Review ‘Big Game’ #4 Offers Up Classic Crossover Conventions But With A Millar Twist

With Hit-Girl finding herself stuck some 65 million years ago in Big Game #4, any hardcore Millarverse fan will probably have already figured out who she meets on her travels through time. Although the cover images does give it away. But, when she does meet King Morax from the Empress mini-series, maybe, just maybe, the solution to all the Earth’s problems may have been found. Which gives the heroes of the present some hope, because that’s a scarce commodity at the moment, given how many have already fallen at the hands of Nemesis and his paymasters, the Fraternity. Although, Morax’s motivation won’t necessarily fill you with too much hope. 

Once more Mark Millar and Pepe Larraz ramp up the action with a build up to a finale of epic proportions. If there’s anyone left standing, that is. Especially after the mass slaughter that takes place in this issue in a scene reminiscent of all the great crossovers of the past. A far more pessimistic parody of the gathering of heroes on some far off platform, lair, or space station that occurs in every classic crossover. You know the one: all of Earth’s heroes, past present and future – and from multiple Earths – all gathering on The Monitor’s spaceship is exactly the scene that came to my mind when witnessing this scene’s inclusion in this issue. Here it’s an aircraft carrier on the high seas, which makes for an ideal spot to kill off a whole league of superheroes in one fell swoop. 

With one part of the story set in the past and the other firmly rooted in the present, Millar has certainly expanded the backdrop against which this drama is being played out and in doing so making it feel more like the expansive crossovers of the past. But, with more of the language and ultra-violence of a Mark Millar comic book. When thinking back to the likes of Secret Wars and Crisis on Infinite Earths, these were far more innocent comics for an era that hadn’t yet embraced Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns and American Flagg! But now, the world has changed and Millar’s much hyped crossover event reflects these more contemporary sensibilities. It’s certainly a crossover for the ages and one that still surprises the reader. Especially by turning it up to eleven this issue.

Once more Larraz’s beautiful, dynamic artwork and creative page and panel layouts help create the requisite energy of this action packed storyline. On only needs to take the opening pages of this issue to see how he is able to infuse high-drama and emotive drive in a scene that is, effectively, a lavish palatial discussion between the ruler of Earth at that time and the gathered throngs. 

The stakes are as high as they can get, with the payoff next issue only threatening to be explosive if this issue’s finale is anything to go by. When the dust settles, who will be left standing and who will be left to continue the Millarverse?

Big Game #4 is out now from Image Comics