This issue of Bullet Gal follows another side character as they view and contribute to the main story as it unfolds. This time, it’s a minor superhero who can shrink down to the size of an ant. Sound familiar? Well, not quite. You see, in Heropa, you’re only allowed one power. So, once our hero, Little Nobody, shrinks himself down, he can’t control an army of ants or anything like that. Upon his first use of this power, he quickly discovers that his main enemies aren’t criminals or supervillains, but shoes and stairs.
This is a fun issue that explores some of the hidden implications of having Ant-Man powers: what they might be good for and what it must be like to use them. It’s also got creator Andrez Bergen’s trademark self-referential humor. In addition to being a character who’s spoken of but never seen in Bergen’s novel, Who Is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa?, Little Nobody is also the name Bergen uses as a musician and DJ. Well, one of the names he uses, but that’s a whole other Easter Egg. Little things like this are part of what makes Bergen’s work so much fun to read.
It also helps that he tells a good story. The Bullet Gal saga is drawing to a close in just a couple more issues (In fact, I’ve already reviewed the completed trade paperback.), but it’s been a wild ride since the beginning, and Bergen always manages to keep it fresh and compelling. And, issues like this are a good example of how.
This issue also features a brief explanation of how Bergen does the unique artwork for the comic, and what inspired him to do it this way. It’s a style he’s also made use of in his graphic novel, Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat, as well as his latest comic series, Trista & Holt, so getting a glimpse at the process and backstory is rather interesting.
If you’ve been keeping track of the Bullet Gal story from the beginning, then you should definitely check out this issue. If you haven’t been reading since the beginning, at this point, it’s probably better just to buy the full, collected volume. You won’t be disappointed.
