Advance Review: ‘Big Game’ #2 Is A Blood-Soaked Blockbuster Of An Issue

Big Game #2 sees Edison Crane, the world’s most intelligent person, take on some help to prove once and for all that superheroes did exist. And in doing so try to empirically prove that the Fraternity did indeed wipe their history from the world’s collective memories. It also allows writer Mark Millar the opportunity to include a very lightly veiled pastiche of one very iconic superhero in action which even the most uninitiated comic book reader will get. Albeit a brief appearance. But one that packs a lot of punch. 

With the Millarverse now packed full of powerhouses, now is the time for action. Although, what they face could well be insurmountable, given the head start the Fraternity have had, and the resources at their disposal. And that is proven quite brutally in this issue, and quite early on too. What then unfolds is… well, pure carnage, plain and simple, with Nemesis at the helm, as seen on the front cover. 

Relishing in this blood-bath is artist Pepe Larraz, who delivers one dramatic blood-soaked scene after another until you have to wonder what will be left of the Millarverse moving forward. Larraz mixes up the panels and angles to better energise the cover-to-cover action exploding from almost every page. 

It seems each issue will see the demise of at least one – often more – of Millar’s IPs that he has built up over the span of the last two decades. Surely there has to be some kind of magical reset button yet to be introduced (courtesy of the Magic Order, perhaps?), but for now it’s nothing short of a superhero filled version of Death Wish. And while there is the slightest glimmer of hope, it’s not much at the moment. Hey, if these guys can take out a previous generations worth of superheroes, what chance have this lot got? Well, whatever chance they get, it isn’t revealed in this issue. It’s certainly a ballsy move of Millar part to break the toys he’s built. And part of the fun of this series is in wonder how, if at all, he’s going to have the heroes win out in the end, and have any of them survive to forge the next phase of the Millarverse. 

Two issues in and the bodycount has already begun to build. Good luck to the next lot of supers in surviving to the end of next issue. Based on this issue, they’re going to need as much as they can get. But, I ain’t holding my breath. 

Big Game #2 is out Wednesday 23rd August from Image Comics