Dark Horse Comics reviews – Huck Big Bad World 5
Huck Big Bad World 5 continued the bleak, depressing shift in the series that was offering a very necessary breath of fresh air to balance out some of the harshness of the real world.
Writer Mark Millar’s story has shifted from optimistic and inspiring to one where the bad guys do horrific things in the sake of keeping their bottom line. Maybe if Big Bad World 5 wasn’t dropping the same time as yet another government shutdown in addition to all of the discord when it comes to billionaires and trillionaires, the issue wouldn’t feel so raw.
In fairness, Millar hasn’t been a happy go-lucky writer in the other Millar World titles. In The Magic Order, the good guys do eventually triumph but not without facing major bouts of tragedy. Big Game featured a wholesale slaughter of characters before the tide was turned. Maybe Millar has a similar trick up his sleeve, but Big Bad World 5 definitely was not that light at the end of a dark tunnel. Unless it was a train speeding headfirst.
Big Bad World 5 starts with a quick backstory of Witch Finder General Mr. Malik joining the Lucas Trust, a shady organization looking to exterminate all of the emerging heroes. They’ve been in existence for decades, but Malik has the best opportunity to take out many of them thanks to Huck’s efforts to reunite Jack Harper with Sophia Raskin.
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Artist Rafael Albuquerque provides more hauntingly captivating artwork throughout the issue. There are plenty of shocking moments during Big Bad World 5 and Albuquerque is certainly up to the challenge of giving them their proper due for maximum visual effect.
Again, there are some big developments in the last few pages and Albuquerque shines making them feel like a fitting cliffhanger to this issue.
Colorist Dave McCaig switches up his rich, nostalgic color palette for darker hues that properly align with the shift in tone. Letterer Clem Robins keeps the dialogue easy to read with attention grabbing sound effect fonts.
As the Witch Finders start to carry out their sinister plan, Huck might be the last hero left. He might be compromised as he’s trying to keep Zoe and her baby safe as well, but ultimately it might fall on a surprise participant to keep them safe after all.
Big Bad World 5 was the penultimate chapter of this arc. Millar has certainly raised the emotional stakes of the series with the darker shift in these last two issues. Millar has pulled out great endings in bleak story arcs before so there’s no reason to dread the worst, but for Huck and his readers’ sake, hopefully there might be some good in this Bad World when the story is completed.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Photo Credit: Dark Horse Comics
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