Grounded in a way that’s rare in superhero comics, Danger Street returns this week with issue #3. An accidental murder of a child has taken place, the heroes who did it don’t know what to do, and Darkseid looms as Lady Cop continues to hunt down the perp. In an ensemble story where all characters will likely cross paths at some point, the third issue brings the characters closer to a single path.
Danger Street #3 opens with a Google search. Lady Cop is now aware the murderer is a blue superhero, but before long, she’s interrupted by the most immense evil in this world: printers. In the first two pages, writer Tom King and artist Jorge Fornés blend superhero detective work with the mundanity of average life. This series continues to merge the two, making the fantastical nature of Apokolips characters feel mundane, and the ordinary regular people feel like they’re in an epic blockbuster tale. In this blend, the book feels unique while also saying something about average folks doing their average jobs, yet it’s part of a larger spectacle.
That’s aided by the captions, which continue to be voiced by the Dr. Fate helmet. These captions add an exciting layer to the narrative as it speaks of the characters like a fairy tale. There are knights, ogres, and other labels attributed to the characters, reminding us this is a tale to be told and written down.
Smash cut from the printer scene to a Kirby-style cosmically charged space scene with Metron floating in his space chair. The comedic timing here by King and Fornés is excellent. They may be gods, but they’re also beings trying to solve problems like any of us.
What an entrance.
Credit: DC Comics
Alien and Barbarian’s story progresses surprisingly, sending them onto a Hollywood set. They’re trying to find a way to revive the dead boy, but seeing as they’re dealing with Hollywood types, their path is going to be riddled with back-door plotting and surprises. Nevertheless, the plot is moving forward with their antics and Lady Cop’s investigation. I’d argue it’s a bit convenient how one of the Dingbats gets the info; still, it’s one of many characters interacting thanks to this cosmic dance going towards an inevitable conclusion.
Action is minimal but good when it pops up. A surprise character pops in, beating up another, and Creeper gets a moment to show off his agility. Visually, everything is very grounded and realistic. In one scene, an assassin attempts to take out an essential character but is soon met with Guardian, Jonathan Drew, who can fly. The way we see his feet lift from the ground is subtle as if he’s floating impossibly, even if we know he’s a superhero. Still, two panels later, he’s flying in front of a broken window many stories up. The care and attention given to moments like these lift up the fantastical yet remind us we’re dealing with the real world.
Fornés also tackles some great nine-panel grid layouts. One in particular shows off blue superhero mug shots that’s funny thanks to the dialogue, but also shows a few familiar faces. As always, Dave Stewart’s colors ground things in reality well.
Danger Street continues to be a special comic, blending the fantastical with the natural average world. It captures your attention with solid characters, otherworldly intrigue, and deep, absorbing humanism.
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