Heart-Warming But Shocking: Reviewing ‘Huck: Big, Bad World’ #4

Jack has found Sophia. And so that’s the end of it, right?

Of course not. Not with unfinished business back home involving Huck’s ex-girlfriend and her new ne’er-do-well boyfriend. But as the issue progresses, the feel-good tone of this whole series comes into play as we witness what seems to be a happy ending. Although, lest we forget, this is a Mark Millar series, so happy endings don’t come cheap. If at all. And with one issue left, the ending to this one is shockingly dramatic, turning the whole whimsical nature of this series on its head. A new piece has been placed on the chessboard, and it doesn’t bode well for an innocent Huck.

Millar infuses this issue with an array of emotions as Jack finally meets Sophia and Huck is reunited with his ex. Just as you feel heart-warmed, Millar hits you with a rather surprising and definitely shocking ending designed to leave you open-mouthed. And it worked on this reviewer.

Helping deliver the emotive punches of Huck: Big, Bad World #4 is artist Rafael Albuquerque, who delivers impeccable artwork that perfectly captures each character’s emotional journey. A great example of this is when Jimbo, the ne’er-do-well, is confronted in a club. The colouring by Dave McCaig certainly helps raise the temperature as the reader cheers on his inevitable comeuppance. Good riddance. It’s one of the many moments in the issue that fools the reader into thinking all is well.

Huck: Big, Bad World has been an enjoyable series, and a very different one from what one expects from Millar. But with one issue left, we are certainly getting more familiar Millar narrative tropes creeping in, so who knows how the finale will go down? 

Huck: Big, Bad World #4 is out now from Dark Horse Comics