Title: Hoax Hunters #6
Writer: Michael Moreci
Art: Axel Medellin
Publisher: Image
Recently, I started watching the X-Files. It’s a phenomenal example of serial sci-fi drama, but it’s absolutely dated for a show in which characters rely somewhat on technology. What does this have to do with Hoax Hunters? Well…
The thing about Hoax Hunters it this: it is easily the comic book equivalent of all the best sci-fi investigative team serial dramas that television has given us over the last 50 years. Except Hoax Hunters is up to date. It’s a modern-day version of The X-Files with a bit of Fringe, a bit of the Twilight Zone, and a lot of originality. That last part is key.
For those of you who missed Hoax Hunters issues 0-5 (get them here), you don’t absolutely need to have read the first arc to be able to jump in head first. Highly recommended though, as it’s an outstanding read from start to finish.
Hoax Hunters issue 6 kicks off a brand new arc. The Hoax Hunters are challenged by the Hoax Hunters Hunters, a ragtag trio of really, really annoying jerks who run a site dedicated to debunking all Hoax Hunters episodes.
That’s right – The Hoax Hunter Hunters (HHH for the sake of typing) …(no not that one) have dedicated their time to proving that monsters, aliens and conspiracies are not fabrications or legends. They believe the Hoax Hunters are working for the government, cleaning up any hard evidence of otherworldly or really, really bizarre interworldly shenanigans. Suffice to say, this could cause trouble for the Hoax Hunters.
When a group of small-town teenagers are killed in a mysterious happening (possibly involving gnomes, which personally I find terrifying ever since this) the HHH issue a challenge to the Hoax Hunters – prove that the case is a fabrication before the HHH are able to prove that it’s not. How are the Hoax Hunters going to covertly cover this one up when they’re being watched?
Long story short – this is the beginning of what will be an entertaining second arc for Hoax Hunters.
Of course, you wouldn’t be able to care about a concept or an idea if the characters driving the story weren’t interesting. The Hoax Hunters are a well balanced group, each member contributing something unique and important to the team. It’s a nice balance of personalities. Some of the characters in Hoax Hunters will get on your nerves too, which is a good sign that they’re well written. You can’t ever really love a character if you can’t also hate them at some point in the story.
Moreci sowed the seeds with the first Hoax Hunters arc. Issue 6 continues to develop the overarching stories introduced earlier in the series while also adding new characters into the fray and mixing things up a little. We’ve all seen a series grow repetitive and predictable after only a few issues, but Moreci is keeping the fires burning with Hoax Hunters. I’ll highly recommend purchasing the first arc and continuing with issue 6. Hoax Hunters is a fun, refreshing, modern take on the sci-fi horror mysteries you grew up loving, and shouldn’t be missed by fans of the medium.
Follow Moreci on Twitter for constant Hoax Hunters update, and for some excellent comic book convo!
