Big Trouble in Little China #1

By John Carpenter, Eric Powell, Brian Churilla & Michael Garland

Two words describe this story perfectly: beautifully absurd. Starting off right where the movie ends, we’re thrown back into the passenger seat of the Pork-Chop Express. Big Trouble in Little China the movie came out in 1986 and for those that have seen the movie (highly recommend) this story will bring back all your fond memories of the smartass trucker known as Jack Burton.

Due to an unexpected passenger, Burton is forced to make a return to Chinatown. Everything you loved about this little piece of San Francisco in the movie comes back into play. The script by Eric Powell reads just like how Burton was portrayed in the film (if you’ve seen the movie you’ll automatically read it in Burton’s voice) and is taken from the story by John Carpenter (the movie’s director) and Powell himself. For those that haven’t seen the movie, there is enough here to enlighten you as to what occurred and where this story is going to take you. This story is comedic, strange, mixed with some sci-fi, plus a trucker that speaks in the third person whenever it suits him (so there is something for everyone…right?).

Artist Brian Churilla’s art isn’t intent on the finer details of the scenes, but is well suited to the story of Jack Burton. He draws the characters respectfully to their 80’s movie counterparts and delivers on the mullet (time to bring it back?). He draws a scene in regards to Burton’s reminiscing of a marriage years ago in a hysterical manner very much befitting to the tone of this story, also serving to remind the reader this isn’t going to be your average trucker vs. sorcerer tale (is there an average trucker vs. sorcerer tale?). This mini scene also shows off colorist Michael Garland’s talents too, as he does some eye-catching play with yellow to orange to red as the tale of Burton’s second marriage goes sour.

For those who always craved a sequel to the 1986 film this is what you’ve been waiting for! Those who are newcomers to the story might find themselves a bit lost as first, but are given enough clues to piece together what happened all those years ago (or a few minutes ago according to where the comic starts off). Overall this story hits all the points of nostalgia you were hoping for, it brings the funny banter as well as great visuals, and even makes sure you’ll want to tune into the next issue to hear what the Ol’ Pork-Chop Express has to say.