Longbox Junk - Jonah Hex Part 2

How about some more Jonah Hex?

This series started off on a good foot with a solid two years and only a few clunkers.  Can they keep it up? 

Once again. . .this is a 70 issue run I'm trying to do here, so even though there's 25 issues worth of entries in this post, they're pretty short and sweet in order to keep it a quick and easy read.  You're welcome.  Let's do this!

JONAH HEX (Vol. 2 )

Part 2: Issues 26 - 50

DC (2008 - 2010)

ISSUE 26

FOUR LITTLE PIGS: A GRINDHOUSE WESTERN

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Guiseppe Camuncoli 

Cover: Guiseppe Camuncoli

Now HERE'S a disturbing little tale. . .

2 sisters with a vendetta against all men capture travellers (including Hex's bounty), cut off their arms, legs, and tongues, and keep them in their barn as animals. Hex falls into their trap, but narrowly escapes. He returns to exact bloody justice on the sisters, then mercilessly brings in their victims for his bounty. Like I said, disturbing. Still a great little story with very nice art. The insane expressions on the sister's faces, as well as on Hex's own are on a whole other level of creepy than usual for this series.

ISSUE 27

STAR MAN

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Jordi Bernet

Cover: Jordi Bernet

This was a pretty good story. On a trip to New York City, Hex saves a boy whose father is killed by a corrupt sheriff. Years later, Hex is hunting the same boy, now a man who kills corrupt lawmen and collects their badges (hence the name and title Star Man). It's a decent story about how the past never really dies. I'm not such a big fan of Bernet's art on this series, but for some reason, I really liked it on this issue. Maybe his style is better suited for crowded city scenes.

ISSUE 28

TOWNKILLER

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: John Higgins

Cover: John Higgins

A so-so issue about a man who unsuccessfully hire Jonah Hex to kill an entire town after they lynched and burnt his gay lover. He takes matters into his own hands and learns a cruel lesson about 2 wrongs not making a right. Not the best issue of this series, but not the worst. Hex seems a bit out of character here with the extreme brutality he shows, even though the same writers worked on this issue as the rest of the series. The art is nicely done, with very detailed faces.

ISSUE 29

RETURN TO DEVIL'S PAW

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Rafael Garres

Cover: Rafael Garres

This sequel to the events in issue #21 is long on action and short on story. It involves Hex and a group of Pinkerton men returning to the rocks of Devil's Paw to try and recover money lost there in the previous tale. Instead of just 1 indian, as hex believed, there is an entire band of indians hiding in the rocks, who take Hex prisoner, put him to a test of death that he survives, and invite him to join them. Hex declines and the tribe is decimated in a massive attack by the U.S. Army, except for 1 survivor that Hex saves.

It's an extremely average story that serves only to tie up loose ends from the previous story. The dark and twisted art fits this tale of death perfectly.

ISSUE 30 

LUCK RUNS OUT

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Jordi Bernet

Cover: Jordi Bernet

A pretty good story about what happens when train robbers take over a town and interrupt Jonah Hex on a three-day drunk. There's a good amount of humor in this story, which is a welcome change of pace, but that's about all it has going for it. I'm still not a fan of Bernet's art, but the silent 2 page opener is great. . .showing scenes passing through Hex's drunk mind that nicely recap his origin and story to that point.

ISSUE 31

THE RED MASK

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Paulo Siqueira

Cover: Richard Corben

When I saw the sweet Richard Corben cover on this issue I was like "Awwwww. . .YEAH!" thinking he'd be on the art inside as well. Sad to say that the art is very nice and super-detailed, but it's not Corben.

That aside, this is a pretty good story about Hex hired to hunt down a masked bandit and discovering a man who has the whole town fooled into thinking he's nothing but the town drunk. He tries to outsmart Hex also, but it doesn't end well. Not the best, not the worst. Awesome cover, though. . .one of the best in the series.

ISSUE 32

THE MATADOR

When Hex finds himself south of the border in Mexico and refuses an offer from a wealthy man to kill his wife's former lover, the jilted man makes the last mistake he ever will when he tries to kill Jonah Hex and doesn't make sure the job is done.

A simple story of betrayal and revenge that seems like a bit of a filler issue. The art by Bernet is decent, but not great. The cover, on the other hand is about the worst one of the series yet. The proportions are all off and it looks like someone slapped some color on a rough sketch.

ISSUE 33

THE HUNTING TRIP

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Darwyn Cooke

Cover: Darwyn Cooke

I didn't like this issue very much. It WANTS to be great, but doesn't quite succeed. It's an exploration of Hex as a force of nature as told from the perspective of a boy he saves, then abandons in the snows of Canada. It has Hex as an expert dog sled driver for some reason, his surviving being dropped under the ice of a frozen lake in his long johns, and the gunning down of dozens of men in a pretty ridiculous story.

Like I said, it wants to be great, but ends up being pretty bad. Even art by the usually-great Darwyn Cooke isn't that good. It looks like something he threw together on extremely short notice. The cover looks like an unfinished sketch. Not the worst, but not good.

ISSUE 34

OUTRUNNING SHADOWS

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Mark Sparacio

Cover: Adam Kubert

Set following the events of issue #28, Hex decides to hang up his guns and live the quiet life. Guess what. . .it turns out that death follows Jonah Hex no matter what he tries to do. This was a really good story about Hex fighting against his own nature. It's not a funny issue, but the scenes of him chopping wood to avoid conflict, then the scene of a giant heap of firewood about 10 feet high was hilarious! The art is nicely detailed and I'd say this is in my top 10 favorite issues of this series so far.

ISSUE 35

A CRUDE OFFER

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: J.H. Williams III

Cover: J.H. Williams III

The title of this strange little tale tells the whole story. Hex meets a sheriff and his wife and learns he can't have children and she wants a family. One thing leads to another and Hex finds himself drugged and them trying to make him an unwilling. . .donor. It's a pretty good story with great artwork. The double page picture of Jonah Hex on the title page is one of the best I've seen in the whole series.

ISSUE 36

SEVEN GRAVES SIX FEET DEEP

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Rafael Garres

Cover: Rafael Garres

A grim tale that tries to explain why Jonah Hex wears a Confederate uniform. It seems he wants everyone to hate him as much as he hates everyone else. Not a bad tale, I'm not a big fan of the art in this story (being very exaggerated), but the dark and twisted style match the dark and twisted frame of mind of Jonah Hex.

ISSUE 37

TROUBLE COMES IN THREES

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Jordi Bernet

Cover: Jordi Bernet

It looks like this issue was a bit of filler and a good excuse for the artist to throw some cheesecake into the series. The story is about 3 women who decide to try to steal a bounty from under Hex, but the story doesn't really matter in this case, it's all about boobs and butts. . .don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with boobs and butts. Actually, Bernet's art is starting to grow on me. Er. . .that sounded wrong. All in all not the best issue of the series so far.

ISSUE 38

HELL OR HIGH WATER

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Jordi Bernet

Cover: Jordi Bernet

Leading on from the events at the end of issue #26, where Hex humiliates the sheriff of Highwater, Hex is taken prisoner by said sheriff and forced to endure listening to his tale of woe before we're treated to a picture of a man getting bitten in the junk by a rattlesnake. Not a great issue.

ISSUE 39

COWARDICE

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Rafael Garres

Cover: Rafael Garres

This is the third pretty poor issue in a row. Hopefully things will start picking up again, seeing as I'm only halfway through reviewing this series. A tale of escaped prisoners, cowardly lawmen, and Jonah Hex stepping in to help keep a saloon open. Not a great story. It doesn't help that the art doesn't fit the tone in any way. I don't mind the twisted, exaggerated style of Garres for certain Hex stories, but this one was a bad fit. Moving on. . .

ISSUE 40

SAWBONES: THE FIRST HALF

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: David Michael Beck

Cover: David Michael Beck

Part 1 of a 2 parter that brings back Tallulah Black! Hex is hired to hunt down a frontier serial killer. . .a doctor that likes to capture and torture young girls before killing them. Hex stumbles into a gunfight, gets shot, and finds himself under the doctor's. . .care after Sawbones finds the wanted poster with his picture in his pocket. Hex manages to escape and is found by Tallulah Black near to death.

Not a great story on its own, but a great setup with great art. I wish David Beck was the regular artist on this series. He pretty much gets it all perfect.

ISSUE 41

SAWBONES: THE FINAL CUT

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: David Michael Beck

Cover: David Michael Beck

After the great setup last issue, I was a bit disappointed with the conclusion. Not saying it was bad, not by a long shot, just not that great. The killer meets Hex's style of gruesome justice, we get to see Tallulah Black being badass, David Beck's art was fantastic, and it all wraps up neatly. . .but it felt like it was missing something.

ISSUE 42

SHOOTING INTO THE SUN

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Jordi Bernet

Cover: Jordi Bernet

Back to the one and done stories again. A decent story flashing back to Hex's childhood and his father's brutal efforts to toughen him up. It's a simple story and short by about 6 pages due to a Power Girl preview, but I liked it. Not great, but not bad at all. Even Bernet's art was pretty good. Power Girl and Jonah Hex don't really go together, but I don't make the rules. . .I just follow them.

ISSUE 43

THE HYDE HOUSE MASSACRE

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Paul Gulacy

Cover: Paul Gulacy

A pretty simple tale of Hex being hired to rescue some hostages and trying to get paid when the job is done. What I liked about this issue was the art by Gulacy. 75% of the story was silent, told only by the art for 20 pages. . .half the book! It seems this series is given to a bit of "silent storytelling" from time to time, but other issues haven't taken it this far. I think the most before was 4 pages' worth. Nicely done.

ISSUE 44

SIX GUN WAR PART 1

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Cristiano Cucina

Cover: Cristiano Cucina

It's the first extended story arc (6 issues) and the gang's all here! Jonah Hex, Tallulah Black, Bat Lash, and El Diablo! Look like it's going to be a pretty good team-up tale. It all starts when Hex is lured into a trap by Quentin Turnbull and his henchman, El Papagayo. Hex killed Turnbull's son at some point in the previous issues (I forget which one exactly) and he's out for revenge. Unfortunately, he doesn't make sure Hex is dead when he buries him in a shallow grave. Now it's Hex's turn.

Elsewhere, Bat Las and Tallulah Black meet by chance in Mexico during a run in with El Papagayo, and El Diablo comes in (barely) at the end of the story. This opening issue is pretty good for setup, but other than bringing the players into the game, there's not much else here. The art is dark, sketchy and nicely done. I think they picked a good artist for this first long story.

ISSUE 45

SIX GUN WAR PART 2

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Cristiano Cucina

Cover: Cristiano Cucina

Bat Lash and Tallulah Black are imprisoned in Mexico by El Papagayo, Jonah Hex and Lazaraus Lane are making their way to Mexico after Hex makes a deal with El Diablo to safeguard Lane. Another "Gun" joins the game. . .Blue Eagle, a Comanche warrior, teams up with Hex and Lane.

Not much going on but the players moving closer together. It ends with a nice cliffhanger. . .Bat Lash and Tallulah Black against a wall facing a Mexican firing squad. Second issue in this arc is still setting things up. Not great, but pretty good.

ISSUE 46

SIX GUN WAR PART 3

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Cristiano Cucina

Cover: Cristiano Cucina

With a last-second rescue of Bat Lash and Tallulah Black by Hex, Blue Eagle, and El Diablo, The gang is all together, El Papagayo and his men are defeated, and we're halfway through the arc. Turnbull is revealed to be hiding in some Mayan ruins and that he's hired some exotic killer to take care of Hex. 

There's also an extended flashback of Hex during the Civil War that gives a little background to the feud between Hex and Turnbull. Still not the best story in this series, but pretty good. Hopefully the resolution will be worth the buildup.

ISSUE 47

SIX GUN WAR PART 4

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Cristiano Cucina

Cover: Cristiano Cucina

There's a good bit of comedy in this 4th issue of the 6 part "Six Gun War" story. Most of it during a desperate showdown with Mexican bandits while riding for Turnbull's stronghold. A trap is set for the united friends in a small Mexican town, but another character from past (Chako, from the first batch of issues) warns Hex. . .but not before the seeming death of Blue Eagle.

Some nice back and forth insults between the unfriendliest group of friends ever make this issue stand out, but it still seems like setup mainly to put Chako into the story. With only 2 issues left, I hope the payoff is worth all the setup.

ISSUE 48

SIX GUN WAR PART 5

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Cristiano Cucina

Cover: Cristiano Cucina

Quentin Turnbull's trap is sprung, Hex is betrayed by Chako, and he faces Turnbull's exotic assasins by himself. Unfortunately (for them) they all brought knives to a gunfight. . .literally. Not a one of them are armed with guns, and Jonah takes them all out before finally ending Chako's occasional comedy relief appearances in this series with a bullet to the forehead. Too bad, I liked Chako.

This issue was long on action and short on story. I was actually a bit disappointed. The exotic assasins seemed like they would have been a bit more interesting, being from Africa and Persia, 2 twin women, a boxer, and an Indian who can block bullets with his knife (??). It seemed a bit of a waste. Not the best issue of this story. Moving on. . .

ISSUE 49

SIX GUN WAR PART 6

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Cristiano Cucina

Cover: Cristiano Cucina

I was disappointed in the ending of this 6 issue story. Hex and crew finally bring the fight to Turnbull in his Mayan ruin stronghold, only to have Turnbull rescued by the Mexican army and leaving the feud between them unresolved. El Papagayo also was left alive a few issues back, so hopefully there will be a more satisfactory conclusion to come sometime in the remaining issues.

The ending seemed rushed and half-hearted. . .almost like the writers came up with a great idea (Hex teams up with all his outlaw "friends" from past issues), but they didn't quite know what to do after the team-up. The arc started strong and ended with a whimper. Bring back the one and done stories if this is how extended arcs are going to go. . .

ISSUE 50

THE GREAT SILENCE

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Darwyn Cooke

Cover: Darwyn Cooke

After the tepid "Six Gun War" we get a fantastic double-sized 50th issue telling a tragic tale of what happens when Tallulah Black gets pregnant with Jonah Hex's child and she hangs up her guns. The story is extremely sad, but Darwyn Cooke's art adds a few comedic touches during the separate tale of Hex continuing his bounty hunting without knowing that he's a father.

I didn't like Cooke's art the last time he was Jonah Hex (it seemed half-baked), but this time around it was PERFECT. Funny where it needed to be funny and tragic where it needed to be tragic. And the cover is one of the best of the series so far. I wonder if the writers gave us such a great story this time to apologize for the mess that ended "Six Gun War". In any case. . .one of the top 5 issues of the series so far.

CONCLUSION

The middle batch of Jonah Hex was a bit more hit and miss than the first 25 issues, but overall I still enjoyed them.  The kind of stories in this batch were just as varied as in the first. . .from brutal violence to light hearted.  From straightforward to thought-provoking.  The variety of stories that the Jonah Hex character can inhabit is one of the things I've always liked most about him, and 50 issues in, Gray and Palmiotti are still keeping things nicely mixed.  Speaking of mixed. . .we also got the first extended 6 issue story, but it was a bit disappointing at the end after a strong start.  I think that Hex is better suited to shorter stories.  

Next up. . .

Jonah Hex rides into the sunset of DC's New 52.  Issues 51 - 70.

Be there or be square!

Wayback Wednesday - Weird War Tales #1

Welcome to another "Wayback Wednesday" edition of Longbox Junk, where I take a look at issues in my collection that might be a little more "collectible" than my usual fare.  Comics that have probably never been reviewed and nobody has ever asked to be reviewed. Why? Because that's what I DO, son!

This time out, we take a trip back to 1971 and take a look at the first issue of one of my all-time favorite comic series, DC's Weird War Tales. 

First (as usual with these retro reviews), let's dig into a little background before we get to the issue itself. . .

Weird War Tales was a hybrid horror/war anthology comic that ran for 124 issues over 12 years (1971 - 1983).  Changes to the Comics Code Authority resulting in relaxing its decades long stance on censoring the use of monsters and the undead in mainstream newsstand comics brought about a resurgence of horror-based comics in the early 1970's.  

Weird War Tales was one of the longest running and most successful comics to come out of the relatively short-lived new horror trend. . .mostly because other horror titles just really weren't scary and didn't last very long.  The hybrid nature of Weird War Tales combined appeal to two separate audiences and was able to cover a wide range of historical time periods, making it possible to tell a wider variety of stories than other horror comics. 

Weird War Tales was hosted by Death, who appeared in different military garb in every issue.  The kinds of stories that appeared during the comic's run were typically gritty combat tales with elements of suspense, fantasy, science fiction, horror, and paranormal activity.

Over the course of Weird War Tales' 12 year run, a wide variety of legendary comic creators worked on it, including Joe Kubert, Robert Kanigher, Alex Toth, Russ Heath, Walt Simonson, Frank Miller, and MANY others, making Weird War Tales a veritable who's who of comic greats.

But enough history.  Let's take a look into the issue at hand. . .

WEIRD WAR TALES #1

So what we have here is a pretty hefty book at 44 pages, with 4 stories, a 1 page text story, and a framing story split into two parts at the beginning and end of the issue. That's a lot of comic for a friggin' quarter!  They sure as hell don't make 'em like that any more.  Let's break it on down. . .

LET ME TELL YOU THE THINGS I'VE SEEN

SCRIPT: Joe Kubert

PENCILS: Joe Kubert

The first half of the framing story is written and drawn by the legendary Joe Kubert, with (in my humble opinion) some of the best art I've seen from him.  In case you can't tell. . .I'm a bit of a Kubert fan.

BUT I DIGRESS!

It's winter, 1944.  A lone American soldier separated from his unit is attacked and wounded by Germans hiding in the woods.  As he desperately tries to return to his unit to warn them about the hidden enemies waiting for them, he stumbles onto a house in the middle of the forest and is rescued by a mysterious old man who starts telling him strange war stories. . .

The utterly fantastic art aside, this short piece is a great opener for this issue AND this series!  In a few short pages, it encapsulates the entire concept of Weird War Tales in a way that modern comic creators seem to have lost a grasp of.  

THE SECRET OF THE FORT WHICH DID NOT RETURN

REPRINTED FROM:  G.I. Combat #86 (1961)

SCRIPT: Robert Kanigher

PENCILS: Russ Heath

The first full-length story is actually a reprint from 1961's G.I. Combat #86.  It seems a bit odd to throw in a reprint for the lead story on a new series.  Maybe DC wasn't entirely confident in their new anthology.  But it's in there, so let's take a look. . .

The lone survivor of the crew of a B-17 bomber named "Mother Hen" remembers the harrowing last flight of the plane and decides not to tell the truth about what happened in his report. . .that somehow the battered bomber made it over the target even though all the crew except the Bombardier had been killed.

This might be a reprint, but it's an excellent story!  The art is remarkable and really shows the desperation and frantic action as the bomber squadron is picked apart in battle.  The planes and combat scenes are particularly well done. The story is action packed and tense.  The supernatural elements don't come in until it's almost done with, but even without them, this is just a fantastic, gritty piece of comic art.

THE STORY BEHIND THE COVER

SCRIPT: Joe Kubert

PENCILS: Joe Kubert

This short 3 page piece tells. . .well. . .the story behind the issue's cover.  A German Corporal is killed while out on patrol but he doesn't realize he's dead and tries to warn his commander that there are enemies nearby.  When he gets no response from anybody, the knowledge of his death and the extreme guilt of losing his men doom the lost spirit to wander the battlefields forever.

I really liked the idea of telling the story behind the comic's cover.  It's short and sweet, but nicely done and with more fantastic art from Kubert.

THE END OF THE SEA WOLF

REPRINTED FROM: Star Spangled War Stories #71 (1958)

SCRIPT: Bob Haney

PENCILS: Joe Kubert

Another reprint story.  I begin to sense a bit of a theme in this first issue. . .

After the end of WWII, a former German Submarine Captain tells the tale of the final voyage of his boat, the "Sea Wolf", which was sunk during a brutal battle with a mysterious and seemingly unstoppable ship.

The story on this one wasn't so great, and the "twist" ending (the ship they are salvaging is actually his own submarine he's been talking about) isn't that clever, but the Joe Kubert art is absolutely stunning!  Kubert could damn sure draw some great naval scenes.

END OF A CONVOY

This one page text piece's writer isn't credited.  It's a pretty interesting short summary of the Pacific Theater's Battle of The Bismark Sea.  It actually reads a bit like an outline for a regular comic story, and I wonder if that's what it originally was.  It swings from technical specifics and details of the battle to personal moments and brief snips of dialogue.  

BAKER'S DOZEN!

REPRINTED FROM: Star Spangled War Stories #116 (1964)

SCRIPT: Ed Herron

PENCILS: Irv Novick

And yet ANOTHER reprint.  

When a superstitious commander gets a 13th man assigned to his unit on Friday the 13th, he and his men are convinced that the bad luck will be the end of them all.  During a series of mishaps and misadventures through the day, they come to understand that the 13th man is actually their good luck charm.

I like that this story is a little light-hearted, but it's really not that great.  The dialogue is pretty hokey. The art is decent, but Russ Heath and Joe Kubert are hard acts to follow and it really shows.  There's some good moments in both writing and art, but not many of them. The story isn't BAD, it's just sort of average. 

And finally. . .

YOU MUST GO!

SCRIPT: Joe Kubert

PENCILS: Joe Kubert

The second half of the bookend story begun in the front of the issue.

The wounded American soldier feels strong enough to move on after a night of listening to the mysterious old man who rescued him tell strange war stories.  When the G.I. asks an old woman on the road for directions, he learns that the house he spent the night in was destroyed during WWI, along with everyone in it. . .

The end of the story was pretty predictable, but it was still good. . .and of course there's more dark and moody Kubert art to kick it up a notch.  A great finish for the issue.

CONCLUSION

I'm a bit on the fence about Weird War Tales #1.  

On the one hand, the stories are, for the most part, good reads and still hold up very well, even after more than 50 years for some of them. It's also packed full of (mostly) great art, featuring a heaping helping of the legendary Joe Kubert.

But on the other hand. . .

All of the stories in this issue are reprints, except for the framing story and an extremely short piece in the middle telling the tale of the issue's cover.  I'm not sure if the text piece is reprinted, but it looks to me like an outline for an unwritten comic story and seems a bit unnecessary.  One would think that there would be more original material in an opening issue of a new series.

Overall, I think the good and bad pretty much equal out in this case.  If the stories and art weren't as good as they were, I'd find this issue a very disappointing pile of reprint crap.  But luckily, that's not the case.  Even though this comic is mostly reprinted material, it's still pretty damn good reprinted material, for the most part.  I'm not sure what DC's thinking was, but I have the feeling that they were sort of testing the waters with this issue.

Up Next. . .

Back to Longbox Junk business as usual with more issues of 2006's Jonah Hex.

Be there or be square!

Longbox Junk - Jonah Hex Part 1

Jonah Hex has always been one of my favorite characters.  In a crowded field of superhero comics, the crustiest bounty hunter in the west just stands out as unusual.  I think what I like most about Hex is that the character lends itself to quite a few different story types. . .from straight western to horror and the supernatural to dark comedy and so on.  Hex can be a hero, a villain, or just somebody getting caught up in shenanigans without even trying to.  In this 5 year run from DC (2006 - 2011), we see a little bit of all of the above.

At 70 issues, this run of Jonah Hex is the longest full series I've done yet for Longbox Junk, therefore the reviews will be short and sweet so I don't take forever getting them done. In other words, despite there being 25 issues in this post, it should be a pretty quick and easy read.  Let's do this!

JONAH HEX (Vol. 2)

ISSUES 1 - 25

DC (2006 - 2008)

ISSUE 1

GIVING THE DEVIL HIS DUE

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Luke Ross

Cover: Frank Quitely

The thing I like about this series is that the majority of the stories are "one and done". This first issue sets that pace and is an extremely quick and enjoyable read. This short tale of Hex tracking down a kidnapped child is a perfect introduction, with great art by Ross. His backgrounds are a bit sparse, but the characters are detailed. Of particular note is the 4 page opening vignette and the cover by Quitely.  Definitely one of the crustiest, nastiest depictions of Jonah Hex ever!

ISSUE 2

BULLETS OF SILVER, CROSS OF GOLD

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Luke Ross

Cover: Leonardo Manco

A dying priest, a golden crucifix, and a daughter out for revenge form the backbone of this short meditation on the greed of man. A pretty good story with great art. Alma is a bit of a "Mary Sue", though, who goes from grieving daughter to knife-wielding murder machine quick.

ISSUE 3

EYE FOR AN EYE

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Luke Ross

Cover: Phil Noto

Guest starring Bat Lash, this issue has some very welcome comedy to it. . .from Bat calling the sheriff Dorothy to his amazement that Jonah Hex actually has friends. It's a pretty simple team-up between the two men out to get justice for Apache being falsely accused of attacking wagon trains and raping women, but it's a great read.

ISSUE 4

THE TIME I ALMOST DIED

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Luke Ross

Cover: Howard Chaykin

This issue was pretty so-so. It's a perfectly serviceable story of Hex bringing in a bounty only to find out he was innocent all along, but it just doesn't have the zing it tries to have, even with the revelation of the true culprit. The art by Ross is still great, and the story has some good moments, but not the best of the bunch so far. . .

ISSUE 5

CHRISTMAS WITH THE OUTLAWS

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Tony DeZuniga

Cover: Tim Bradstreet

This is the first issue where they swap out the "regular' artist. Unlike earlier issues, the art is dark and scratchy. . .backgrounds and environments are nice, but faces aren't great. The story itself is a simple one and done where Hex is holed up in a train station waiting for Texas Rangers to come and collect his bounty while fending off two other groups who want him: The bounty's friends and a group who wants to string him up for his crimes without a trial. 

This issue is long on action and short on story.  Overall, not bad but not great either. 
The high point is the extremely creepy and photorealistic Tim Bradstreet cover.

ISSUE 6

GOIN' BACK TO TEXAS IN A BOX

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Luke Ross

Cover: Brian Bolland

Nuns with guns! Hex finds a town ruled by nuns, but things aren't what they seem to be. After an old friend is killed and Hex almost joins her, he goes on a one-man rampage of revenge and justice in the middle of an indian attack! A decent story with good art by Ross. . .I like his detailed characters, but the backgrounds are a bit sparse.

ISSUE 7

ONE WEDDING AND FIFTY FUNERALS

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Luke Ross

Cover: Lorenzo Ruggiero

Hex is witness to a wedding massacre and decides to hunt down the spurned lover behind it. It all ends in bloodshed and misery, just like most things in Hex's life. Some great action scenes, but not much story to be had in this one. . .

ISSUE 8

NEVER TURN A BLIND EYE

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Val Semeiks and Dylan Teague

Cover: David Michael Beck

A very good story about someone using Hex to protect him from the rightful punishment for his crimes. . .the exact wrong thing to do once Hex discovers the truth. The art in this issue has a more cartoony style than usual that I didn't really like, but it wasn't terrible, I just like a darker art style for Jonah Hex.

ISSUE 9

GETTIN' UN-HAUNTED

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Tony DeZuniga

Cover: Tony DeZuniga

In the course of a gun battle, an innocent girl is killed. Over the course of 4 years, the death haunts Hex and the girl's mother, who tries to kill him several times. Hex finally finds a way to let her go on with her life. A very nice tale. The dark and scratchy artwork is okay, but the faces aren't great.

The black and white cover is very nice, but a bit strange. I thought I had a sketch variant, but I guess that's just the way it's supposed to be.

ISSUE 10

GATOR BAIT

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Phil Noto

Cover: Phil Noto

Jonah Hex finds his way down to the Louisiana swamps where he takes on a dying man's last request for revenge against the inbred family that killed him and his baby and took his wife prisoner. Not the best tale, but interesting to see Hex off the dusty plains. As for the art. . .I generally like Phil Noto, but he's not the artist for Jonah Hex (in my humble opinion). That said, the cover is great!

ISSUE 11

THE HANGIN' TREE

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: David Michael Beck

Cover: Art Thibert

Guest starring another one of my favorite weird western characters, El Diablo! Jonah and El Diablo find themselves working together, up to a point where the lines blur between justice and revenge. A direct sequel to the very first issue (these stories hop around in time) and what I think is the best issue of this series yet. The art is PERFECT for this weird western tale.

ISSUE 12

BLOODSTAINED SNOW

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Paul Gulacy

Cover: Luke Ross

A so-so tale of Hex taking the side of a band of persecuted Mormons against a greedy shopkeeper and his colorful group of killers. The art is decent, but for once I'd say the one and done format wastes the potential of the villain and his mercenary gang. I'd like to know more about them. . .

One other thing. . .that cover! Now that's some creepy sh*t right there.  Love it!

ISSUE 13

RETRIBUTION PART 1 (OF 3)

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Jordi Bernet

Cover: Jordi Bernet

About a year in and it looks like they decided the one and done format wasn't going to cut it for every story, so they gave us the first 3 parter. . .the origin of Jonah Hex! All in all, not too bad to start with. The first chapter deals with Jonah's time in the Confederate army and his capture and torture by a sadistic Union officer. It's pretty much setup for a decades-long trail of revenge on the officer and his men. Overall, not bad. . .not great, either. The art is a bit cartoony, but the inking style gives it an extremely kinetic flair.  I don't love it, but it's not bad.

ISSUE 14

RETRIBUTION PART 2 (OF 3)

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Jordi Bernet

Cover: Jordi Bernet

The second part of Jonah Hex's origin story deals with his early life with a drunken, abusive father who never wanted him, who traded him into slavery to a band of Apache. Hex fights his way into acceptance by the tribe, but his love for White Fawn puts him at odds with the chief's son, who betrays him and leaves him for dead.

This chapter was quite a bit better than the first part of the story, and gave me a bit of sympathy for the cruel, hard man Jonah becomes. I still can't decide if I like the art style, but it's not terrible, and lends itself better to this chapter than it did the first.

ISSUE 15

RETRIBUTION PART 3 (OF 3)

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Jordi Bernet

Cover: Jordi Bernet

So the end of Hex's retold origin story tied everything up neatly. . .his return to the tribe that raise him to fight for his lost honor, his second betrayal by the chief's son, and the explanation of how he got the horrific scar on his face. He also gets his long-delayed revenge against Colonel Ackerman in a flood of blood and bullets. Not quite as good as the middle chapter, but better than the first. 

Overall, this three parter was a decent modern retelling of Jonah Hex's origin.  I'd definitely suggest it for a starting point for those unfamiliar with the character.  It probably should have been done a bit earlier in the run, though.

ISSUE 16

THE BALLAD OF TALLULAH BLACK PART 1 (OF 2)

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Phil Noto

Cover: Phil Noto

Another multi-part story, this one introduces the woman who will eventually become the female counterpart in many ways to Jonah Hex. Physically and mentally scarred by sadistic rapists, Tallulah Black sets out to find Hex so that she can take revenge on the men who made her the way she is. This was a great origin story, and one of the better issues of this series so far.

I didn't really like Noto's art previously, but this time around it has a more painted look to it that I like better. Some of the art looks strangely unfinished, but all in all it's pretty good.

ISSUE 17

THE BALLAD OF TALLULAH BLACK PART 2 (OF 2)

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Phil Noto

Cover: Phil Noto

The conclusion of Tallulah Black's origin story is a great read as she finally gets her revenge on the man who scarred her face and soul. Noto's art was also a lot better in this one and I especially liked the title page with Tallulah in full gunfighter gear. The cover was great as well. I really like the Tallulah Black character as a female mirror image of Jonah Hex.

ISSUE 18

I WALK ALONE

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Val Semeiks

Cover: Bill Seinkiewicz

Probably the worst issue of this series so far. It all starts when a strange woman runs into Hex's camp begging for help. It ends up that nothing is what it seems and innocent lives are lost at Hex's hand. The art in this issue is mainstream comic crap. This issue screams "filler".  It definitely leaves a bad taste in the mouth after the previous two great issues.

ISSUE 19

TEXAS MONEY

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Phil Noto

Cover: Phil Noto

A fairly decent issue following two narratives. The first is Hex taking a job to find a wealthy casino owner's missing nephews. The second is that of a murderous madam killing and robbing drifters. The two stories come together when Hex also takes the job of finding the serial killer. This issue was better than the last, but nothing special.

The art by Noto is getting better than his earlier efforts on this series.  I still don't think he's really the artist for Jonah Hex. but I can definitely see a bit of evolution going from worse to better.

ISSUE 20

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Phil Noto

Cover: Phil Noto

It looks like the writers are starting to move toward a bit of world-building continuity with this issue, using Chako (the talkative comic-relief Mexican) from issue 4 and Mr. Park and his associates from issue 19 in a not-quite 2 parter where the events tie into those from the previous issue and force Hex to tie up some loose ends. . .with dynamite. Not a bad issue, but not the best either. There's quite a bit of humor in this story, which is a welcome change from the usual grim world of Jonah Hex.

ISSUE 21

THE DEVIL'S PAW

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Jordi Bernet

Cover: Jordi Bernet

To my surprise, I found out that I did NOT have the full run of this series like I thought.  This issue was missing for some reason.  The thing is that I remember having it because of the cover.  Not sure what happened.

ISSUE 22

THE CURRENT WAR

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Phil Noto

Cover: Phil Noto

This issue was pretty unusual, delving into the edges of the steampunk world that was more fully shown in the New 52 All Star Western (also starring Jonah Hex) and co-starring none other than Thomas Edison as Hex takes a bounty to find a mechanical man. There's a bit of action to this issue, but most of it revolves around conversation about the future and the death of the world that Jonah Hex knows. Like I said, it's a bit unusual, but it's a nice break from the usual Hex tales.

ISSUE 23

WHO LIVES AND WHO DIES

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Jordi Bernet

Cover: Jordi Bernet

This story wants to be better than it is, but truthfully it's pretty average. Told from the perspective of a meek teacher who was part of a group sent by a Chicago Newspaper to photograph the wild west that hired Hex as a guide. Everything goes wrong after an indian attack and an appearance by calvary lead by a sadistic officer (there hasn't been an army officer yet in 23 issues that HASN'T been a sadistic bastard). It all ends in a lesson in common sense and frontier justice for the teacher. The art feels rushed and lacking in this one. The artist did a better job in previous issues.

ISSUE 24

ALL HALLOWS EVE

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: David Michael Beck

Cover: David Michael Beck

A Halloween special guest starring Bat Lash and El Diablo! Er. . .published in DECEMBER for some reason? But never mind that. This was a great issue, even with it's fairly simple story of a Prairie Witch taking Lazarus Lane (El Diablo's human host) prisoner, forcing El Diablo to take possesion of Jonah Hex to rescue him.

I love El Diablo. . .he's like a cross between Ghost Rider and Zorro! I wish David Beck was the regular artist on this series. With strong art and strong story, this issue is definitely in the top 5 of this series so far. 

ISSUE 25

MY NAME IS NOBODY

Script: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti

Pencils: Russ Heath

Cover: Rafael Garres

For the 25th issue in this series, the story jumps forward in time to just a few years before Hex's death in 1904 when he's travelling through Mexico and an encounter with some banditos leads to him meeting the son he never knew, Jason Hex. It's a great little story about how sometimes it's better NOT to know where you come from. The art is great, with an almost Timothy Truman look to it. . .cartoony, yet extremely detailed. I really liked this one.

CONCLUSION

Despite a few clunkers, this first chunk of Jonah Hex was REALLY good.  I liked the fact that 90% of the issues were "one and done" but still loosely connected, with a small handful of multi-issue stories (the longest being 3 issues long).  I also liked the way the writer skipped around in time, telling stories ranging from the beginning (issues 13-15 the Origin of Jonah Hex) to the end (Issue 25, set in 1904) of Hex's story.

That said, some of the issues felt rushed and somewhat forced to fit into the "one shot" storytelling mode of this series, and some of the rotating roster of artists weren't great, but despite a few complaints, this series is definitely well worth reading so far.

Up Next. . .

25 more issues of Jonah Hex.  Be there or be square!