In the troubled waters off Somalia, a rag-tag group of marine scientists studying a pack of female great white sharks find themselves caught in a conflict between pirates and the might of the US Navy. But why is the CIA so interested in the work of the scientists? And just how will they face up to the shadowy terror of the legendary great white – HOOK JAW?!

Published by British publisher Titan Comics, written by Si Spurrier, with art by Conor Boyle, at two issues in, Hook Jaw went from silly to silly fun really quick.

I was completely unfamiliar with anything that came before, so when I went into the first issue, it honestly felt a bit like a Jaws rip-off with some CIA/Navy SEALS guys thrown in. The second issue embraces all of that calling out the fact it’s a goofy Jaws cash-in and just completely makes fun of the tough guy CIA/Navy SEAL leader who keeps repeating the same phrase over and over while his machismo is mocked.

Spurrier has embraced the goofy here and it totally pays off. I read the first issue with some interest and it was good. It’s the second issue that really brings me in because it decides to not take itself seriously. At that point the comic embraces the fun and silly premise. It’s a shark with a hook coming out of its front! It uses the hook to stab people! How can that not be funny!? When the comic doesn’t take seriously, it shines and hooks me.

Boyle’s art too is over the top embracing the gore when he can giving us a bloody mess that I remember from all of those movies this comic pays homage to. What’s interesting is the art doesn’t change really, but Spurrier’s tone reflects in it. If it’s goofy, the art comes off as goofy. If the writing is serious, the art is serious. But, the art doesn’t change at all, which is fascinating.

Hook Jaw #2 is where things really take off for me. I’m looking forward to more and sitting back and embracing the utter ridiculousness of it all and enjoying every page of it.

Story: Si Spurrier Art: Conor Boyle
Story: 7.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read

Titan Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review