If you’re a sucker for high-octane spy flicks like James Bond or Jason Bourne, you need to put this book on your radar immediately. I’ll admit that I wasn’t deeply familiar with Joanna Tan’s past exploits before picking this up. Even so, Gun Honey: Doubles Down #1 serves as a hell of an introduction to the franchise. Writer Charles Ardai and artist Ang Hor Kheng have pieced together a massive, blockbuster-scale espionage story that caught me completely off guard.
Title: Gun Honey: Doubles Down #1
Creatives: Charles Ardai (Writer), Ang Hor Kheng (Artist), Asifur Rahman (Colorist), David Leach (Letterer)
Characters: Joanna Tan
Villain: Dmitri Vulapin
Format: Limited Series
Our Rating: 8.8/10 Stars
What is Gun Honey: Doubles Down #1 About?
The story kicks off by flipping the script on what originally looked like a successful mission. Joanna Tan, an elite weapons smuggler, takes a massive contract to slip a firearm into a secure facility. The goal is simple: eliminate Dmitri Vulapin, the ruthless president of Russia. While the hit actually goes down, a wild political twist ruins the entire plan. The real dictator emerges completely unharmed, and he’s suddenly hunting down everyone involved in the plot.
Naturally, that includes Joanna. But instead of letting her vanish into hiding, U.S. intelligence intercepts her with a massive counteroffer to finish the job for double the money. It turns out Vulapin is hiding in three different locations across Russia. To collect her paycheck, Joanna has to track him down and figure out which target is the real deal.
Is Gun Honey Just About Adult Themes, or Is There a Good Story?
That setup introduces a heavy, classic espionage vibe that works beautifully. Characters are constantly lying and using misdirection to get exactly what they want, creating a tense atmosphere where you can’t trust a single soul. It’s a smart, mature read. While Joanna engages in some very explicit encounters, there’s always a genuine narrative reason for it.
An awesome example of this balance is a “poker chip” scene where she uses a high-tech field-test device to scan a target’s DNA. The creative team does a fantastic job of balancing adult themes with clever, realistic plot progression. Beyond the tradecraft, Joanna clearly operates under a strict code of honor. That’s always a great trait for fictional saboteurs. She isn’t just a cold-blooded killer; she actively tries to protect bystanders and manage the fallout when things inevitably go sideways on the ground.
How Good Is the Artwork in Gun Honey: Doubles Down?
Once the action shifts into high gear, the comic becomes an absolute adrenaline rush. Turning these pages feels exactly like watching the best set pieces of Lara Croft or Bourne play out on screen. Ang Hor Kheng’s artwork is phenomenal here, showcasing a spectacular sense of fluid motion that makes every single action beat feel seamless. I seriously cannot sing his praises enough. Drawing kinetic, fast-paced movement in a static comic panel is incredibly difficult to pull off, yet the art team makes it look effortless.
Letterer David Leach handles the chaos perfectly, using big, rhythmic sound effects for the gunfire that punctuate the page without crowding the linework. Overall, the book looks gorgeous, carrying a polished gloss that makes the pencils pop. Colorist Asifur Rahman hits the right moods too, shifting from warm, dangerous crimsons inside private quarters to the cool, stark blues of a rainy coastal estate without ever missing a beat.
Everything wraps up with a clever narration line about having “friends in high places” right as a rescue drops into the frame. It’s an incredibly cool, swagger-filled moment that caps off the premiere perfectly.
The Verdict: Is Gun Honey: Doubles Down #1 Worth Reading?
Ultimately, Gun Honey: Doubles Down #1 strikes a perfect balance between old-school action cinema and a fierce protagonist. Coming into this cold without knowing the character, I left completely hooked. It gives you just enough answers to satisfy your curiosity while leaving the broader mystery wide open.
‘Gun Honey: Doubles Down’ #1 Review
Ultimately, Gun Honey: Doubles Down #1 strikes a perfect balance between old-school action cinema and a fierce protagonist. Coming into this cold without knowing the character, I left completely hooked. It gives you just enough answers to satisfy your curiosity while leaving the broader mystery wide open.
