Feature Review - Big Trouble in Little China #1

FEATURE REVIEW

BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA #1

The Continuing Adventures of Jack burton and the Porkchop Express

The Hell of the Midnight Road & The Ghost of Storms Part 1

Story by: John Carpenter & Eric Powell

Writer: Eric Powell

Artist: Brian Churilla

Publisher: Boom!

“Jack . . . Don’t you know it’s bad luck to bring a demon to a wedding?” – Wang


“Jack Burton always says; if you can’t get the movie sequel made, get the comic book made!”
Well, actually, he didn’t, but you know he would have!
Jack Burton is back! Big Trouble in Little China is still going on . . . There’s Jack, Wang, Mystical Chinese Immortals and Pete . . . the demon. Yes, you read right, Pete, the Demon. Who wears a shirt that reads “Buy Me A Drink And I’ll Tell You I’m Eighteen.”
If you didn’t know, this Boom! title is the sequel to John Carpenters’ classic action comedy, Big Trouble in Little China, starring Kurt Russell. And if you didn’t know that, why didn’t you?
First thing first, comic book adaptations usually are not very good, are they? No, they are not. Good thing this isn’t an adaptation then.
This is a direct sequel to the original film, taking place within a few days of the events in the film. Jack specifically mentions how bad of a week it has been, setting the time and place for this story.
We start our sequel with the Pork Chop Express barreling down the freeway out of San Francisco and Jack Burton free styling his personal style of wisdom over the CB. All this is interrupted when he discovers he is being stalked by a demon – albeit a friendly demon he names Pete.
Turning around and heading back to San Francisco, Jack suddenly finds himself caught up in the middle of a wedding, which is crashed by men who want vengeance.
Carpenter, Eric Powell and Brian Churilla have done an excellent job in capturing the feel, style and mood of the original film. Instead of a copy, this feels like a true continuation. Jack Burton in this comic looks, feels, talk and acts like the Burton from the film: Cocky, self-assured, not quite as good or wise as he thinks he is, with an overblown amount of bravado.
This is the sequel fans of the movie have been wanting – at least in issue one.
Is there any better choice for the man to write the Big Trouble in Little China comic then Eric Powell? I mean, The Goon fits right into the world of Big Trouble. In this script, Eric has seamlessly captured what made the movie so fun and perfectly captured the character of Jack Burton.
Brian Churilla art adds to the total mix – it looks like Big Trouble.
Oh yeah, and some guy named John Carpenter is involved somewhere as well.
The original film Big Trouble in Little China is rightfully called a cult classic. Is it a masterpiece? Probably not. Yet despite the silliness, the stupiness (yes, there is that), and poor-done-on-purpose dialogue, it all comes together to form one of the greatest action comedies of all time. It may not be a masterpiece, but it is one of the most entertaining films one might ever see.
This title can be viewed the same way – and there is nothing wrong with that. Big Trouble in Little China has always been about one thing: A good FUN time.
Rating: 6 ½
Ace Masters