Hoo boy has it been awhile since I’ve read anything from Vault and these first two issues of Big Rig that were created from the mind of Rap Artist Post Malone and co-written with Adrian Wassel was a Helluva way to make a return trip to the Vault! Big Rig is perhaps best described by the owner of my local comic shop as wondering what Post was on where this book is concerned. Tho clearly, Post and even Adrian are on some good stuff in the form of Nostalgia and love for franchises like Evil Dead/Army Of Darkness and Mad Max as those influences are easily seen in these first two issues. Granted, a semi-truck in the Dark Ages is a little new for at least me and shouldn’t really work given the time period buuuuut… It does! And the vaguest thing we know about it is that the cap Trucker wears that came with the Rig just explains things.
To a certain point and it makes me think of the Power Rangers in how some of them are able to do certain things with no prior training once they are a Ranger. While it could be seen as a cop out for this kind of explanation, it works none the less. As it allows Post and Adrian to focus their writing on everything else and for our enjoyment in the end. Trucker himself is a former priest and a man without his family due to tragedy and he’s also kind of a man of few words. Which given his past experiences is easy to see why and Edda and Batu (tho mostly Edda) more than make up in the conversation department. One’s a witch and the other’s essentially a hunter and they make one Hell of a combo!
One thing I love about Edda is the fact she can apparently communicate with God thru the Big Rig’s CB Radio and probably her own Gods as well. Its another thing that shouldn’t work but it does and I love it. Which makes me curious when Trucker himself will try and use the CB Radio to talk with God and if its just something Edda can do given her particular talents. Something I look forward to seeing if Post and Adrian go there. I’m also loving that Nathan Gooden of Barbaric is the one handling art duties for Big Rig.
Its just really fitting given the chaos the Rig Crew and various folks are being forced to deal with thanks to Demons invading every other body and doing this and that. How they are even managing to run amok unchecked isn’t exactly clear and why the only form of Divine Intervention is a Big Rig loaded with supplies is also unclear. But maybe, just maybe, the Winged Folk are busy dealing with other Demon problems. Or… They’re chilling with their Harps on their Clouds because they just don’t want to be involved. Who knows, and perhaps we’ll get an answer to that at some point. I’m also curious as to why there’s very little coloring involved in the pages. Could be that it was felt Black and White worked best with this title.
Or it could be something else. But the lack of color doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of the book at all for me. I’m also liking how Betu serves as something of a Jiminy Cricket where Edda’s concerned at times as in situations like this one, its easy to just want to focus on certain things or people. And I’m curious as to how long Betu will be able to do that where Edda’s concerned and if Trucker will have to step in himself. Especially given the cliffhanger we get in this second issue as an army led by Prince General Minos is hooving towards our Big Rig crew.
Boy, just gotta love those cliffhangers just as things are getting excited! The third issue’ll be out in October and I for one, can’t wait!
Big Rig #’s1 & 2
Vault Comics
Created by: Post Malone
Written by: Post Malone and Adrian Wassel
Art by: Nathan Gooden
Colors by: Der-Shing Helmer
Letters by: Jim Campbell
Covers by: Nathan Gooden, Der-Shing Helmer, and Peach Momoko
Reviewed by: Rob Wrecks
Summary: The Dark Ages… Demon hordes plague Europe as Hell invades Earth. The Six Petals, a secret sect of The Knights Templar, pray for a holy weapon to drive back the scourge. What crashes to earth instead is The Rig, a fully loaded tractor trailer. In the aftermath of its arrival, the only man left standing is an enigmatic former priest. He will become Trucker and lead the fight against Hell—with 25 tons and 18 wheels of demon-slaying machine.
