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The Alternates #2 Creative Team (Dark Horse Comics):
Script: Patton Oswalt, Jordan Blum, Tim Seeley
Art: Christopher Mitten
Colors: Ian Herring
Art & Colors: Tess Fowler
Letters: Nate Piekos, Blambot
Cover A & C Artists: Scott Hepburn; Ian Herring
Cover B Artist: Ryan Browne
The Alternates is part of the world, Minor Threats, created by Patton Oswalt, Jordan Blum & Scott Hepburn
The Alternates from Dark Horse Comics, Issue #2
The Alternates is a bit of a spinoff from the comic, Minor Threats. While you don’t need to read one to enjoy the other, once you step into this world, you’re going to want more. In the first issue of The Alternates, we got to know Mary Marie Munoz AKA The Multi Monster. In this issue we get to learn a bit more about, possibly the sweetest crustacean superhero ever: Crab Louie.
If you want a recap and review of the first issue click here.
The Story
In addition to learning about how hard parenting can be (even for a very large crustacean looking superhero who spent years in another dimension away from his daughter), we also see The Alternates working together as a team. There’s a drug on the market that taps you into The Ledge and The Alternates personally know how dangerous that can be. This drug already took the life of their friend, The Divider.
Throughout this issue, we go back and forth from Crab Louie, to The Alternates trying to stop this drug. We get to see each Alternate showcase their very unique powers, while delivering some pretty hilarious lines while doing so. However, they’re all struggling with their powers, their personal lives, and the mission at hand.
The Art
The cover is truly a nightmare for anyone with a shellfish allergy. However, it’s also absolutely gorgeous, powerful, and comical. The inside is no different. The art is consistent with the first issue. As the story goes back and forth from Crab Louie’s time in The Ledge, to modern day, the art changes. This not only helps you follow the story, but it helps to create two very different atmospheres, which all the characters seem to be struggling with.
The Alternates #2 Rating: 9/10
All in all, I’m still loving this story. We get very unique superpowers (which has to be getting harder to create these days), some back story, a mystery, a heartfelt story, and quite a few laughs! I never imagined seeing a room full of Octopuses running a submarine would make me giggle, and make me feel bad for a giant lobster man at the same time. But it happened, and I can’t wait to see what Issue #3 brings. Definitely add this to the pull list, if you haven’t already. And if you have time, pick up Minor Threats too.