Matt Fraction & Michael Allred: Welcome To Twilight

Welcome to Twilight

The world of comics thrives on fresh and compelling storytelling, and the latest addition to the Minor Threats universe, Welcome to Twilight, is shaping up to be one of the most exciting releases of 2025. Written by Matt Fraction (Hawkeye, The Invincible Iron Man, Adventureman) and illustrated by Michael Allred (Madman, Superman: Space Age, iZombie), this new entry offers a satirical and heartfelt take on washed-up superheroes and the Hollywood machine. We sat down with Fraction and Allred on The Oblivion Bar Podcast to discuss the origins of the book, their inspirations, and what readers can expect from this highly anticipated issue.

The Origins of Welcome to Twilight

Fraction: "They [Dark Horse] got in touch with me, but with the offer of like, ‘you and Mike want to do an issue?’ and they had me at Mike, right? So that was just right. You know, I mean, I think Minor Threats is terrific and I really enjoyed it. And I don’t know that I would have said yes if it wasn’t Mike."

Nearly a decade after their celebrated collaboration on FF, Fraction and Allred reunite for Welcome to Twilight, a story centered on Benjamin Brockowicz, a washed-up actor who once played a superhero on TV. Now, his best days seem behind him—until an unexpected encounter reignites his past in an unexpected way.

Fraction: "I love the idea of this guy with wings, but he can’t really use them. It’s a perfect metaphor for a career that’s floundering. He was a 230-pound man with giant wings on his back. They were just kind of props, you know? He has to sleep in a bathtub and can’t roll over because you can crush yourself. You can’t sleep with anyone because you could smother them. Just all these ideas of a guy with wings that didn’t really work had been around for a while."

Allred: "There’s something inherently fun about creating a character who doesn’t see himself as a hero, but the world around him still expects something from him."

Capturing the Mood and Aesthetic

A project like Welcome to Twilight requires a delicate balance of humor, nostalgia, and noir. Allred drew inspiration from iconic Hollywood aesthetics, blending 1980s visuals with a classic, cinematic touch.

Allred: "I really tapped into the ’80s coastal vibe. The Hollywood setting just felt natural. We wanted something that was part old-school detective story, part washed-up celebrity satire."

Fraction: "There’s this classic Jack Palance detective show, Bronk, and I took a lot from that. It just clicked when thinking about our protagonist."

What Welcome to Twilight Says About the Minor Threats Universe

Fraction and Allred were eager to contribute to the growing Minor Threats universe, which was created by Patton Oswalt, Jordan Blum, and Scott Hepburn and has already featured works from Brian Michael Bendis, Soo Lee, and Gail Simone.

Fraction: "It’s a privilege to wreck one of your favorite things."

Allred: "It’s such a well-built world, and we got to play in the best part of it."

On Returning to Collaborate After FF

Allred: "One of my all-time favorite projects I've ever worked on was FF. So many of my Marvel dreams came true because of Matt. And the opportunity to work with him again was a dream come true."​

What’s Next for Fraction & Allred?

Matt Fraction:

• Taking on the ongoing Batman title with Jorge Jimenez (launching September 2025)

• AdventureMan returning soon

Michael Allred:

• Wonder Woman: Golden Age with Mark Russell

• The Marvel Art of Michael Allred

If you want to listen to this full conversation with Matt & Michael, follow The Oblivion Bar: A Comic Book Podcast wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts and give it a listen!

You can also find that conversation with Matt & Michael HERE.

For the video version on YouTube, you can find that HERE.