HIGH ON LIFE #1, by Titan Comics on 6/12/24, adapts the hit video game from Squanch Games to embark on a new adventure that pits the speechless Bounty Hunter and his talking guns against a Human Hunter.
Credits:
- Writer: Alec Robbins
- Artist: Kit Wallis
- Colorist: JP Jordan
- Letterer: Dave Lentz
- Cover Artist: Baldemar Rivas (cover A)
- Publisher: Titan Comics
- Release Date: June 12, 2024
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 36
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of HIGH ON LIFE #1:
Plot Analysis:
Video game adaptations into any medium can be a tricky business. Alec Robbins and Kit Wallis take on the challenge, in High On Life #1, of bringing the raunchy, comedic first-person shooter (FPS) to life in comic form, but does it hold up? Yes and no.
Robbins’s story begins with an exposition-heavy chase scene on an alien planet where we find an alien running through the wastelands with a sack full of humans. Humans are considered an endangered species, which makes them very valuable on the black market. The alien is chased by the Bounty Hunter – the player’s persona from the video game of the same name.
As the foot race progresses, the alien argues with the bounty hunter’s guns (Yes, the talk. That’s the twist of the game.) as the alien threatens to kill the humans if the Bounty Hunter doesn’t go away. The alien makes good on his promise by shooting one of the humans in the head.
One of the guns, Creature, fires an attack that kills the alien in return. When the Bounty Hunter catches up to the alien’s body and his sack of humans, the only one alive is famed actor Steve Buscemi, who was kidnapped during an alien world sightseeing vacation.
Thankful to be freed, Buscemi recounts a rumor about a so-called Human Hunter who looks like one of the talking guns (a Gatlian) on mech legs. The description prompts Harper, Bounty Hunter’s other talking gun< to call for a meeting with his allies at the local Space Applebees.
There, Harper recounts how their world was attacked by the G3 Cartel (events from the original game), and that she was saved by a Gatlian on mech legs – General Smithon Wesson. Harper is convinced Wesson is the rumored Human Hunter, and that he’s killing humans out of revenge for the Bounty Hunter saving the Gatlians from the G3 Cartel and robbing him of the glory of saving his own people.
Did you get all that? Good.
Character Development:
Despite the chaos, hijinks, and running around, Harper is shaping up to be the main protagonist and the one character with a backstory and emotional motivation to carry the story forward. Harper grieves the disappearance or possible death of her mother, and she understands the mind of Gen. Smithon Wesson.
Artwork and Presentation:
We’ve been a fan of Kit Wallis since Good Boy for his whimsical style, dramatic presentation, and ability to convey impactful moments. You get most of those good points here, although the impact is not as hard-hitting due to the intentionally zany nature of the script.
Art Samples:
Pacing and Structure:
Alec Robbins keeps the story moving at a zippy pace, consistent with the whiz-bang action a reader would expect in a video game. The scenes transition relatively well, and Robbins gives each Gatlian a distinctive personality.
That said, new readers unfamiliar with the video game may be challenged to get on board with the story concepts. Talking alien guns may work in a video game when the player takes in the world and characters from the perspective of the wordless Bounty Hunter, but a story told from the perspective of an ensemble cast takes work to get into.
Admittedly, the story, like the video game, is a foul-mouthed farce, so it’s not to be taken too seriously, but the jokes, Easter Eggs, and concepts probably will only appeal to existing fans of the video game.
Thematic Exploration:
Underneath all the wacky hijinks, Robbins sets up the foundation for a survival story against a vengeful enemy. The zany nature of the narrative may turn in unexpected directions, but that remains to be seen.
Final Thoughts:
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HIGH ON LIFE #1 adopts the hit video game into a zany, wacky comic about a talking alien gun hunting humans and his fellow talking guns who band together to stop him. Robbins and Wallis capture the tone and farcical atmosphere of the source material, but the concepts and humor likely won’t appeal to readers unless they’re already fans of the game.
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