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