Upbeat Worldbuilding: Reviewing ‘Huck: Big Bad World’ #2

Reading the opening pages of this second issue of Huck: Big Bad World by Mark Millar and Rafael Albuquerque suggest that this was going to be a rather grim read. Five pages of assassinations certainly implies Huck’s going to have his work cut out for him. But we soon learn that the assassin – another superpower being – has another motive for his mass killings other than just doing the bidding of his boss, and uncle. 

But it’s not too long before we find out that this superpower assassin, Lorenzo, not only has principles, he’s not the bad guy we think he is. And, just as Huck is an optimistic person, this same optimism seems to seep into this new series, and before you know it the dark tone of the opening is replaced by a far more upbeat tone as Huck turns from fighter to fixer and a happy ending. Well, for everyone expect the mob boss. 

What impressed me most about this issue – other than Albuquerque’s artwork, particularly his rendition of the mob boss who has a passing resemblance to a fat Elvis Presley with a grey quiff and a perchance for workouts – is the script. If not for the cliffhanger ending, this is a wonderful done-in-one story that covers a good deal of ground in just one issue. Well realised characters, a well-paced story and a feel-good ending, of sorts. What more do you want in a comic?

Well, an world in which Huck is not the only super powered being, with this issue offering us not one but two new supes, with the cover of the third issue promising more as Huck tarvels across the country. Returning to Huck after so many years seems to have Millar keen to expand on this corner of the Millarverse in a way that can only help this series, but offer up protantial for spin-off series too.

As far as road trips go, this is one of the more weird and wonderful, with plenty of thrill, spills and a sunny disposition at its heart. Lovely stuff!

Huck: Big Bad World #2 is out now from Dark Horse Comics