First poor Chris gets laid off work then he comes home to discover his dad, David, borrowed money from a loan shark to keep up with medical bills. Things are looking bleak for Chris Mclean, which leads him to desperate measures. Enticed by his friends, Mark and Sophie, who come up with an elaborate plan to steal rare and valuable comic books from their local comic con. Surely fighting crime with crime isn’t the answer?
The Big Comic Con is a simple yet effective story that meshes reality with the world of comics and a hard ass mob boss. Possibly the first comic to be set in Dunfermline, filled with local references and illustrated landmarks such as The Little Shop of Heroes and the Dunfermline Comic Con itself. Maxwell and Philp definitely embraced this and made the most of it. In fact it almost feels like an advertisement to be a volunteer at the Con, as the main protagonist Chris keeps saying he is going, though curiously we never actually end up seeing him there.
As for the art, Michael Philp has done a great job keeping the layout smooth and allowing each panel to flow, though the art is a little choppy there is still enough motion to capture the excitement and energy and it looks like he had a lot of fun with it, which rubs off on the story. Writer and colourist Colin Maxwell has done well in bringing a lot of bold and lively colour into it as well as toning it down for more serious scenes.
The Big Comic Con is an easy and fun journey to follow, with lively and colourful characters. The relationship between Chris and his Dad is wholesome and Maxwell never needed to delve deep into there backgrounds to give them depth and make them likeable. Though it would have been interesting to see a little more grit and peril, it is still a great little read for all.
THE BIG COMIC CON / WRITER & COLOURIST & LETTERER: COLIN MAXWELL / ARTISTS: MICHAEL PHILP / PUBLISHER: MAXIMIZED COMICS / RELEASE DATE: 11TH MARCH
