Night Thrasher: Dwayne Taylor Appreciation

[The Cool Thatguy]

I believe that is Donyell and that might be from the New Warriors run with Jubliee. I would have to check the books that I have.

In that scan, isn't that actually Tony Stark? lol

[skyvolt2000]

In that scan, isn't that actually Tony Stark? lol

That is right I think Stark did wear that suit in later issues of that run. Might be but I have to look for those issues.

[The Cool Thatguy]

That is right I think Stark did wear that suit in later issues of that run. Might be but I have to look for those issues.

I wouldn't bother.

Kevin G did the best job with the tools he was given...but his tools weren't the tools he needed to do the job, IMO.

[Chris0013]

Yeah, true.

I'm reminded of the recent Jay Garrick Flash mini series.

In it, his daughter 'returns', we learn his 'secret origin' and hidden villain that shaped his entire life (yet we never knew until now!), and all I can think is, why would any new fan give a damn about these characters?

Thrash's mini at least starts on a solid foundation, IMO

I will give it that...taking into account Dwayne's past.

[Tien Long]

Read the first issue. I actually found myself liking the first 3/4ths of the issue. Now, I'll be honest, I'm not all that familiar with Night Thrasher's past events and continuity, but I could sense that the writer was using these elements. There was enough to make me want to reread Dwayne's past adventures and find out for myself.

In terms of characterization, I liked Dwayne's. Here was a character caught in a crossroads. I liked the tension between his desire and reluctance to leave the past.

The last 1/4th of the issue, I'll agree with others, I was on the fence. Seeing spoilers:

Rage

end of spoilers as the OG made me sigh. Over the past couple of years, this character has been just a punching bag of sorts. He's used to highlight societal issues of the day (indeed, the whole store robbery scene reminds me of these post-Covid reports of increasing crime rates in cities across America.) The character has been used to bring to light relevant themes, but he's always been on the losing end character wise. A couple of months ago, I wrote how I could see this character leaving the past behind, going to ESU or NYU, getting a degree, and becoming a key member of Luke Cage's administration.

What happened in the issue was the complete opposite of that.

I'm still interested in the story though. The OG could be used as a means of redeeming and building Dwayne up. My only hope is that the OG is built up along with him as well. By the end of the series, he should be in a better place characterwise.

[Digifiend]

The artist needs to read more New Warriors. There's a photo that shows a five member roster - including Microbe and Firestar. But Angelica wasn't on the team that Microbe was on - the one that died in Civil War. They should've used Nova, Justice, or Speedball instead, who all aren't shown.

[The Cool Thatguy]

The artist needs to read more New Warriors. There's a photo that shows a five member roster - including Microbe and Firestar. But Angelica wasn't on the team that Microbe was on - the one that died in Civil War. They should've used Nova, Justice, or Speedball instead, who all aren't shown.

That was a weird team to reference, but it may have happened off-panel, who knows? Thrash name checks them, and only Namorita and Bandit aren't in the pic. Firestar being there in place of Namorita may have been a mistake, but that might be it.

The writer has acknowledged some pretty obscure bits of Dwayne's past, including Bandit. I think he deserves a chance

[J. D. Guy]

Yes they gave him a big character flaw in those early stories. I believe that made him too angry IMO he was still my favorite character on the team despite him having so many black character stereotypes: Angry and having no powers. Thrash won me over.

Wasn't aware the bold was a stereotype among Black characters in fictional works where various forms of superpowers/supertech are in play.

[J. D. Guy]

Seems like the writer is familiar with Night Thrasher and is using/referencing quite a few different eras of his. I liked seeing Silhouette and Midnight's Fire. But I don't like The O.G.'s identity. Hopefully that will be worked out by the end of this mini.

Neither do I.

I think it’s interesting as it brings that teacher vs former pupil trope. If it was just some random antagonist, it wouldn’t hit Night Thrasher as hard as it did.

As someone who liked the characterization and indicated character-growth he had in Nick Spencer's Captain America: Sam Wilson, this heel-turn comes off very frustrating and cliche to me, no matter how "thematically appropriate" it may seem.

I'd have much preferred they used a new, original character or even the other person to hold the mantle of Night Thrasher.

[J. D. Guy]

More of a general grievance, but I've never been a fan of the tendency for writers of superheroes in a shared universe to characterize superheroes who haven't been written in a long time (usually due to character neglect) as being "retired" or something. As if they have to be actively written about to have superhero lives/careers of their own. It'd make more sense that most of them were being active when not written, including during events, but that said activity just hadn't been "chronicled" like those in active print are.

As well, I wish we weren't still in the "hate the 90's" phase. I love the aesthetics that came from 90's heroes and anti-heroes. And Night Thrasher's was pretty unique in practice, I'd even argue. But this push to distance 90's heroes from their roots often ends up being a turn-off for me.

Again, these two things are more general and less specific to this comic. It just sucks, in my opinion, that Night Thrasher is being subjected to both of them.

[J. D. Guy]

No (to your guess on who it is) and yes (to what OG stands for).

An aside, but OG has also morphed in some spaces to mean "Original Generation", aka part of the original crew or iteration or the ones who came before or started the trend or whathaveyou first.

[Digifiend]

And the New Warriors are that. They were Marvel's first teen team. For the first 24 years of the Teen Titans existence (they debuted in 1965) Marvel had no equivalent.

[The Cool Thatguy]

More of a general grievance, but I've never been a fan of the tendency for writers of superheroes in a shared universe to characterize superheroes who haven't been written in a long time (usually due to character neglect) as being "retired" or something. As if they have to be actively written about to have superhero lives/careers of their own. It'd make more sense that most of them were being active when not written, including during events, but that said activity just hadn't been "chronicled" like those in active print are.

As well, I wish we weren't still in the "hate the 90's" phase. I love the aesthetics that came from 90's heroes and anti-heroes. And Night Thrasher's was pretty unique in practice, I'd even argue. But this push to distance 90's heroes from their roots often ends up being a turn-off for me.

Again, these two things are more general and less specific to this comic. It just sucks in my opinion, that Night Thrasher is being subjected both of them.

It's especially weird, given that Dwayne has actually shown up a bit. He teamed up with Punisher, did some detective work with Blue Marvel and was part of the collection of crimefighrers looking into 'Ronin' in Hawkeye's mini.

And kinda dumb, as he has no powers. Without a training regiment and experience, he would become a liability in the field.

[strathcona]

And the New Warriors are that. They were Marvel's first teen team. For the first 24 years of the Teen Titans existence (they debuted in 1965) Marvel had no equivalent.

That's not completely true. The New Mutants preceded the New Warriors by almost a decade... and technically the original X-Men team were all teens, so they could be considered the first (preceding the Titans even).

[J. D. Guy]

It's especially weird, given that Dwayne has actually shown up a bit. He teamed up with Punisher, did some detective work with Blue Marvel and was part of the collection of crimefighrers looking into 'Ronin' in Hawkeye's mini.

And kinda dumb, as he has no powers. Without a training regiment and experience, he would become a liability in the field.

Yep, exactly.