GUN HONEY #4 – Review

GUN HONEY #4, from Titan Comics on December 15th, 2021, follows the shocking revelation that Afan has a connection to Joanna’s family. When faced with the truth, where will Joanna place her loyalties?

The Details

• Written By: Charles Ardai
• Art By: Ang Hor Kheng
• Colors By: Asifur Rahman
• Letters By: David Leach
• Cover Art By: Alex Ronald (cover A)
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: December 15, 2021

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Was It Good?

GUN HONEY #4 marks the end of the current arc, but Titan promises at the end of this issue the title will return. I hope that question of “when?” is answered sooner rather than later. Gun Honey is one of the best Hard Case crime/thriller titles Titan’s put out in recent memory, and it deserves more runs, assuming Ardai is up for it.

Issue #4 ends the run on a high note with (almost) everyone getting what they want, plenty of eye-popping art, and a twist ending before the epilogue for a satisfying conclusion.

The only down point (it’s a small one) relates to a scene on an island in the first half of the book. Joanna is “undercover” but it’s not clear how she managed to get on the island or get into her position to spring a trap. It feels like the creators skipped a step, assuming the reader will just go with the scenario. This is one of the few cases where a little more explanation would have been better because the leap for Joanna to get from Point A to Point B is a little too far.

Putting that small down point aside, the story has plenty of emotional gravity now that Afan’s true identity is revealed. The few action beats resonate with importance because they’re meaningful to the story, and the twist ending elevates the conclusion more than you think it will.

Of course, this series wouldn’t be where it is without Ang Hor Kheng’s pitch perfect, pulp art. Of course (again), Joanna Tan and her feminine assets are the star of the series, and while there’s plenty of titillation in Kheng’s art, it always serves a purpose and makes complete sense in the seedy underworld in which Joanna Tan operates.

This was a great run for Hard Case and I’m looking forward to more comics like this in the future.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

If you’re not clear what we mean by a “shocking revelation”, first read our GUN HONEY #3 review for the low down.

We pick up immediately from the end of issue #3 with Joanna Tan aka Gun Honey realizing the truth of Afan’s real identity. Despite his extensive burn scars, she can see the truth of his claim in his face. Jack searches the bodies of the dead killers and confirms what Afan already suspected, the killers were sent to kill Afan before he has a chance to kill their boss, the last surviving member of the Ugras family. Feeling a responsibility to Afan, Joanna agrees to help him stop the last Ugras

Later, Jack arrives on an island that caters to the debased tastes of the rich and powerful. Named DEN after Dennis Ugras, the resort is now run by Fiona Ugras, the last person alive who knows the person responsible for Afan’s injuries. When Jack enters, pretending to be a paying client, Fiona personally escorts him to a harem of ladies for selection. Suddenly, one of the ladies jumps Fiona and restrains her in handcuffs for questioning. It’s Joanna Tan in disguise!

We conclude the issue with answers about the mysterious figure behind the Ugras’s crimes and Afan’s scars, explosions, and an interrogation that goes very wrong.

Final Thoughts

GUN HONEY #4 wraps up the current arc with a mild amount of action but tons of emotional weight, surprising twists, and a 100% satisfying ending. The art looks great in a gritty, pulpy way that fits perfectly for the material. And, the epilogue leaves room for more adventures to come.

Score: 9/10

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