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REVIEW: 'Huge Detective' #1 by Adam Rose and Magenta King

 


Huge Detective #1 

Writer: Adam Rose
Artist: Magenta King
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: August 21, 2024
Cover Price: $3.99

AN ALL-NEW DETECTIVE NOIR OF GIGANTIC PROPORTIONS! CHINATOWN MEETS THE BFG IN AN ORIGINAL SERIES

Something HUGE is coming!

WHEN A STRING OF MURDERS AND DISAPPEARANCES SWEEP THE UNITED STATES, A HUMAN AND A GIANT WITH SIZABLE DETECTIVE SKILLS ARE ON THE CASE!

After a race of giants emerged from deep sleep beneath the earth, a bloody conflict ensued in what became known as THE OMEGA EVENT. Eventually, a treaty is resolved and the state of Brobdingnag is created, allowing humans and giants to co-exist harmoniously.

Yet tragedy threatens to shatter the peace, and an unlikely partnership is formed between Detectives Tamaki and GYANT.

As the pair attempt to stop the criminal AT LARGE, they find themselves involved in a mystery BIGGER than either could imagine.

Score:
★★★★☆ (4/5)

Adam Rose's knack for unique storytelling is at its best in 'Huge Detective.' As he did in his sci-fi adventure series, 'Corollary,' Rose creates a distinctive world full of interesting characters. Still, instead of a lighthearted romp, 'Huge Detective' is a fantasy grounded by murder and mystery. An evolving investigation in a world where humans and giants co-exist.

Since sleeping giants emerged from below the earth's surface and the war that followed, peace between humans and giants has reigned. Now, when several murders and disappearances occur nationwide, Detective Tamaki and Gyant join forces to track down those responsible before tensions rise. Rose offers a quick montage of how the giants rose from below and eventually negotiated a peace agreement that benefitted both sides. It's a quick and effective method to bring this fantastical story to life giving it a solid foundation to work with. It leads directly into the hardnosed Detective Tamaki conferring with the giant Gyant before talking to a suspect. 

Rose's ease with world-building reminds me of Jeff Lemire who can make any fantasy have weight and roots. It's instantly believable and the way the giants are integrated into society is clever and compelling. The tone and pacing are more like a crime drama in the spirit of 'True Detective,' with an edgy noir attitude. There's more to each character than what's on the surface and it's that unknown that makes the story so intriguing. 

The art by Magenta King is captivating with great character designs and composition that give the giants the proper scale amid humans. The color palette is earthy and rich but gives the story an air of sadness and tension. The mood is dour but Tamaki's energy and fierceness add a sense of determination and no-nonsense you'd expect from a detective on a murder case. 

'Huge Detective' is a bonafide crime thriller that just so happens to feature giant beings. Rose and King conjure up a gritty murder mystery that balances fantasy with hardboiled detective work. It's the perfect blend of imagination and mystery in the unlikeliest of circumstances. 

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