Viking expedition washes ashore on Skull Island, they see only the promises of wealth in the island's riches, and not the dangers.
BLACKWOOD #1 (DARK HORSE)
(W) Evan Dorkin (A/CA) Veronica Fish
supernatural fantasy about a magical murder in a sorcery school.
AQUAMAN JABBERJAW SPECIAL #1 (DC)
(W) Dan Abnett, Jeff Parker (A) Scott Kolins (A/CA) Paul Pelletier, Andrew Hennessy
When the town of Amnesty Island is besieged by a series of shark attacks, authorities call Aquaman for help! What's unusual about this case is that the shark isn't trying to kill people-he just wants to talk to them.
BATMAN PRELUDE TO THE WEDDING ROBIN VS RAS AL GHUL #1	(DC)
(W) Tim Seeley (A) Brad Walker, Andrew Hennessy (CA) Rafael Albuquerque
Ra's wants to know if Damian Wayne will honor his mother by stepping into the family business at last.
BLACK LIGHTNING HONG KONG PHOOEY SPECIAL #1 (DC)
(W) Bryan Hill, Jeff Parker (A) Scott Kolins (A/CA) Denys Cowan, Bill Sienkiewicz
Back from Viet Nam, kung fu master Hong Kong Phooey has set up his own detective agency in the inner city. Meanwhile, Jefferson Pierce (a.k.a. Black Lightning) has uncovered a plot by three assassins to collect the components of a sacred text revealing the darkest secrets of Martial Arts magic...
FLASH SPEED BUGGY SPECIAL #1 (DC)
(W) Scott Lobdell (A/CA) Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund
When Wally West tries to take down Kilgore, he's stunned to find he has an unknown ally who can move just as fast as he can. Dr. Pernell, a brilliant S.T.A.R. Labs scientist, has found a way to power his buggy using the Speed Force.
GREEN LANTERNS ANNUAL #1 (DC)
(W) Andy Diggle (A) Juan Ferreyra (CA) Mike Perkins
Every thousand years, a ceremony is held on a long-forgotten world to celebrate the life of an ancient Green Lantern hero. Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz are chosen to represent Earth at this event, but they quickly learn not all is as it seems.
SUPER SONS DYNOMUTT SPECIAL #1 (DC)
(W) Peter J. Tomasi (A) Oclair Albert (CA) Albert Oclair (A/CA) Fernando Pasarin
It's no fun for Jon Kent to be visiting Big City with his parents for the  funeral of an old friend. So his best pal Damian Wayne decides to follow along and give him the inside scoop on the city. But when they go to meet Robin's local friend, Dynomutt, they find him injured and in need of help.

MAN OF STEEL #1 (DC)
(W) Brian Michael Bendis (A) Joe Prado (CA) Miguelanxo Prado (A/CA) Ivan Reis
A new era begins for Superman as a threat from his earliest origins reemerges to destroy the Last Son of Krypton.
JUDGE DREDD UNDER SIEGE #1 (IDW)
(W) Mark Russell (A/CA) Max Dunbar
When all contact with the Patrick Swayze Block is lost, Dredd and Judge Beeny investigate only to find it's become a beachhead for an all-out mutant assault on Mega-City One.
MY LITTLE PONY PONYVILLE MYSTERIES #1 (IDW)
(W) Christina Rice (A/CA) Agnes Garbowska
Welcome to a new series of mystery and intrigue! The Cutie Mark Crusaders discover their inner detectives and solve crimes nopony else can!
LAST SIEGE #1 (IMAGE)
(W) Landry Q. Walker (A/CA) Justin Greenwood
Spaghetti Western storytelling meets Game of Thrones atmosphere in this gritty medieval war story, as a mysterious stranger arrives at a castle overrun with brutal soldiers bent on usurping the throne of the rightful heir-an 11-year-old girl

INFINITY COUNTDOWN CAPTAIN MARVEL #1 (MARVEL)
(W) Jim McCann (A) Diego Olortegui (CA) In-Hyuk Lee
Carol Danvers has crossed the borders of reality itself and returned in possession of the Reality Stone...and with it has contacted the Marvels of many worlds! Join the Captains Marvel for a cross-time adventure into the nature of the Infinity Stones!

STAR WARS LANDO DOUBLE OR NOTHING #1 (MARVEL)
W) Rodney Barnes (A) Paolo Villanelli (CA) W. Scott Forbes
Before his days in the Rebellion, before he ran Cloud City, even before he lost the Millenium Falcon, comes this tale of Lando's adventures and misadventures in search of love and money leading right up to his appearance in SOLO!
X-MEN RED ANNUAL #1 (MARVEL)
(W) Tom Taylor (A) Pascal Alixe (CA) Travis Charest
After Resurrection. Before Red. Jean Grey was reborn in a world that had changed. Her friends and family had lived lives. Some had lost lives. This is Jean's story of catching up losses and triumphs.
2021 LOST CHILDREN #1 (TITAN)
(W) Stephane Betbder (A) Stephane Bervas (CA) James Stokoe
Escape from New York meets the X-Men!
It's 2021. Detroit has seceded from the United States and its citizens are under the control of a madman with extraordinary abilities. The only hope of retaking the city lies with four super-powered children.
HARBINGER WARS 2 #1 (VALIANT)
(W) Matt Kindt, Eric Heisserer (A) Tomas Giorello (CA) J. G. Jones
 the most powerful Valiant event ever attempted erupts in full force as X-O Manowar, Livewire, the Harbinger Renegades, Bloodshot, the Secret Weapons, Ninjak, and a cast of thousands draw their battle lines...

VALIANT HIGH #1 (VALIANT)
(W) Daniel Kibblesmith (A) Derek Charm (CA) David Lafuente
Before they became legends, the world's most formidable heroes were roaming the halls at Valiant High
PESTILENCE STORY OF SATAN #1 (AFTERSHOCK COMICS)
(W) Frank Tieri (A) Oleg Okunev (CA) Michael Rooth
The year is 1353. The fugitive Roderick Helms has retreated to a life of hidden seclu-sion after failing to expose the Church's role in the Black Death. But something threat-ens to bring him back into action.
TITAN #1 (AMIGO COMICS)
(W) Colleen Douglas (A/CA) André Stahlschmidt, Wesllei Manoel
A new science fiction miniseries that gives us another vision of the cosmic horror entities! With the Gods Beyond Our Understanding nothing is coincidence.
UNDATEABLE CEREBUS #1 (AARDVARK VANAHEIM)
(W) Dave Sim, Sandeep Atwal (A) Dave Sim, Gustave Dore (CA) Benjamin Hobbs
Dante starts a dating site; Cerebus is an S.G.A. seeking a P.O.P.; Dante seeks Less Talkative Beatrice; Cerebus & The Whore of Babylon Like Pina Colladas

 

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