Advance Review: Kicking Butt – Fabulously – In ‘Death Drop Drag Assassin’ #2
by Tom Smithyman
Overview
Queer culture takes the spotlight in this limited series, which focuses on the unusual melding of noir and trans characters. Despite the obvious opportunities to play for laughs, it’s all handled with the utmost respect. And an extended fight scene is easy to follow.
Overall
8/10The LGBTIQA+ community is fed up, and they aren’t going to take it anymore. Fortunately, for them, they have a former assassin in their lineup in Death Drop Drag Assassin.
While Death Drop may not compete with the best drag queen names, there’s little question that this crossdresser is not to be double-crossed – or even single crossed for that matter. Death Drop is a former hit man turned drag performer who has broken away from his mentor and is now defending those in the Gayborhood after a series of attacks on queer people. Given that background, this is one queen not to be trifled with.
Writer David Hazan has successfully melded a noir storyline with LGBTIQA+ culture because…well why not? Hazan has said he’s writing the kind of story that he himself would want to read. So he treats his characters and subject matter with respect. These are human beings who are fighting for their lives and for basic human decency.
Of course, it is a bit over the top at times, but few people read comics for a heavily grounded story. Most of the issue deals with Death Drop’s fight against a leather-clad villain who victimized a bathhouse patron. While we don’t know much about the killer’s motivation yet, Hazan gives us plenty to think about.
When Death Drop confronts the killer, the villain calls him a cross-dresser. “Of course you’d think that’s an insult,” Death Drop retorts. “Did nobody ever tell you, though, that leather is just a different kind of drag?”
With the fight consuming so much of the issue, artist Alex Moore has plenty of opportunity to show off. Moore presents the battle in a straightforward and easy-to-follow way. Their cartoonish illustration style and bright colors lend themselves well to the story.
It’s refreshing, though not surprising, to see the creative team handle the subject matter with such respect. With this second issue coming nearly five months after the premiere, the real question is whether readers will tolerate such delays between chapters.
Death Drop Drag Assassin #2 will be available for purchase tomorrow.
