HUCK: BIG BAD WORLD #1, by Dark Horse Comics on 5/17/25, catches up with Huck doing good deeds and working hard to make his first girlfriend happy until it all comes crashing down.
Credits:
- Writer: Mark Millar
- Artist: Rafael Albuquerque
- Colorist: Dave McCaig
- Letterer: Clem Robins
- Cover Artist: Rafael Albuquerque (cover A)
- Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
- Release Date: May 17, 2025
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 32
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of HUCK: BIG BAD WORLD #1:
Recap:
When Huck was first released in 2016, we learned the following: In a quiet seaside town, a gas station clerk named Huck secretly uses his special gifts to do a good deed each day. But when his story leaks, a media firestorm erupts, bringing him uninvited fame. As pieces of Huck’s past begin to resurface, it’s no longer clear who his friends are – or whose lives may be in danger. The last time we saw Huck, he played a small but pivotal role in Big Game.
Plot Analysis:
In Huck: Big Bad World #1, the big-hearted hero gets his heart broken. The issue begins with a flashback to Ukraine in 1976. We see a young girl named Anna playing in the woods with her friends when they happen upon a cottage in a clearing that didn’t exist the day before. An old woman occupying the cottage invites the children in for soup. Miraculously, the soup gives Anna the power to make anyone do anything she tells them after she touches them.
Now, we learn Anna Kozar is Huck’s mother. She receives a visit from Dr. Jack Harper, a man saved years ago by a woman with special abilities. He believes he was meant to find the woman again, and he needs Huck to do it because Huck can find anyone as long as he has their full name or touches an object touched by that missing person. Dr. Harper brought a box full of artifacts touched by miraculous people over the years, so if Huck can’t find the woman who saved Dr. Harper, perhaps he can locate someone who knows her.
Elsewhere, Huck gleefully tells a group of sailors aboard a lost ship about a special gift he got for his first girlfriend, Zoe. When Huck calls Zoe to tell her about the gift, she explains she and her son are leaving tonight to be with her ex-boyfriend and father to her son for a music tour with his band. Huck immediately races home to talk to Zoe before she leaves. The issue ends with a private chat, a somber sunrise, and a call to adventure that needs to wait a few minutes.
First Impressions:
We’ve been upfront with our appreciation for recent Millarworld titles for taking big swings to grab you and demand your attention. However, big swings need not be explosive action, and Mark Millar proves that here with an emotionally charged issue that puts Huck’s unflappable cheeriness to the test.
Artwork and Presentation:
Rafael Albuquerque, who Comical Opinions readers will know as primarily as a cover artist, steps up to internal pages to portray a tale of Eastern European mysticism, modern-day heroics, and personal drama. In several ways, Albuquerque’s visual storytelling is reminiscent of Jeff Lemire’s style, with a heavy focus on character expression through the eyes and captivating panel angles. The action scenes are few and far between in this issue, so Albuquerque makes the most of the personal expression of uncertainty, fear, and heartbreak to convey the weight of the plot.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
We constantly harp on first issues that fall short because the creators neglect the basics. Here, Mark Millar turns in a masterclass of nuance and subtlety by giving you a solid foundation to start the adventure without relying on world-shattering threats or explosive action. We know who Huck is, what he wants, and why he wants it. Plus, we have a sneaking suspicion that Huck will find what he’s looking for by way of an unexpected mission that arrives at his lowest point. Everything you could want is right in front of you with gobs of heart to spare.
The Negatives:
The weakest aspect of Huck: Big Bad World #1 is in the art, specifically the coloring, shadows, and backgrounds. Dave McCaig uses broad paint strokes, which give the visuals a rough, unpolished veneer. Plus, several panels have no background detail at all, which suggests Albuquerque ran out of time.
Big Picture:
Series Continuity:
The million-dollar question most readers will likely have is, “Do you need to have read the previous Huck runs to follow what’s happening in this comic?” No, but it helps. If you want more history on the big boy scout, check out the first Huck volume. Link: https://amzn.to/42RruP4
Final Thoughts:
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HUCK: BIG BAD WORLD #1 finds the big, cheery hero brought low when he receives heart-breaking news. Mark Millar, the master of big swings, crafts a masterclass on impactful storytelling through pure emotion. The art isn’t the best, but it’s good enough to tell the story where it counts.
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