Comic Review: Heavy Liquid Vol. 1 (Image Comics)

From Image, the Heavy Liquid Graphic Novel collects issues 1-5 of the science fiction, action adventure comic title.

“Heavy Liquid” is a fictional drug, based on metal. And since it is based or derived from metal, it can be mixed with metals for transport. It’s highly illegal, rumoured not to even exist, and the bane of Stooge, or “S”. And when you ‘take’ it, wow, look out!

Our lead character, who perhaps resembles a younger Mick Jagger or similar rock star, has been threatened or commissioned to find an artist to create a sculpture out of “the stuff”, heavy liquid. That is while he is running from some characters who want to kill him for stealing theirs.

It’s action-packed, a little like the movie Transporter mixed with John Wick. Loads of baddies, bug-infested locales, the best in Manhattan and Paris. A few women who like S, but mostly a raving tale of almost madness, coupled with some self-reflection.

Paul Pope, the writer, and artist of Heavy Liquid delivers a solid seamy tale here; well crafted, atmospheric, and barbaric. His line style, with lots of dark masses, thick lines, and smudgy colour, give us atmosphere and jitters. We shake, we withdraw. We ingest the story, and we want to continue. It’s paced like a European thriller and fits the description of a tour-de-force. What vision, what intensity.

Image, Heavy Liquid Graphic Novel, $24.99 for 266 pages of content. Rated Mature.