Broken Frontier

Five former villains are given a chance at redemption in this spin-off of the popular Disney series.

Harry Monmouth, a.k.a. Dingo, has turned his back on his checkered mercenary past. With his new partner, the artificial intelligence Matrix, he has become the resident superhero of Australia. However, the past comes calling for Dingo in the enticing form of Robyn Canmore, the Hunter, who’s been tasked with bringing him in for his earlier crimes. The Hunter offers him a choice: fight on the side of the angels with her team or spend the rest of his life behind bars.

The intriguing (if not too creatively named) Bad Guys miniseries represents the first expansion of Disney’s Gargoyles universe. Back when he was overseeing the animated series, writer Greg Weisman brainstormed a number of potential spin-offs that would develop other aspects of his complex fantasy world. Now, Slave Labor Graphics is allowing fans to see the first of these ideas come to fruition.

The first issue of Bad Guys utilizes a concept that should be very familiar to comics fans. Like DC’s Suicide Squad, the "Bad Guys"—Hunter, Dingo, Matrix, Fang, and Yama—have been drafted into dangerous missions designed to redeem them for past misdeeds. It’s well-tread ground but an idea that fits nicely in the Gargoyles mythos, where characters regularly straddle the line between good and evil. This series will likely appeal more to diehard fans of the show than casual readers, drawing from a pool of lesser known characters as it does. The story begins in medias res with only the slightest exposition provided. However, the flashback structure of the issue instantly leaves the reader curious and wanting to know more about this team. And already some entertaining group dynamics are beginning to show. The conceit of a song lyric narrating the opening scenes becomes a bit tiresome after a few pages but ultimately, the writing is fairly solid.

The art is provided by Karine Charlebois who successfully emulates the look of the animated series. Charlebois’ art has a somewhat frenetic quality that serves the action scenes well and she grants her characters some rather comical facial expressions that lighten the mood. She even coaxes emotion out of the faceless Matrix, no easy artistic feat. One disappointment is the decision (presumably by Slave Labor) to print the comic in black and white. It’s certainly cost-efficient and makes some thematic sense, as the grayshading reflects the levels of gray in the cast members’ personalities. However, one can’t help missing the moody hues of the animated version.

The comic book format has so far served Greg Weisman in good stead, allowing him to bring his undiluted vision of the Gargoyles and their world to life. Here’s hoping that we will see more of these spin-offs in the future and delve further into this rich fantasy universe.