Jonah Hex # 25

An elderly Jonah Hex faces off against desperate Mexican bandidos but a more personal confrontation is waiting in the wings in this self-contained issue, set in the latter part of Hex's life.

Portions of this story are a little too contrived, like the part with Hex just running into the bandits or deciding to take them on, seemingly on a whim. But the action is still compelling and the dialogue between Hex and the bandits is amusing. The meeting with the stranger who hides a secret connection to Hex is filled with surprises and dramatic reversals that will keep the reader on his toes.

The art by veteran Russ Heath has a stark, clean power to it that proves you don't need a lot of detail, cluttered backgrounds and 'clever' camera angles to tell a great story or move the reader. Of course, much of the story's impact comes from knowing about Hex's history and why his actions at the end are so tragic. Old-timers can appreciate the events in this issue and how they affect Hex but newer readers may just see a lout riding away from his responsibilities. Still, it is worth a read and the magnificent cover makes it even better.

Four stars out of five.