Warning: contains spoilers forHuge Detective#1-3!
Huge Detective,from Titan Comics, does what many thought impossible: successfully mix the noir genre with kaijus. These two seemingly disparate genres actually share a few things in common, andHuge Detectivebrings these winding threads together beautifully.Huge Detective’sunique blend of the noir/thrillergenre and giant monsters makes it one of this year’s most memorable crime comics.
Huge Detectiveis written by Adam Rose and drawn by Magenta King. In the near future, giant monsters emerge from the underground, threatening to overrun humanity. The monsters, called “Huges,” are intelligent, and eventually they and humanity come to a planet-sharing agreement: the Huges get the Australian continent, which is then rechristened “BrobDingNag.” The Huges keep to themselves in their homeland for the most part. This peace comes to an end when a murder mystery forces a human and a Huge detective to join forces to solve it–but can these two different species learn to work together?
The Kaiju and Noir Genres Have a Good Deal in Common
The Two Genres Serve as Important Reminders for Humanity
On the surface, the kaiju and noir genres seem to share nothing in common. The kaiju genre, which arose in Japan in the 1950safter the release ofGodzilla, featured giant monsters wreaking havoc on the Earth. The genre was rooted in Japan’s (and the world’s) atomic anxieties post-World War Two. Shortly before the kaiju field was born, and a continent away, the noir genre thrived. Just as the kaiju reflected Japan’s post-war malaise, the noir genre did the same for American audiences. Noir also produced some of the best American movies of their era, such asDouble Indemnity.
Other film noir classics includeThe Big Sleep, The Postman Always Rings TwiceandThe Maltese Falcon.
With this in mind, it is easy to see the connection between the two genres. At their best, both fields can provide scathing critiques of imperialism, gender roles and the nature of good and evil. The police in noir films can be just as bad and corrupt as the crooks they were chasing. In the kaiju realm, Godzilla, who began as a commentary on nuclear weapons, would become a hero within a decade. The tropes that have come to define these genres are employed to brilliant effect inHuge Detective.
Huge DetectiveMixes Two Genres So Well, Fans Will Wonder Why No One Has Done it Before
Huge DetectiveIs Another Win for Titan Comics
Social commentary is abundant inHuge Detective’s first issues. The Huges, who are feared and misunderstood by humanity, become allegories for the refugee crisis facing the world. The Huges are, despite their great size, not only highly intelligent but also telepathic. They have a lot to offer Earth, but fear and prejudice won the day. The two races have existed together, but humans still have their doubts. Now, a terrible tragedy is bringing them together. Both sides will be forced to confront their biases and their hatred for one another if justice is to be served.
Huge Detective’s“absurd on paper” premise works well, thanks to writer Adam Rose’s script and artist Magenta King’s vivid art.
Huge Detective’s“absurd on paper” premise works well, thanks to writer Adam Rose’s script and artist Magenta King’s vivid art. The opening pages tell fans everything they need to know about the Huges before launching right into the gripping mystery at the heart ofHuge Detective. Rose’s characterizations are intriguing, and between him and King, create characters of depth and nuance. Titan Comics’ newHuge Detectivemixes genres with seemingly nothing in common, and its skillful blurring of the lines between them has created an intriguing and most unique crime comic.
