Gotta admit, I was taken off-guard by the final page of this issue. I was literally like “Wow.” If it’s really a real thing, then I’ll be one happy reader. Hoax Hunters is the type of concept that is almost a parody of urban legend shows. Instead of wanting to prove things real, they want to prove things fake. The first issue was an okay start, but didn’t quite win me over. It wasn’t a horrible beginning, but I really didn’t care much about the characters, they just weren’t engaging at all. The second issue is definitely an improvement. It’s not outstanding, but a step in the right direction for this series.

Here’s the official description from Image:

“DIE OFF ANOTHER DAY,” Part Two
Danger awaits the Hoax Hunters at the mysterious carnival – a roaming band of cryptids with an agenda all their own. An old foe emerges, wielding a power the likes of which the Hoax Hunters have never seen. Not to mention an enormous, hideous monster.

I had Scooby Doo on my mind while reading this issue. The atmosphere, story, and characters felt like something straight out of a Where Are You Episode. With this issue the series is leaving its realism and going into a more fantastical territory. I mean, we have flaming skull people. (All they need is a chain and motorcycle.) The story is a major improvement from the previous comic, this one is a lot more intriguing, engaging, and fun.

There’s nothing really to complain about the art, it’s standard comic book artwork. The cover is very nice, a true ‘classic’ that I could see in the museum next to the Mona Lisa. One of the complaints from the previous issue I had were the characters, they just weren’t engaging enough to be focuses. With this issue, they’re definitely improving. They’re still not the best characters you’ll find in an Image comic, but at this rate they will most likely turn out to be pretty good focuses.

Overall, an improvement over the slightly lackluster Issue #1. The story was fun, and the characters weren’t that bad. With a great and unexpected last page, I await the next issue with anticipation. The writing seems to be getting better, so at this rate Hoax Hunters will turn into a grade A series.

3.5/5