by Michael J. Foy

Big Trouble in Little China number five is here and boy is it crazy good! Where the first four issues build into what could almost be seen as a conclusion on the verge of completion (I was tricked!), issue five switches gears to push the story in a new direction. There turned out to be a ton of really fun surprises along the way and the inclusion of an interesting new element to the story. So what are we waiting for? Let’s drive right in!

As always kids, I’ll try to keep out some of the major stuff, but there will indeed be some spoilers!

Choosing to open up on the Midnight Road, we see the familiar face of David Lo Pan in ‘the hell of those killed by idiots’. In this hell, a small group sits in a circle of chairs. Behind them are two freakish broots with giant sticks. Each time one of the group reveals how they were killed by a fool, one of the broots hits them in the back of the head with said stick. It’s oddly funny and an interesting idea.

This comic has a lot of fun building the universe of Little China. The Midnight Road, which I thought might be behind us at this point, instead winds on endlessly. The vast space is filled with the many different hells, including ‘the hell or razor blades and fire’ and ‘the hell of those hung up by their thumbs and eaten from the toes up by flesh eating slugs’. The creatures that inhabit this mysterious place are dangerous, but intriguing, with strong personalities.

With the return of Lo Pan, Jack has lost his monster friend ‘Pete’. Outnumbered, and now facing two evil masters of the dark arts, the group escapes to form a new plan. Back at Egg Shen’s the stage is set for the next several issues, with Jack and Miao Yin taking off in the Pork Chop Express to make a break for it.

The comedy remains a main focus as this issue sets up things to come. This is the only comic I’ve ever read that every single issue has made me burst out laughing. There were a few changes in this issue however, the most noticeable, no former love story from Burton. At first I was almost a little disappointed, but the point had been made already in the first four issues.

Now both Lo Pan and his servant Qiang Wu remain a looming threat, but I do wish that the ghostly three storms had a bit more life to them as they did in the film. Not that they spoke all that much, but they’re definitely in the background at this point. With how things are being set up, I hope to see them come back to life a bit.

Overall, Carpenter, Powell & Churilla have continued to create a very funny, and visually interesting comic. I have said this in each review, and I’ll continue to say it, if you’re a fan of this movie, pick up the comic! Each issue really has been proven to be a great new story. You’ve waited long enough! Head on over to BOOM Studios

and get involved in the BIG TROUBLE in little China!

Score: 4 ½ Lo Pans Out of 5