Big Trouble In Little China/Escape From New York #3 Review: Army Of Snakes
By Alex Widen
The awesome crossover between Escape from New York and Big Trouble In Little China continues! Can Jack Burton and Snake Plissken survive against Lo Pan’s Snake-Army?
Big Trouble In Little China/Escape From New York #3
Writer: Greg Pak
Artist: Daniel Bayliss
Colorist: Triona Farrell
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If any comic embodies execution over complication, it’s this one. BOOM! Studios continues their crossover of Kurt Russell/John Carpenter film franchises in style. The premise may be a simple one, but its execution is ingenious. As good as Greg Pak’s Totally Awesome Hulk is, this may be his best effort of the year in terms of writing. The art by Daniel Bayliss and Triona Farrell is a treasure at every panel. The story is fun and fast paced, and the dialogue is rich. Every page is a blast.
Image by BOOM! Studios
According to this series, the multiverse is defined by alternate versions of Snake Plissken in particular. It seems every world he’s in eventually devolves into chaos. However, in one world circa 1987, he goes by Jack Burton and is a haplessly lucky trucker. Via a poorly translated spell from a magical scroll, Jack Burton’s now on the world of the “default” Snake, circa 2001. Despite not getting along at all, the pair have managed to save a dozen people from a siege of their bunker.
Image by BOOM! Studios
Seems Like Jack Burton Did Something Right after All!
One of those people is Blind Apple Mary, one of the few surviving artists from the 20th century. The country blues singer’s tunes entertain even Snake, and Jack’s her biggest fan. Another rescued person is Bob Hauk, former commissioner of the U.S. Police Department. An old enemy of Snake’s, he was the man who forced him into saving the president (as chronicled in the Escape From New York film). Together, they’re trying to flee to Toronto to escape marauding bandits and mayhem.
Image by BOOM! Studios
Unfortunately, Jack Burton’s ghostly enemy Lo Pan has followed him here. Between the film and BOOM!’s Big Trouble comic series, Lo Pan’s been foiled by Burton at least three times now. Utilizing the magical scroll at the center of all this, he’s determined to end Jack Burton once and for all. To this end, he’s summoned a literal army of Snake Plissken counterparts to do his bidding. While trying to escape by truck, our heroes meet a cadre of them in this issue.
Image by BOOM! Studios
Pak and Bayliss display their hilarious imagination with these counterparts. There’s a barbarian version, a robot version, a literal snake version, and a “rule 63” version! Dubbed “Lady Snake” by Jack, she’s easily the most competent of the lot. Yet, not even she can overcome a chain gun and Jack Burton’s uncanny luck. In fact, it’s that same luck which Lo Pan plans to harness for his own purposes. Snake is eager to get rid of Jack, but may good ol’ Jack Burton be their salvation after all?
Image by BOOM! Studios
Most of All, Awesome Comics Are Made by Awesome Creators!
Greg Pak is a master of the action-comedy genre, having co-wrote Incredible Hercules for years at Marvel. He’s in rare form here, with two franchises which seem to embody all of his talents. Pak is able to keep the laughs and action sequences coming, while also embellishing the characters a great deal, too. He gets the best effect by contrasting Jack Burton and Snake Plissken, and how others around them react to them. He seems to channel John Carpenter’s vision effortlessly.
Image by BOOM! Studios
In particular, Pak has caught on that Snake isn’t a champion; he’s a misunderstood anti-hero. To Bobby Liu and Helene Chow (counterparts of Jack’s pals Wang Chi and Miao Yin), Snake is a legendary soldier and hero. To Bob Hauk, Snake is a selfish outlaw. Plissken himself barely seems to know what side he’s on besides his own. He’s the ultimate soldier, seeming to only think or act towards surviving the next skirmish. Any loyalty he tends to have is out of convenience.
Image by BOOM! Studios
Jack Burton, on the other hand, sees himself as a champion despite being incompetent. His knack for surviving and overcoming threats through sheer luck verges on Inspector Gadget levels. Jack is arrogant, but also genuinely charming with a great sense of humor. His knack for disguises may even prove to be their salvation (or doom) next issue. Jack envisions himself as having the skills of Snake, but only in his own mind. His luck being enhanced on this world is a major plot point.
Image by BOOM! Studios
In Addition, Never Underestimate Lo Pan!
Yet it seems the real scene stealer is Lo Pan. Much like in the film, the villain has a knack for mixing evil arrogance with failure. Lo Pan is full of great one liners, mixing ancient knowledge with modern sensibilities. He’s able to be both comic relief and main adversary simultaneously, which is a very hard dynamic to pull off. Lo Pan’s scheme is bat crap crazy, but the sort of crazy which makes perfect sense in this series’ context. He may be verging on over exposure, but not yet.
Image by BOOM! Studios
There are also plenty of interesting dynamics going on beneath the comedy. Snake has a healthy distrust of Bob Hauk, who may yet have a scheme in mind. On the other hand, it may be Snake who has proven unable to flex with the times or see a bigger picture. What Jack lacks in skill he makes up for in loyalty and eagerness, even towards mere counterparts of his best friends. Even Blind Apple Mary can easily “see” how important Burton is for their survival.
Image by BOOM! Studios
Daniel Bayliss and Triona Farrell once again produce an exceptional issue. Bayliss’ style may remind some of Paul Pope, mixing Western and European elements into every panel and pose. The action sequences pop, and mingle well with the physical comedy which is also heavily present. Bayliss’ facial expressions, poses, and attention to detail remain amazing. And despite this being a post-apocalypse, Farrell’s color palette is vibrant and diverse. It perfectly mirrors the late 80s flair.
Image by BOOM! Studios
In Conclusion, This Is One of the Best Comics of 2016!
It is said that in film, the best special effects are those you don’t notice. Comedy is also similar in that the skill it takes to execute it is often underestimated. The ability to transition seamlessly from drama to comedy within one work is perhaps one of the most underappreciated skills in modern pop fiction. Greg Pak’s Incredible Hercules co-writer, Fred Van Lente, is a master of it. He used this to write Big Trouble In Little China for BOOM! for over a year to spectacular effect.
Image by BOOM! Studios
Next: Check out the madcap goodness from issue #2!
It’s most noteworthy that Greg Pak has picked up the torch from Van Lente with Big Trouble here without skipping a beat. Big Trouble/Escape From NY is a deceptively clever and completely entertaining comic book miniseries. It is easily the best crossover of the year, even surpassing IDW Publishing’s brilliant Batman/TMNT from the spring. The art is amazing, the story is entertaining, and the dialogue and characterization are spot on. No comic fan should miss it.