The Pull List – Bad Luck Chuck #1
When a problem needs a touch of bad luck, there is an expert that can be hired to bring misfortune. Charlene ”Chuck” Manchester is a walking bad luck charm that is offering her special service to cause accidents and disasters for a price. Cursed at birth, Chuck has turned her tragedy burden into a business. But just because she can cause mishaps to happen, it doesn’t mean she can avoid unwanted setbacks herself. Hired to rescue a girl from a religious cult, Chuck gets involved into a giant mess that involves a crime boss, a cult leader, and an insurance-fraud investigator. They all that are looking to end Chuck’s career in paid disasters. Chuck will find out what happens if her bad luck turns into no luck at all.
Bad Luck Chuck has an interesting premise of having a person turn their cursed luck into profit. Chuck Manchester is a jaded and sarcastic protagonist, unfazed by all the crazy events surrounding her. From explosions, crumbling utility poles and a falling goat, Chuck is accustomed to her chaotic life. Her latest assignment she takes was thought to be a simple job, but she manages to draw the attention from three different groups. Now she has to figure a way to escape from the danger, help out a new ally and possibly get a paycheck out of it.
Writer Lela Gwenn presents Chuck Manchester as an unconventional hero caught up in a conspiracy over greed, money and insurance fraud. Chuck’s bad luck power have a wonderful build up that strings together random events into hilarious accidents. Matthew Dow Smith has a terrific art style that gives the characters a lot of great expressions, and the rich use of shadows to give ominous moments. Smith manages to even throw in a nod to one of his favor Edgar Wright movies, with not so subtle reference in some of the panels.
Bad Luck Chuck is a fun crime adventure story that is charming and entertaining. The first issue lays out a great foundation about Chuck, her powers, and what trouble she has landed herself. Chuck didn’t expect her assignment to involve some many problems but is seeing this case through to the end. Or until her luck somehow changes. Comic fans looking for a fresh mini-series that has witty writing and fun visuals should take a look when this comic hits stores this month.