GVN Talking Comics Review: Titan Comics ‘Huge Detective’ Issue# 1 by Adam Rose And Magneta King –“…the foundation has been laid for a truly engaging story.”

Adam Rose

We were first introduced to comic writer Adam Rose with his Corollary series by Source Point Press. It was an imaginative sci-fi story about a culture where twins were the norm, but the death of one meant the death of both. Unless you found a unique way of skirting that rule. This series was so impressive that it made our best-of list for 2022. Well, Mr. Rose is at it again with another original story for Titan Comics called Huge Detective with art by Magneta King.

“Huge Detective”

In this story, a race of giants awakens from deep slumber beneath the earth in Australia. Their sudden appearance triggers a violent conflict known as THE OMEGA EVENT, in which the awakening giants are appalled by the spread of humanity in their absence. Eventually, a treaty is reached, leading to the establishment of the state of Brobdingnag in Australia (an obvious homage to Jonathan Swift’s 1726 satirical novel Gulliver’s Travels). This treaty allows humans and giants to co-exist peacefully, with the giants agreeing to occasionally serve as transportation for the humans in exchange for being left alone otherwise.

However, a series of human murders and the disappearance of two Giants are pushing both cultures towards the brink of breaking their peace. To avert this crisis, an improbable alliance is forged between the human Detective Tamaki and the towering Detective GYANT who has chosen to come to the “doll” side. Their mission? To apprehend the elusive criminal or criminals responsible. In the process, they become entangled in a mystery far greater than they had ever anticipated.

Talking with Manny

A major piece of this initial mystery is a human named Manny, who believes he is a Huge (what Giants are called). It was Manny who was found with one of the victims at Belter’s Cave, but he has not revealed anything he had seen. The fact that he believes himself to be a giant is part of the reason they have him locked up. For his safety as much as anyone else. Tamaki has been trying to get Manny to reveal more about what happened but has been unsuccessful. She hopes, that since Manny believes himself to be a “Huge,” her partner GYANT might get more out of him. However, he is checking out the cave where the victim was found.

Drugs or no Drugs

Meanwhile, Tamaki must try to keep Manny safe and conversing. Even if she must humor him and his “giant” beliefs. A difficult task due to Manny’s reluctance to converse, especially to a lowly “doll.” Gradually, as Tamaki slowly gets him to talk, it becomes evident that Manny had possibly been abused by his previous guardian, Mrs. Stubbs. At least to the point that she held back his drug prescriptions. Claiming an illness would make him stronger. This is in addition to the treatment Manny receives from his current psychiatrist, Dr. Crawford. According to Manny, she has been giving him some concoction that will help him grow, as a Huge should.

No Talking about Mrs. Stubbs

But when Tamaki asks again about Mrs. Stubbs, Manny becomes agitated. “Mrs. Stubbs doesn’t like people to talk about her.” She is busy working with her subjects in the “hanger.” Where Manny use to live. Whatever THAT means. Meanwhile, Manny is excited to talk to GYANT. He believes the HUGE detective will have questions for him after visiting the cave. Until then, he is hungry and asks for Tamaki to leave. But not before giving her some “big” news he had recently learned.

Don’t Hold Your Breath

It had been reported that his giant “brethren” could hold their breath for up to two hours. Manny, in preparation for his eventual growth spurt, has been practicing holding his breath underwater. In his quarters (aka cell), he uses his sink for more practice.  So far, he told Tamaki, he had reached four minutes. In the past, Mrs. Stubbs, “assisted” him in his practice by holding his head underwater whenever he misbehaved. She also “showed” him that using a dictionary as additional weight on his head allowed him to achieve more. Today, he aimed for a new record. As he sank his head beneath the water, Tamaki became concerned. Since she was kept separate from Manny, she called for assistance from the guards. It wouldn’t do for her only witness to drown in his attempts to be a Huge.

Thoughts

As previously mentioned, Adam is a fountain of unique and compelling ideas, with Huge Detective standing out as another notable example. The concept of a Giant Detective working alongside a “doll” (a human) offers an intriguing premise. This is not to overlook the inherent risks involved when interacting with such large individuals and the potential for both intentional and accidental harm.

The narrative has been compared to a mix of BFG and Chinatown, an intriguing mashup indeed. Considering Mr. Rose’s past writing history, the anticipation for what comes next is palatable. Already in Issue #1, the foundation has been laid for a truly engaging story. I look forward to seeing where we go from here. Let’s hope that Tamaki will take to heart Chinatown’s J.J. Gittes’ cautionary tale about “sticking your nose” in the business of others.

Magneta King

A unique story needs a talented artist to bring it to life. Brazilian artist Magneta King takes that challenge and runs with it. He and fellow colorist Minimone establish a subtle color pallet when showing the past, and a more vibrant one when in the present. In addition, Magneta uses a clever way to establish the size differentials between the “dolls” and the Huge. Sometimes using what almost resembles a microscopic enlargement to detail who is speaking to GYANT from his perspective. As opposed to just a small silhouette. As for the Huges, Magneta makes them diverse in appearance while GYANT himself has a bit of a Boris Karloff Frankenstein vibe to him visually which works well in this narrative. Especially, like in Frankenstein, humans fear what they don’t understand.

Titan Comics Huge Detective, Issue#1 by Adam Rose, Magneta King, Minimone and DC Hopkins is available August 21st where all great comics are sold.