All Star Western #6

I've somehow overlooked this new home for Jonah Hex, but All Star Western continues the tradition of strong storytelling from the previous run.

The twist this time around from writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray is that Hex's adventures are set in Gotham City - and while it's the wrong time frame for Batman to appear, there are more than a few bat references (and menaces) to go around.

Jonah is out to solve the mystery of the disappearance of several children and to track down the men behind the plot.

It's a solid story, with loads of violence and retribution to deal out.

I like the art by Moritat - he has a unique style. It's dark and scratchy and kinetic - a perfect fit for the story.

There's also a backup feature by the same writing team with art by Phil Winslade. The Barbary Ghost is your basic revenge story, but it's a solid one, and the Ghost (I believe she's a new character) is a strong addition to DC's Western lineup.

This creative team has had a long, strong run on Hex, and it continues here - and given the guest stars who appear on the last page of the Hex story, the future should be very interesting.

Grade: B+

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Jonah Hex #70

This issue of Jonah Hex is (I assume) going to be the last issue for a while, as the character spins off into a new comic next month, All-Star Western, as part of the "new" DC.

Writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti decided to wrap up the series with an odd tale under the classic title "Weird Western." It's a disturbing tale of Jonah's final moments on Earth, but the reality of the events are up to the interpretation of the reader.

As the "last" Hex tale it manages to bring closure in a suitably weird way, with a number of disturbing events and revelations along the way.

The art chores are shared by Ryan Sook and Mick Gray on the first half of the book, and Diego Olmos and Jimmy Palmiotti on the rest. Both halves are excellent, but special kudos to Sook, who brings a classic artistic flair to his work that evokes some of the industry's top names, like Alex Raymond, Hal Foster and Bernie Wrightson.

It's a strong finish to the series (with some truly disturbing images) and some cameo appearances that will delight long-time readers.

Thank goodness this isn't the end - the creative teams have done some fantastic work on this series, and I'm anxious to see where they go from here.

Grade: A

Jonah Hex #66

Month after month, Jonah Hex has to be one of the best comics on the stands.

Yes, it's a western, so too many readers will crinkle their nose and call it old hat - but the writing team of Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti consistently spin great stories.

This issue finds Hex (who is a bounty hunter) bringing in some captured criminals when he's caught in a terrible snowstorm. He manages to make his way to a nearby town, but there he finds a group of people who are trying to hide a terrible secret.

To say more would be to give too much away, but the writers stay true to the character - he's no hero, but he's not a monster, either - though he's certainly run into his share of horrific situations.

I have mixed feelings about the artwork in this issue. Fiona Staples provides some pages that are beautifully done (the opening splash page, for example), while other panels are awkward. Still, the storytelling is clear and strong.

And that last statement is true for this series. Unlike other series that pile on a convoluted continuity, Jonah Hex's stories are lean, mean and sharp. There's no wasted effort, and it makes for a very satisfying read.

Grade: B+

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Jonah Hex #63

This is a comic I pick up from time to time, and then kick myself because I don't pick it up regularly.

Jonah Hex is about as straightforward as a comic can be. The title character lives in the "Old West" (at some point shortly after the Civil War) and makes his living as a bounty hunter.

He's hired to track down a murderous monster named Loco, who specializes in killing and torturing women and children. When he hears about the horrible things Loco has done, Hex flashes back to his own childhood and remembers a particularly unpleasant event.

His search for Loco shows why Hex is a virtual force of nature - especially when he's properly motivated.

The story by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti is lean, clever and brutal - think of the movie Unforgiven and you have the feel of this comic.

The series is also blessed by some amazing artists. This time around the art is by Jordi Bernet, and it's impressive. The landscapes are terrific, the emotions and intensity of the story are vivid, and the raw nature of the life and death struggle is splashed across each page. Great, great work here!

Hey, there's a good New Year's resolution: I promise to not miss any more issues of this outstanding series. (And there's a resolution I can stick to!)

Grade: A-

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Jonah Hex #52

This comic is an underappreciated gem.

Month after month, in each issue of Jonah Hex, writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti serve up a cracking good story set in the wild west.

Using a style that would be right at home in the best Clint Eastwood westerns, we follow Hex as he fights to survive against all odds, through circumstances as grim, harsh and pitiless as the prairie sands.

In this issue, we find Hex struggling to survive after being ambushed by an unusual thief. He stumbles to a lonely cabin, where a widow lives a solitary life with her baby. As she patches Hex's wound, he tells the story of how he wound up at her door.

Alone, without ammunition, he has to find a way to survive when a vengeful family of murderers comes after him. It's a brutal tale and a darn good one. Gray and Palmiotti have crafted some outstanding Jonah Hex stories, and this is another great one to add to the list.

They're also skilled at writing stories that fit the style of the artist working on the comic. Here those duties fall to Jordi Bernet, and while his work may not be familiar to most American readers, he's done some outstanding work on several issues of Hex. He has a gritty style that's somewhat reminiscent of Joe Kubert, with some Milton Caniff and Will Eisner thrown in for good measure (which is not to say he's copying - those are just the influences my uneducated eye sees).

Jonah Hex lives in a hard, unforgiving world, and he makes no apologies for what he has to do to survive. These aren't stories for the squeamish, but they are expertly crafted and full of surprises.

If you're not reading this comic, you're missing the manliest comic on the stands.

Grade: A-

Jonah Hex #50

While I enjoyed Western comics as a young'un, I have to admit I don't buy them much these days.

My pal Beau Smith always says good things about the Jonah Hex comic, and it hits a milestone this week, so I thought about picking it up. Then I saw that Darwyn Cooke was the artist, and that sealed the deal.

As you'd expect, the art is fantastic, running the gamut from mythical west to fiery action to the hinges of hades itself.

None of which is intended to take away from the story here by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, which is solid as a rock. It weaves a tale of lust, sex, tragedy, revenge and a serious heap o' killing. Who could ask for more?

The story is very much in the vein of a Clint Eastwood Western (is there higher praise?), as one of Jonah's fellow Bounty Hunters decides to go straight, but picks a bad town to do it in. To say more would be to give away too much about a ripping good tale.

A fiftieth issue should be something special. Boy, does this fill the bill.

Highly recommended!

Grade: A