A new publisher’s flagship title. A comic book legend in the art chores, and a story that combines Silver Age and pulp fiction elements. Is The Danger’s Dozen worth the risk?


Writer: Thaddeus Branco & Anthony Cannonier.
Penciller/Inker: Norm Breyfogle.
Colorist: Gabe El-Taeb.
Letterer: Thaddeus Branco.
Note: All credits are for the main stories, not the backups.

The first issue of this series by new publisher First Salvo came out last year, but I only got my hands on it at the same time as last month’s issue #2, so I’m taking the opportunity to review both issues together. The premise for this book first caught my eye some months ago when a series of articles in on another website introduced new publisher First Salvo Productions to the readership. As the articles promised, Danger’s Dozen is a comic that harkens back to two-fisted pulp fiction, with some twist inspired in the decades that have passed since pulp fiction, and one of its descendants, comic books, started being published.

The story happens after the end of World War II. The first issue introduces to characters like Boss Aman, a British military officer who was the victim of a mysterious accident that gave him memories of a life he does not remember. Aman also has a sort of symbiotic relationship with something called the Wadjet Eye. We also have EX, an American General who “knows things”, and the Immortalian, who has a death wish, as he’s being flinging himself into battle for thousands of years in hopes to rid himself of the curse his immortality has come to meant. I suspect that the Immortalian, though formerly an agent of the Italian Fascist regime, will come to help the “good guys” in some way.

Both issues have a main story, following a plot line about stopping an impending cosmic cataclysm; as well as short backup stories which provide us further insight to the character’s past, such as how Aman found the Wadjet Eye. These are welcome flashbacks, though I’m afraid they’re not enough. They’re not enough, I say, because they don’t make us care for the characters enough, at least yet. I guess only time can make us grow fond of them, we’ll see. You know what character addition would be nice? A South American volunteer from the French Free Forces, or a veteran Republican (no, not like George W.) from the Spanish Civil War.

Still, the writing has an easy to follow storyline (remember, these are new characters we’re still getting to know), and at the same time, the character’s speech patterns remind us of Silver Age stories. There is also a good rendition of a world that’s not used, at least at large, to the supernatural. Action flows at a good pace (and you can almost feel the magazine turn to pulp-style paper as you read), with appropriate character moments, although I’m afraid we’re meeting too many characters at the same time.

The art, by comic book legend Norm Breyfogle (in the main stories), is very classic, and in a good way. Clean, dynamic, completely appropriate to the subject matter, and with very distinct character designs, even though there’s a large percentage of people wearing military uniforms. There’s also good attention to weaponry and vehicles, something very important in a period work. Colorist Gabe El-Taeb (who also pulls art duty in some of the backups, and quite efficiently) does a good job; although the colors are at times too bright for the pulp-style action, more in line, perhaps, with the Silver Age style dialogue. Personally, I think that the art is good, but some modern readers might find it a bit antiquated.

Another weak point, despite the strong points I’ve defined above, as a closing thought, is that the powered characters have powers that are too undefined, too vast, and at times, it seems as if they can pull a new power or ability out of thin air as the situation requires it. But again, this might change over time. As for a rating, I enjoyed the first two issues of this book, but I haven’t been able, as I said before, to become too attached to the characters, so for now, the first two issues of The Danger’s Dozen get Three out of Five.

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