The Western is a classic literary setting, one seldom scene in American comic books. Perhaps the bloom is off the rose of DC’s Jonah Hex character, but when he meets up with none other than Yosemite Sam, that rose smells mighty purty.

In the comic, Sam has struck it rich, and has instantly become a target of every low-down, thievin’ idjit galoot this side of the Rio Grande. Enter Jonah Hex. Collecting on his latest bounty is going to be a few days, so with nothing else to do, he agrees to help ol’ Sam out by watchin’ his back for him.

Also on the side of these two fallen angles is local circus performer Foghorn Leghorn, a side show attraction with the face of a rooster and the manners of a cultured son of the South.

Palmiotti injects the story with a healthy amount of the kind of dialogue that made these two famous. It’s borderline surreal, but it works (mostly). Texiera’s artwork is highly textural, and some of his facial renderings are almost lifts from Neal Adams. And I mean that in the nicest way possible. After all, Adams’ influence on generations of comic artists is known far and wide.

The cowboy boot is on the other foot in a back-up story that is more in tune with traditional Yosemite Sam fare, even going saw far as to include Bugs Bunny himself.

Say what you will with about these DC-Looney Tunes pairings, but I prefer to think of them as good food. The right mix, the right people, and even the most unlikely combination can work on many levels.

Rating: 10/10