Calling all music lovers! Join the wild world of rock ‘n’ roll band, Major Threat, as they journey across America, ready to bust out some totally awesome tunes! Since you have a backstage pass, I think it’s only fair that you get to meet the members! First, we got Ed on drums. He’s one very sentimental guy and isn’t afraid to show how much he cares about his bandmates, even if that means having a good cry on tour when their amazing friendship overwhelms him. Next, we have Lilith on guitar. On one hand, she’s a big softy, and on the other, she’s an absolute firecracker. Don’t get on her bad side and you’ll do just fine! Then, we have Marco on the microphone. He’s as cool as a cucumber and isn’t afraid to speak his mind. He makes friends wherever he goes and often lets his rebellious side take the lead. And last but not least, there’s Paul on bass, a guy that’ll definitely make you jealous of his overly chill, go-with-the-flow personality and his effortless ability to stay calm in any given circumstance. They may be one hell of a rag-tag bunch, but would you have it any other way?

 

Leslie Stein, an American author and cartoonist, invites us onboard Major Threat’s tour van in Brooklyn’s Last Secret, a graphic novel giving us a behind-the-scenes glimpse into tour life and the twisting roller coaster ride called friendship. Follow the band through their surprising adventures and watch their sidesplitting shenanigans unfold as they plunge into the trip of a lifetime. When I say you’ll see it all, I mean it. From seeing characters get hyped up before a big show with hot sauce shots, to watching Paul bribe an employee to relax in their luxurious spa pool, you’ll get to see Stein’s wonderful world and fall in love with her writing with each flip of the page. And even though the members of Major Threat are older than your usual travelling band, they teach us to never hold back on our dreams and to always choose happiness. Through her eye-catching illustrations and witty dialogue, Stein delicately unwraps the layers of these wacky rock stars’ wild and seemingly rough exteriors to show us the softness at the core of their group. Get ready to laugh, smile, and cry with these lovable souls as they venture onto this unforgettable musical journey!

 

As I cracked open this charming graphic novel, I found that the dialogue within Brooklyn’s Last Secret truly stuck out to me due to its insanely realistic and feel-good nature; enhancing each relationship between the characters in such subtle, but wonderful ways. Stein’s creation of a friendly and rambunctious group of people completely drew me into her world. So much so that I wished to be a member of Major Threat myself! As they roll through each state, we’re given more time to see their unique dynamic play out in their road trip antics. This band always has so much fun together and can make an exciting situation from a boring one. What may seem like mundane car games for some turns into a hilarious inside joke and grows more and more competitive as the band gets closer to their final venue in New York City. By including these games, Stein invites us to take a seat with the gang and join in on the fun. And trust me, she’ll make you want to beat Paul out of his winning streak yourself! This addition of realism to her book really allows us, as readers, to feel even more connected to these delightful characters. It reminds us of times where we goof around with our friends and family during a long car ride. These memories within our own lives are undoubtedly priceless, and I think each of us can get a little boost in serotonin from reading these playful scenes between the band members.

 

At first glance, Major Threat seems like they have a hard exterior based on their head-banging tunes, but one will find that they’re pretty tender and wholesome on the inside. The thing they each want most out of life is to have a good time, sometimes even walking out of a venue that doesn’t match their happy-go-lucky energy. And although they aren’t world-renowned, Stein reminds us that the group isn’t focused on making a killing from their music; fame isn’t needed to fuel their passion. They don’t find satisfaction in the grandeur, but rather in the small, daily things that most people take for granted. From Lilith appreciating the starry sky above Lake Michigan during their bustling concert, to the group stopping their van to take a moment with the giant “Spoonbridge and Cherry” sculpture in Minneapolis. These small, yet serene moments the band takes to have a breather can help us reflect on if we, ourselves, need to relax our shoulders and live in the present.

 

Both Stein’s masterful writing and her artistic talents are captured in the way she portrays the friendship between these spunky rockers and the amusing moments between them. Her exciting comics are so wonderfully done! Everything from the clean, pastel colours and bubbly art style to the hand-written speech bubbles ties the entire vibe of this feel-good story together. I felt lighter as I indulged in Stein’s graphic novel, my eyes tracing over each image, and admiring her ability to create such an airy feel for this story. Her choice of colour adds so much depth to each character as we get to see how they react to the crazy circumstances that jump into their view. Whether it’s their cheeks turning pink or their faces going green, Stein adds humour through her drawings in any way she sees fit! Each wide-eyed stare and side-eye look makes us feel like we know these characters inside and out. Stein’s even able to make Ed’s drug-induced mental breakdown enjoyable to see, since she displays him in such a comical way despite his strong, uncontrollable emotions.

 

Stein doesn’t hold back in Brooklyn’s Last Secret, spilling the tea on all of our favourite characters’ good and bad moments; showing us how they authentically express themselves when the kettle begins to boil over. She opens us up to the backstory of Lilith when she sees her ex at a venue and even introduces us to an ex-member named Simon who won’t pay the band back for the equipment he stole. There’s a part of me that feels like I can see these characters walking around in real life, pulling off the most goofy stunts that anyone could imagine—I’m talking to you, Ed, with your prenatal vitamins for beard growth! It wasn’t too long before I fell in love with everyone’s personal qualities and quirks. I found myself wanting to learn more about these people, desperately needing to understand how they remain so genuine in such a hard business.

 

Sometimes, it’s easy to forget your roots when you’re surrounded by extra noise and distractions. But in Brooklyn’s Last Secret, Stein shows us that our main supporters should never be forgotten or set aside. Even though Lilith’s brother and his girlfriend aren’t that into rock ‘n’ roll, they showed up at Major Threat’s gig anyway, to remind her of how much they love and support her. Not to mention, even Ed’s parents let his group stay at their place instead of a hotel, making the gang a nice piping hot breakfast to brighten their morning. I imagine that we can all think back to a time in our lives where someone showed up for us when we least expected it. Whether it was at our first school play or our weekly soccer games, having someone cheering for us in the crowd was—without a doubt—a very special feeling. It’s a feeling that keeps us motivated, even when we think that our dreams aren’t worth pursuing. These are the people that help us stay passionate and true to what we love doing, and Stein reminds us that we should always appreciate them for the fire they ignite within us.

Getting weighed down by our own self-doubts is easy. We’re constantly fed the highlight reels of others on social media, causing us to ruminate about all of our past mistakes and overthink where our future is headed. After we get stuck in this loop, we’re often left feeling like our clock is ticking too fast for us to react and that we’ll never live up to the standards we’ve set for ourselves. And sure, this rabbit hole of dark thoughts is hard to climb out of. But through self-confidence and finding gratitude in our daily lives, each of us can get to a place where we learn that braving the storms is the only way that we’ll reach our rainbows. In Brooklyn’s Last Secret, Stein reminds us that life is too short to not appreciate what we have right now—no matter how unglamorous it may seem. We are each blessed with small but beautiful moments and can partake in magical friendships. It’s up to us on whether we make the most of them.