Reviewing issue 2 of Jimmy Broxton's Fully Loaded presents a couple of challenges. The most obvious problem is that his debut issue was flawless. Genuinely the first issue was perfection, so he set an exceptionally high bar.
Well let's line up the drinks on that metaphorical bar shall we because this is a comic that surprises me a touch.
Let us begin by considering that in the world of film it is rare to find a sequel that surpasses the original. The Godfather 2 and The Empire Strikes Back are simply moments of genius. They are examples of the theory that an exception that proves the rule principle does exist. These are as scarce as rocking horse teeth. The question here is whether issue two of Fully Loaded can live up expectations.
After all issue one was an absolute thoroughbred straight out of the traps. It was a masterclass in storytelling and writing. It was a ten out of ten, five stars, and a perfectly cooked filet mignon steak with all the trimmings of a comic. Jimmy knocked it out of the park and scored the winning touchdown at the Superbowl if you will excuse the slightly mixed metaphor.
So, to borrow an expression from Spinal Tap, did Jimmy Broxton manage to to turn the volume up 11 ?
The answer is "Hell YES he did!"
Jimmy Broxton is very slowly ratcheting up the tension on his story, but issue two comes with the caveat that reading issue one first is rather important. For some this may present some obstacles given the fact it appears to have been a runaway sales success in most comic stores and may likely be sold out.
Expecting any writer or artist to maintain perfection is asking an awful lot of any creator. The art here is very clever, the deeper into the more grubby areas of the city Broxton creates the linework gets a touch looser. I have no idea if this is deliberate but it is very effective.
Issue two is a frustrating read. Broxton is setting all the chess pieces in place with nuanced characters. It feels as if there if any second there will be be an explosion of violence, gunplay and bloodshed, but it just hasn't happened yet. It is like a meal before the main course. You can almost taste it. Nonetheless, make no mistake, this is a delicious treat.
For a novice comic reader the flashback scenes could potentially feel vaguely jarring but I suspect that would only apply to a precious few readers.
As a side note I would cheerfully spend time in the sky-cab featured in this instalment.
Broxton's art astonishes. It is a cinematic and bold and constantly inventive and surprising.
By a country mile Fully Loaded is EASILY the best comic on the stands in 2025. It is also the finest and most accomplished black and white comic in over a decade. If you enjoy comics and you are not reading this, you need your head examined.
I for the record cannot wait to read issue three. I will leave you with a thought. Imagine watching The Godfather 2 or The Empire Strikes Back for the first time on a glorious big screen. Picture that thought. Would you walk out half way through? Not in a million years.